Ketchikan Misty Fjords Flightseeing Tour

We recommend suitable waterproof outerwear and comfortable footwear for this excursion. Sunglasses are a must!

If you are particularly prone to motion sickness, taking a precautionary anti-motion sickness medication is a good idea. However, flights are very smooth and turns are slow and gentle. This is a professional scenic tour, not a thrill ride. Most people do not experience motion sickness and do not need anti-motion sickness medication.

Everyone enjoys a (panoramic view) window seat.

Wildlife is abundant in Southeast Alaska and sightings are possible on any tour. However, this is not a designated wildlife tour and nothing can be guaranteed.

Expect the unexpected! We have experienced “typical” summer days ranging from 50 degrees and raining to 85 degrees and sunny. It is always smart to plan for anything in Alaska.

The Tongass National Forest is a 17 million-acre rainforest that makes up much of Southeast Alaska. We Alaskans have learned to appreciate the rain and never let it spoil a good time. If it is otherwise safe and quality flying weather, we will fly in the rain. A little-known fact is that the weather in Ketchikan and Misty Fjords can often be very different. Ketchikan is on an island located very close to the open ocean as Misty Fjords is located on the mainland 40 miles in the opposite direction. Misty Fjords experiences less rain than our coastal area near Ketchikan.

The Seaplane Captains are experts in the decision-making process when it comes to weather. The safety of passengers is the number one priority. The tour will not fly if it is not safe. The second priority is tour quality, and flights will not go out if tour quality is poor. If the flight is cancelled due to weather you will receive a full refund.

As far as the best time of the day for a Misty Fjords tour, you should primarily consider your personal schedule. Most of the summer month, Ketchikan is blessed with beautiful flying weather, and the time of day whether it is in the morning or in the afternoon will make no difference.

Fjords are formed when a glacier cuts a U-shaped valley by abrasion of the surrounding bedrock. Glacial melting is accompanied by rebound of Earth’s crust as the ice load and eroded sediment is removed in some cases this rebound is faster than sea level rise. Most fjords are deeper than the adjacent sea. Fjords generally have a sill or rise at their mouth caused by the previous glacier’s terminal moraine, in many cases causing extreme currents and large saltwater rapids.

There are no road systems that extend to the Misty Fjords. Access is strictly by floatplane or small boat.

A floatplane is an aircraft that utilizes water as its runway with the use of floats or pontoons instead of wheels. This is a popular mode of transportation throughout Southeast Alaska for access to remote locations or communities without a land-based runway.

The DeHavilland Turbine Otter can accommodate up to 10 passengers. Depending on the group size, the DeHavilland Beaver can accommodate up to 6 passengers and the Cessna 185 is the most intimate experience with just 2-3 passengers.

Check out other frequently asked questions here!