Overview:  Present-day Ketchikan still possesses the character and color of a classic frontier town – one that has reinvented itself several times.  Abundant wild salmon, gold strikes and giant cedar trees have all had their turn as kingpin of the local economy.  Today, Ketchikan is one of Alaska’s most popular visitor destinations.  People come from around the world to experience the town’s fascinating native culture and beautiful wilderness surroundings, including the majestic scenery of the 2.2 million acre Misty Fjords National Monument.  Ketchikan is Alaska’s fourth largest community; and home to roughly 14,000 people.

Location:  Ketchikan is the southern-most city in Alaska (about 650 miles north of Seattle), and is located along the southwest shore of Revillagigedo Island.  The community – like most in Southeast Alaska – is accessible only by sea and air.  The closest road connection to North America is located in Prince Rupert, BC, about 90 miles to the south.  The town’s picturesque harbor is a daily beehive of floatplane activity as Ketchikan is the primary transportation hub for small bush communities throughout the region.

Climate:  On average, Ketchikan receives 162 inches of precipitation per year – that is over 13.5 feet of wet testimony to the fact that this town is situated in the heart of the world’s largest temperate rainforest.  The locals are unfazed by rain showers, and cheerfully refer to these frequent events as “liquid sunshine”, and they wouldn’t dream of calling a baseball or softball game due to rain.  The average summer temperature in Ketchikan is about 60°F, and the average winter temperature is about 35°F.