Ketchikan Kayak Eco-Tour
Recommended by 99% of travelers
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Ketchikan, USA
- 4 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Navigate the waterways and islands of Clover Pass on a small-group kayak eco-tour from Ketchikan. Along the way, spot native Alaskan wildlife that inhabit this protected region where the thick foliage of the Tongass National Forest meets the sea, from sea lions and migratory humpback whales to eagles' nests and exposed starfish colonies. Paddle with two guides and a small group for a more personalized wildlife-watching journey.
- Explore the unique ecology where northern rain forest meets the ocean
- Look for sea lions, humpback whales, eagles, and other Alaskan wildlife
- No kayaking experience necessary
- Includes pickup and drop-off from the cruise port or hotels
What's Included
- Local smoked salmon, dip, local vegan options and hot & cold beverages.
- Our Guides are Locals or Professional Educators/Return Guides
- Private Transportation from the downtown Cruise Docks & the new dock at Ward Cove.
- Small-group tours. 6:1 guide to guest ratio.
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
We Pick up guests at Downtown Cruise Docks & Ward Cove Cruise Ship Docks. Please Read ALL Meeting Instructions! FOR DOWNTOWN CRUISE SHIP PASSENGERS & Other Guests: After disembarking your cruise ship, please proceed to the shelter at Cruise Berth 3. The shelter is on the dock next to the "Visitors Information - Restrooms" building and Sockeye Sam's Store. It's across the street from the tunnel. (NOTE: this is NOT the berth 2 Visitors Center). The walk is approximately 2-5 minutes depending at which pier you are docked. The address is 425 Water Street. Our driver will be present 15 minutes before all departures holding a RED sign that says "KETCHIKAN KAYAK CO." FOR CRUISE SHIP PASSENGERS Docking AT THE MILL AT WARD COVE: (Norwegian Cruise Lines + Some Others) After disembarking your cruise ship, please proceed to the brick building "The Mill at Ward Cove." Proceed through the building to the right. Tour vendors will be greeting guests for excursions in the corner near the restrooms and the large overhead door. Look for our driver with a RED sign that reads "KETCHIKAN KAYAK CO." 15 minutes AFTER the departure time. The MIll at Ward Cove is halfway between downtown Ketchikan and our marina, this means DEPARTURES FROM WARD COVE WILL BE GREETED BY OUR DRIVER 15-20 MINUTES AFTER THE SCHEDULED DOWNTOWN DEPARTURE TIME as you will be picked up on the way. Guests returning to Ward Cove will be back about 15 minutes early. For example, if you schedule a tour from 8:00am to noon, your tour will operate from 8:15 to 11:45.am. If you are docking at Ward Cove but would prefer to meet for a downtown departure (e.g. your ship docks at 7:00am and you want to see downtown Ketchikan before meeting us for an 11:00am tour) or if you would prefer to be dropped off downtown after the excursion this may be possible but you will need to contact the Ketchikan Kayak Co. prior to your tour time to arrange the change. Otherwise all guests docking at Ward Cove will be expected to be picked up at Ward Cove. *Remember to turn off airplane mode when you pull into port to aid in communication should there be any delays or should any issues arise the day of your excursion.
Itinerary
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Children must be at least 6 years old. There are some exceptions, so please call if you feel you qualify
- No experience is necessary
- Rain pants and jackets are provided
- Due to the size of the kayak cockpit openings, your hip/waist size should not exceed 52 inches (137cm) as measured while seated.
- Recommended that you wear clothing that would be appropriate for an outdoor hike through the forest, and footwear that will fit inside the space of a kayak. Large bulky boots or high heels are not recommended
- There is a minimum of 2 people to run a tour
- At time of booking, cruise ship passengers must provide the following information: ship name, date.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Danette_J
We had a fantastic time.
Xack and Chris were excellent tour guides , with great stories. We saw sea lions, bald eagles held starfish and much more. It was fun, interesting and personal. Highly recommend this excursion.
Reviews
4.9
based on 940 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Elaine_T, Jul 2026
Great trip. Spencer is a great guide. He pays attention to the conditions and what customers want to see.
Megan_G, Jul 2026
A beautiful paddle with lots of amazing marine wildlife led by knowledgeable and friendly tour guides. So glad we took time to explore the waters. Definitely recommend!
Jodi_S, Jul 2026
Very organized and friendly. The guides were knowledgeable and helpful. I really enjoyed my paddle in Ketchikan. Did not see any whales and the tide was high so no starfish either but it was a beautiful sunny and cool day. Would highly recommend!
Maria_G, Jul 2026
We had the best time sea kayaking!! Our guide, Aine, was fabulous and made the trip extra great. They split the group so our family of 6 could do farther, which was wonderful. The route was beautiful. We saw seals right near our kayaks!! I highly recommend this kayak trip!!
Joelle_O, Jul 2026
Our tour guides were awesome, knowledgeable, and helpful. Everything went smoothly and it was a great experience.
Karen_M, Jul 2026
Our guide Jenny was wonderful. It definitely was a nice workout. We saw tons of eagles, deer, salmon jumping, and seals.
Brian_B, Jul 2026
As soon as we got on the water, we saw many different kinds of wildlife. We saw a whale, seals, starfish, bald eagles, fish, & sea lions. Tour guide was very friendly and worked with all experience levels.
Jamie_K, Jul 2026
My family all lived this excursion. We lucked out and had amazing weather but be prepared to get a little wet so water proof jackets were handy.
We were able to see so much wildlife and out guide was fantastic and knowledgeable
John_M, Jul 2026
I had great communication with Spencer during booking and the day of the excursion. Liam picked us up on time. We were on the water for about two hours. In that time we saw whales, eagles, and starfish. Erica and Ashley were our guides. They were knowledgeable and entertaining. We would recommend the excursion.
Annie_Y, Jul 2026
We had a great time kayaking in Ketchikan with Spencer and Anya! They made sure we were comfortable kayaking and there was a good balance of floating to admire wildlife and paddling to different islands. Highly recommend!
minacline, Jul 2026
Aine was our wonderful kayak guide. We had a fun two hours exploring Clover Pass. We saw many eagles, jellyfish, starfish, and seals/sea lions. After our kayaking adventure, we had a very nice salmon snack and hot/cold beverages.
They provided everyone with rain proof gear if you wanted it. It did rain, but it was still a very good time to explore. I was completely comfortable and I didn’t feel cold or wet. The facility and equipment was very well maintained including numerous restrooms to utilize before and after kayaking.
The drive to and from the meet up spot in Ketchikan was comfortable. Thank you for a great afternoon!!
Scott_W, Jul 2026
First class excursion. They provide everything, including kayaking lessons. Highly recommend for beginner or experienced kayaker.
jen_h, Jul 2026
Spencer was a great tour guide in the kayaks. We saw many bald eagles, stat fish, sea cucumber, sea urchins and even a humpback whale.
hinkgen, Jul 2026
This activity was okay. Shuttle service and drivers were awesome, vehicle was topnotch. It was a rainy, cool day. Guides didn’t encourage wearing of their waterproof rainwear, I did so anyhow. Kayaks are all tandem with a rudder that’s operated with your feet by the person in back. Honestly, steering it was a pain compared to a normal kayak. We luckily saw some whales almost right away very near us…so cool!! We saw many eagles, too. Our group was a double group with two guides which felt too big and disorganized. Guides shared some “misinformation” via the guise of trivia. The number one cause of eagles’ deaths is NOT due to drowning bc they can’t release their talons. Two people in the group wanted to “race” which was just annoying (not the guides fault) and a couple others didn’t stick with the group, and that was annoying, too. When they said we had 50 minutes left…we were praying we misheard and it was only 15…not the case…it felt very long on a rainy, cool day. Snacks after were a nice touch.
Catherine_S, Jul 2026
It was a wonderful day on the water! Spencer, our guide, was amazing. He took the time to make sure everyone felt comfortable, no matter their experience level. We saw eagles, sea stars, and humpback whales, and Spencer shared great information about the area and the wildlife throughout the trip. He truly made the experience fun and engaging.
All the gear we needed was provided — raingear, dry bags, and secure storage for anything we didn’t want to bring on the water. Drinks and snacks were waiting for us when we returned, which was such a nice touch. The water was incredibly clear, and it was truly special to be out there with someone who loves the area and genuinely wants you to enjoy it. We were also lucky to have beautiful weather, which made the day even better.
Audrey_M, Jun 2026
Kayaking was one of our must do activities in Ketchikan and this tour did not disappoint! The cove they took us to was beautiful with calm water and perfect weather. Our guides were very friendly and knowledgeable and helped us make our trip a very memorable one! My daughter hopes to do what they do in the near future and they shared a wealth of valuable information as well.
Cassandra_G, Jun 2026
This was an amazing kayaking experience and one of the highlights of my trip! We were able to see so much incredible wildlife, including sea lions, seals, starfish, deer, and even whales. Being out on the water surrounded by such beautiful scenery made the experience even more special. Our guide was friendly, knowledgeable, and made everyone feel safe and comfortable throughout the tour. I highly recommend this adventure!
Elaine_K, Jun 2026
Great trip!!! Guides were so knowlegeable!! Loved being in the water at low ride!! Sea stars and sea urchina galore and Bald eagles in the sky and trees!!
Theresa_L, Jun 2026
We were lucky since we had gorgeous weather. Our guides were friendly, professional, and knowledgeable. They took us around the island with bald eagles. I would definitely do it again!
David_T, Jun 2026
Had a really fantastic time. The kayaking was in a beautiful area. The guides were extremely friendly and helpful. Also really appreciated the communication beforehand, as well as the free pick up / drop off downtown.
Kathy_J, Jun 2026
The employees were very helpful and knowledgeable. It was very calm and enjoyable! They took any stress you had away!
Tracey_C, Jun 2026
This was not what I expected from sea kayaking. It was a very relaxed, slow paced trip. We broke into two groups of 3 with the leader. We were put in a group with others who were slower than us and it was a little frustrating. We did see a harbor seal, sea lion, deer and starfish.
Chaz_R, Jun 2026
Our family had a blast - even my wife who is afraid of open water and hates anything that even comes close to smelling like fish. She had never even kayaked before and she loved it. The kids picked up on everything right away and had a great time racing each other (which was encouraged by the staff on our way back to the dock).
The wildlife was amazing. So many Bald Eagles, and we floated right under one perched on a branch overhanging the water. Just amazing. Dozens of starfish in purples, oranges and reds. Jelly fish clear/white ones and orange ones.
The guides were all very friendly patient and knowledgeable, even our van driver who shuttled us. (Their shuttle service made things sooo easy.) They had all the gear we needed and had great instructions. Even coffee and hot chocolate when we returned. It was a beautiful day and we would definitely go back if given the chance.
Faraz_J, Jun 2026
The group of guides are extremely helpful, knowledgeable and chill. The vibes were awesome. It was my six year olds first time kayaking and they made it seamless and so much fun. Adventurous crew - special thanks to Jenny, Ashley and Spencer. Looking forward to trying out the e-bikes next time!
Jennifer_W, Jun 2026
Peaceful and close to nature. Took 30 min van ride to dock then kayaked out to small islands. Saw lots of eagles and starfish
Brittany_M, Jun 2026
Wonderful experience. The views are beautiful, and my kids loved to be able to see all the different creatures. The guides are great!
Katie_B, Jun 2026
Great small group guided tour. Seal Cove was the best! Got to see lots of wild life and get a little bit of exercise in from all the cruising.
clterao, Jun 2026
My husband granddaughter and I had a fabulous time on the kayak tour. Jenni and Cam, our kayak guides were wonderful! We truly enjoyed our time on the water with them. We saw bald eagles, a sea otter and okra star fish. We were fortunate to have great weather! Our driver to the dock was great. Giving us great tips for our time in port and sharing information on Ketchikan. Our return driver, the owner, was great as well. He too shared info on local area and gave us some recommendations. I highly recommend this tour
Robert_O, Jun 2026
Friendly staff and a fantastic experience - we had amazing weather and with our tour guide Jenny we saw lots of eagles, an amazing humpback whale and seals - what a great morning!
Elise_G, May 2026
Fantastic experience! Guides were very helpful and knowledgeable, and the snacks at the end were a great treat. I had been worried about not being strong enough to keep up and slowing down the group, but we were on tandem kayaks which really helped (plus a slower pace was desired for wildlife spotting anyway). We saw a sea lion, Sitka deer mom and babies, 20+ eagles, sea stars and jellyfish, and some other birds. Even without seeing whales it was just such a beautiful and fun experience. They also provided optional waterproof overalls and coats.
From $161.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Attractions in Ketchikan, USA
- Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary Tours & Tickets
- Saxman Native Village Tours & Tickets
- Guard Island Lighthouse Tours & Tickets
- Totem Bight State Historical Park Tours & Tickets
- Tongass National Forest Tours & Tickets
- Misty Fjords National Monument Tours & Tickets
- Inside Passage Tours & Tickets
- Ward Cove Tours & Tickets
- Dolly's House Museum Tours & Tickets
- Southeast Alaska Discovery Center Tours & Tickets
- Creek Street Tours & Tickets
- Totem Heritage Center Tours & Tickets
- Tongass Historical Museum Tours & Tickets