Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary
4.8(831)google
4.7(54)yelp
ForestWildlife WatchingHikingEducational
Overview
The Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary is a private, 40-acre pristine wilderness reserve located at Herring Cove near Ketchikan, nestled inside the magnificent Tongass National Forest. The sanctuary is covered in towering ancient spruce, cedar, and hemlock trees, featuring an elevated boardwalk system that winds over salmon-spawning streams. It offers guided eco-tours where travelers can regularly observe black bears hunting fish, bald eagles nesting in the mossy canopy, and visit a historic sawmill and native totem carving center, providing a balanced nature-and-culture experience.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration2-3 hours
Best TimeHighly recommended from July through September during the late-summer salmon runs. Salmon clog the sanctuary creeks, drawing wild black bears and dozens of bald eagles close to the elevated wooden boardwalks. Booking a morning guided eco-tour through the mossy temperate rainforest is ideal.
Getting ThereSituated at Herring Cove, about 8 miles south of downtown Ketchikan. Accessible via a short drive south along the South Tongass Highway to the gated parking plaza. Because entrance is heavily restricted to guided small groups, booking an all-inclusive tour with port shuttle bus pick-ups is standard.
Travel Tips
- The sanctuary is a fully fenced private estate; walk-ins are denied at the barrier, booking an authorized guided excursion is required.
- Elevated boardwalks bypass salmon streams packed with fish in August; high bear density mandates an absolute ban on open meat snacks.
Photo Tips
Gear
- Capturing canopy eagle nests requires massive focal length; narrow observation decks ban full tripods, deploy monopods instead.
Reviews
Positive
- The dense temperate rainforest and moss-covered towering trees look like Twilight; watching thousands of spawning salmon from boardwalks is amazing.
- The park's safety protocols are flawless; elevated accessible boardwalks effectively separate active black bears below, keeping tourists safe.
- The guided tours are highly fun and informative, helping us identify rain forest flora while tending to children's curious questions.
- Strict advance booking and capacity caps allow only a few visitors per slot, successfully retaining the raw, sacred quiet of the rainforest.
Heads up
- Independent unguided entry is barred; you must buy a costly guided tour ticket, and outside of a pricey gift shop, it's just nature, lowering value.
- Located away from downtown Ketchikan without public buses; missing the cruise shuttle leaves you with very expensive taxi options.
- Rain is the standard state here; though atmospheric, the entire trail is open with zero shelters, leaving you soaked without pro rain gear.
- All commentary and safety alerts are exclusively in English with zero multilingual options or brochures, hurting the experience for foreign guests.