Misty Fjords Cruise Port

Misty Fjords sits about 40 miles east of Ketchikan in Southeast Alaska's temperate rainforest. Experienced as a scenic excursion destination rather than a traditional port of call with docking facilities, visitors reach the area via seaplanes or small excursion boats departing from Ketchikan. These day trips typically navigate through Behm Canal and Revillagigedo Channel to reach the heart of the fjords, spending roughly two hours exploring the protected waters.

Geology defines the dramatic visual appeal of the landscape. Ancient glaciers carved massive U-shaped valleys now filled with seawater, leaving behind near-vertical granite cliffs that rise 2,000 to 3,000 feet straight out of the ocean. Cascading waterfalls tumble down sheer rock faces into calm inlet waters, prompting early naturalists like John Muir to compare the region to Yosemite Valley. Mid-channel sits New Eddystone Rock, a 237-foot basalt pillar created by volcanic activity and recorded by explorer George Vancouver in the late 1700s.

Wildlife thrives across the monument's land and sea ecosystems. Marine life includes humpback whales, orcas, porpoises, harbor seals, sea lions, otters, and migrating salmon. Looking toward the shore and surrounding cliffs, visitors frequently spot nesting bald eagles alongside mountain goats scaling steep rock faces, while brown bears and black bears inhabit the dense forest interior.

Covering over two million acres of protected wilderness, the area has served as the ancestral home of the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian peoples for millennia. Following European exploration in the late 18th century, President Jimmy Carter designated the area as a national monument in 1978. The maritime climate remains cool year round, with summer temperatures averaging around 18 degrees Celsius in July.

Misty Fjords appeals to nature lovers, photographers, and Alaska cruisers seeking untouched wilderness, dramatic glacial geology, and abundant wildlife encounters. Track your past or upcoming cruise that stops in Misty Fjords on The Cruise Globe.