Ketchikan Kayak Eco-Tour

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Overview

Available languages

English

4 hours

Mobile ticket

Take a 4-hour guided kayak tour to Clover Pass, (2 -2.5 hours in the kayaks) with scheduling to fit virtually every cruise ship. This is an amazing waterway with several rainforest islands, about 15 miles north of town. Your guides will get you away from the crowds and often to better weather where you'll paddle around 3 scenic islands where dense rainforest meets the sea. The Tongass National Forest is the largest National Forest in the U.S. and surrounds Clover Pass. Most tours encounter the resident Steller sea lions, seals, bald eagles and other birds, an immense array of intertidal life, and sometimes humpback whales, orcas, porpoises and jumping salmon along the route as well. Occasionally we even see Sitka deer or black bears down at the beach.

While specific wildlife viewing cannot be guaranteed, Clover Pass is second to none for wildlife viewing near Ketchikan and our micro climate, north of town, consistently provides dryer weather and calmer waters than downtown.

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby

Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

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.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Local smoked salmon, dip, local vegan options and hot & cold beverages.

Private Transportation from the downtown Cruise Docks & the new dock at Ward Cove.

Our Guides are Locals or Professional Educators/Return Guides / No First Year Guides

Small-group tours. 6:1 guide to guest ratio.

What To Expect

This tour is very educational, and is about much more than just paddling a kayak. We are not in a hurry to get you from point A to B and every tour can be different. An immense amount of inter-tidal life can be on display along the rocky shorelines of Clover Pass andwe usually see plenty of sea stars, urchins, sea cucumbers, limpets, chitons, nudibranchs, etc. living in the ebb and flow of the tide, just waiting for you to pull out your camera. Our guides are incredibly knowledgeable and love taking the time to show you the different critters, what they're doing, and how they're interacting.  Our typical paddling route features a small island that is host to a large bald eagles nest whose residents have eaglets every summer. Watching the fledglings grow up and learn to fly is a highlight of our summers here. Depending on the weather and the wildlife we can paddle around as many as 3 small islands per tour. But when the Whales show up or the Sea Lions are feeding they do a pretty good job of dictating the tour route and pace.  Private transportation from our downtown office across from the cruise docks is provided and excellent rain gear is provided if needed that day. After gearing up and a quick lesson, you'll board your kayak and your nature viewing will begin.The total tour time is 4 hours dock-to-dock with 2 to 2.5 hours on the water for most groups. Both hot and cold refreshments and a local smoked salmon snack are prepared for when you return from paddling. Our relaxed pace and small groups mean we're not just rushing you into the van as soon as you hit the dock.  Eco-tours are limited to 12 guests per departure with a 6:1 guide to guest ratio. Sometimes we are all out on the water watching something fantastic and stay together, other times the group split into two seperate tours on the water. We're flexible. Private party tours for up to 20 guests are sometimes available upon request.  You'll be paddling tandem sit-inside kayaks for their roominess and stability. No swimming on this tour.

Options

Early Season Special!

Early Season Discount
Pickup included

Departure

Pickup included

Reviews

4.96

846 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

821
18
4
1
2
  • Tour Guide Dana & Whales 10/10!!

    Kelly O,

    Sep 9, 2025

    - Viator

    5.00

    Amazing kayak experience with Dana. We were lucky to see whales! Dana was very knowledgeable about the marine and coastal wild life. Smoked salmon snack after was delicous!

  • Favorite Excursion

    Deborah L,

    Sep 9, 2025

    - Viator

    5.00

    I booked this excursion solo as my travel companions did not kayak. The guides Chris and Zac made everyone feel welcome and comfortable. It was easy to see how much they enjoyed their job. It was a great excursion and my favorite for this Alaskan cruise.

  • We really enjoyed this...

    Amber M,

    Sep 8, 2025

    - Viator

    5.00

    We really enjoyed this trip! We saw lots of bald eagles, beautiful scenery, and at the end we had humpback whales all around us! I would recommend an early time if you want the calmest waters. Really appreciate the guides!

  • A fully immersive (in a good way) kayaking adventure

    Daniel R,

    Sep 8, 2025

    - Viator

    5.00

    Dana and Chris were excellent, as was the tour overall. This was easily the best tour of this trip and one of the better guided experiences I've ever had. Dana and Chris did an excellent job of making sure we were prepared for the environment while also providing a wealth of knowledge throughout the experience. Having guides who live what they do on a daily basis shows through in the breadth and depth of information they are able to share. I got a little wet (my own fault) so be prepared for the possibility, but it didn't distract in any way from the experience and at no point was I uncomfortable. I would absolutely recommend spending some time with this team!

  • We loved our kayak tour

    Mary S,

    Sep 8, 2025

    - Viator

    5.00

    Dana did a great job leading our kayak tour. We saw a lot of sea life and beautiful areas. Dana talked about the area, the sea life found there, shared some fun stories, entertained us, and kept us safe. We really enjoyed this kayak tour.

From $125.00

4.96
846 reviews