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Alaska (AK)
Ketchikan
Things to Do in Ketchikan
Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary

Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary, Ketchikan: Hours, Address, Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary Reviews: 4.5/5

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Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary

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Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary
4.5
927
#3 of 40 things to do in Ketchikan
Nature & Wildlife Areas
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9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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Suggested duration
2-3 hours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.5
927 reviews
Excellent
639
Very good
173
Average
51
Poor
24
Terrible
40
MaryRuth
3 contributions
Beautiful and Exciting!
Couples
My husband and I had a wonderful day Ziplining here today! We booked privately, not through the Cruise line, so we had pick up/return at the dock by Austin and enjoyed the zips, suspension bridges, and rappelling. Our guides Mickey and Kora were knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Some of the group saw a black bear, and there were many Eagles. It was an exciting way to view beautiful scenery and the weather turned out great. Definitely recommend this!
Written June 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Rebecca B
Mount Pleasant, NC659 contributions
Cool but pricey
Couples
I rated this tour a 4 due to the high cost and not that much to to see or do. This is a beautiful area but the tour's main cost is the transportation from the pier to the sanctuary so I'm not sure why the $99 each person. The guide was friendly and knew the area and animals well. The trail was well worn by people and bears. There is a small hill at the beginning but the rest is down hill or flat so this is a good tour for just about anyone, infact there was an 85 year old in our group. We got to see salmon, duck's, a crane and 2 eagles but no bears. The totem pole area was cool but the artist wasn't working while we were there so that was a bummer. They had restrooms and a gift shop on site which was clean and nice.
Written October 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
AZGoldenMom
Litchfield Park, AZ17 contributions
Wonderful adventure!
Outstanding shore excursion! Our guides, Madison, and sorry can't remember the other young ladies name, were so enthusiastic and informative. We saw 5 bears catching salmon! The property is beautiful and tranquil, along with hearing the birds and the streams. There was a short stop at the raptor sanctuary followed by a totem pole carving demonstration. Would love to visit, again!
Written September 17, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
wojo31849
Seville, Ohio6 contributions
Worse excursion ever
This is the first time I have given a negative review on any experience I have had. I will give the benefit of doubt or write it off as a bad day or try again but not this time.

Have been on 3 excursion on this trip this is the only one that we were disappointed with from the start.

This was to be a small group of 10 or less and we had 18 people in group compared to 10 in other group, Tour guide was very inexperienced anddid not wait for whole group to get together and no instruction or what to expect on tour and started walking up deck after 5 minutes asked oh did anyone need to use restroom. Blamed weather for no bears could have explained what old shacks were for only after I asked she said old trapper shacks end of conversation.
Written August 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Laura D
1 contribution
Terrible waste of time and money
Couples
Absolute worst excursion I've ever done. You're taken on a bus 25 minutes out to a woodsy area. You then spend the next hour walking on a short boardwalk through the woods and by a stream. We didn't see a single bear, though I understand it's not the tour company's fault. The boardwalk is short, so you cover very little area in the woods and very little area by the stream. It would have been nice to get to spend more time walking around in the woods and less time standing in one area as we slowly moved down the boardwalk. For $229 per person, I expect more. There was no value. After we gave up hope of seeing bears, we were corralled into a bird enclosure where someone spent a few minutes talking about three birds. We were then taken to a wood carving barn where someone talked to us for two minutes about carving totem poles. Then onto the gift shop. The total time in the woods was less than an hour. Please, save your money and book a different excursion. This is a terrible tour.
Written July 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Leslie A
Atlanta, GA7 contributions
Beautiful and pristine sites and worth the trip!
Family
This place is wonderous! It’s just beautiful and pristine. We went on a nature walk, and our guide, AJ, was just terrific! She was very knowledgeable, and showed us all of the indigenous plants and life around. We got to even sample some berries by picking them, and hold or touch a banana slug! The totems are beautiful as well, and the carver there is great and also knowledgeable. He explained all about the history and what he was currently carving. I will be excited to see the finished product. We also got to see a bald eagle up CLOSE! Just amazing!
Written August 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Lijo C
1 contribution
Waste of money - poor guide
Family
We had extremely poor guide. He was kind of sleepy in explaining. (Trip was on Sep 04, 2021 at 12 PM. ) Much better scenic views can be seen at Ward Lake for free - 10 times better. This trip was just a waste of money for us.
Written September 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Gregg B
1 contribution
Alaskan Rain Forest Sanctuary
Solo
I booked this excursion through our Holland cruise. I wanted to see nature and wildlife but wasn't packed or prepared for a long hike and the description was for a short hour long 3/4 mile nature guided hike. I was very pleased with my entire experience. It was organized and the forest was lush and beautiful. AJ was our guide and she did a great job! Very attentive and engaging. She cheerfully explained many of the things, plant and ani life we came across. Took time to take pictures and answer questions. Great for all ages and most people as there were small children and a few elder folks.once thro the forest we cam to a boardwalk and saw a young bald eag and a black bear! Super awesome! We then went to the bird sanctuary which was nice. Saw some other things like totem poles in the making and a eagles n from afar. Overall great excursion and beautiful grounds with a gif shop, more cool totem poles etc. shout out to AJ for a won job. I encountered som of the oth staff and guides all whom were very nice! I highly recommend this excursion
Written June 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
janenevill
Heswall, UK103 contributions
Go to saxman instead
Couples
Booked via hollandamerica. This whole tour is just a money making exercise for cruise people. It’s not a moderate walk it’s easy. You skim the edge of a rain forest and whilst told about various plants you have the hissing of zip lines overhead!!! Yes I said money making exercise! Who wants to have zip lines above them when going into a rain forest- well we didn’t go in. It’s a very short walk that then takes you to a boardwalk by the salmon hatchery luckily lots of eagles! Apparently the bear and her cub were on shore that morning but they don’t appear at lunchtime only morning and evening but we saw their footprints! Went into a very small avery to be told how the 3 birds were injured! Then the excitement continued the woodcarver came out of his room told us very little wasn’t really interested which was sad as would have really liked to have understood more! Wish we had just gone to saxman village instead
Written June 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Samantha M
1 contribution
AMAZING
Couples
The sanctuary was gorgeous and AJ was freaking amazing, her humor mixed with facts about the features of the rainforest were on point. She kept a good pace and made sure everyone was comfortable. 10/10 would recommend
Written May 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary
Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary is open:
  • Sun - Sat 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Buy tickets in advance on Tripadvisor. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund.
We recommend booking Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 2 Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary tours on Tripadvisor