Misty Fjords National Monument

Address:Ketchikan, Alaska

Misty Fjords National Monument, a beautiful and remote place far from modern civilization, is ideal for adventure-seeking tourists. The park covers 2,294,343 acres of the Tongass National Forest in southeast Alaska. Since its creation in 1978, Misty Fjords National Monument has been a prime spot for recreational activities such as camping, hiking, photography, hunting, fishing, and boating amidst spectacular scenery.

The coastal ecosystem at Misty Fjords is surprisingly pure and almost untouched, stretching about 3,570 square miles of fiords, steep sea cliffs, active glaciers and natural canals. White sand beaches have formed from sea shells broken against the strong waves. Until recently, Misty Fjords was mostly uncharted territory, with the exception of the Tlingit and Haida Indian societies, and of brief early American occupation. These early settlers named Misty Fjords and the areas around it. This amazing landscape is the result of thousands of years of glaciation, volcanic activity, moving snow and ice and erosion.

Wildlife is abundant—grizzly and black bears, mountain goats, bald eagles, beaver, mink, marten, wolverine, river otter and deer are commonly seen. Porpoises, whales, sea lions and seals are often sighted in Behm Canal and nearby ocean waters. Fishermen will find plentiful coho, sockeye, pink and chum salmon and king salmon, as well as numerous other saltwater and fresh water fish species and shellfish, however the hunting of wildlife and fish is closely managed by the Forest Service and the State of Alaska. Plants are also plentiful, as the area is filled with western hemlock and Sitka spruce, with scattered western red cedar and Alaska cedar, and muskegs, or bog plant communities, growing deep in the moist soil.

The temperature is always cool, if not cold, so pack for cold weather no matter what season it is. Visitors can also almost undeniably expect year-round precipitation, and possibly heavy and high snowfall. Summer temperatures range from 46 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and winter temperatures average between 32 and 42 degrees Fahrenheit.

Lodging in the area is limited to recreational cabins in settings ranging from open ocean beaches to high alpine lakes. Reservations are required, and can be obtained in advance by mail or in person at the Forest Service office in Ketchikan, the nearest town. If the cabins are booked, there are four Adirondack-type open shelters available at no charge and without reservations at Manzanita Bay, near saltwater, and at Nooya Lake, Punchbowl Lake, and Winstanley Lake, near freshwater. The entire Monument is open to camping, but there are no designated campsites. There are no stores for camping supplies in the park, so it is crucial for campers to arrive prepared. Ketchikan is more than 50 miles away by boat, and is the closest town for restocking supplies.

Because there are no permanent roads to the area, visitors can reach Misty Fiords National Monument by floatplane or boat. Flying is highly recommended, since boating to Misty Fjords can be dangerous, due to frequent stormy conditions. Several outfitters provide shuttle flights and tours from Ketchikan. Misty Fjords Air & Outfitting provides flight-seeing tours of Misty Fjords National Monument, transport to all Southeast Alaska Forest Service cabins, charter flights and freshwater sport-fishing guide service. Family Air Tours offers similar packages. Family Air Tours makes traveling even easier for tourists staying overnight in Ketchikan, providing a hotel shuttle to the departure dock. Experienced boaters may choose to approach the area via the Behm Canal, a long, deep waterway that leads to the heart of the Monument.

In addition to supplies and transportation, Ketchkan is a delightful nearby day-trip for travelers looking for a taste of civilization in Alaska. The town offers shops, restaurants and accommodations, as well as boat tours, museums and hiking.

Located in the southernmost part of southeast Alaska, Misty Fiords National Monument extends from Dixon Entrance to beyond the Unuk River. The western boundary is 22 miles east of Ketchikan. It is about 680 air miles from Seattle and often accessed via cruise ship.