23 June 2018, Ketchikan AK

23 June 2018. Ketchikan AK.

Our friend, Kelly, (who lives in Ketchikan) found us bright and early in the Walmart parking lot. He told us about many cool places to see while we were here, and so we set off.

Our first night in a Walmart. Ketchikan AK

Stopped at Totem Bight State Historical Park. A Bight is a small cove where some giant thing has taken a “bite” out of the coast to create a sheltered area to build a settlement. Totem Bight is a re-creation of a native village, although it combines Totem Poles from three different peoples,Tlingit, Haida and Tongass. There were 14 Totem poles and a Clan house here to enjoy.

Then we continued on to find a real camping spot for the rest of the weekend. At the end of the road was Settler’s Cove State Recreation Area. It was very cool.

View of the ocean passage from our campsite – #8 at Settler’s Cove State Park

Very rainforest-y. Everything was green and mossy. There are waterfalls, and side paths to the ocean. Several trails and staircases were made with 2×8 boards to keep you from walking in the mud. Chuck called it an Enchanted Forest. I thought it looked like a Hobbit habitat.

Hiking through the rainforest – Settler’s Cove

Hobbit trails along the Lunch Falls Loop Trail at Settler’s Cove

Banana Slugs! These guys and birds were the only wildlife we saw in this rainforest!!

We snuck out at close to low tide to get to the south side of Ketchikan. There is a fish hatchery at Herring Cove that is known to attract bear as they come to catch the returning Salmon. We did not see any bear here, but we saw quite a few eagles. Kelly said they were like pigeons around here, I think we saw at least a dozen at Herring Cove.