Rainforest Sanctuary, Totem Park & Eagles
Offered by Kawanti Adventures In Ketchikan, Alaska
: $
About us
We’re locals who are passionate about sharing all that we love about Alaska.
That’s why we create great adventures that show off our Alaskan beauty and thrills with enthusiastic and knowledgeable guides. We hire and train our staff for exceptional customer service and keep our state-of-the-art equipment up to the highest standards for safety. So you get authentic Alaska, guided by those who love her.
From the sky, you can see the grandeur of the fjords. From the zip line, you can feel the adrenaline as you soar through the treetops. From behind the wheel of your kart, you experience the landscape as a living thing. From the ground, you’ll see bears, eagles and other wildlife. No matter if you’re at elevation 0’ or 3,000’, you’ll experience the adventure that is Alaska. There’s a tour for every age, interest and fitness level. From an informative walk in the rainforest to a stunning flight over a fjord, there’s an awesome, must-have experience waiting for you.
We are local and have a deep Alaskan legacy. We have been serving the local community for more than 40 years, first through Taquan Air and then later, through ground tours. Owner Brien Salazar is deeply committed to the region, supplying scheduled and charter service to remote towns, providing year-round and seasonal job opportunities and sharing his love for the world’s largest temperate forest with locals and tourists alike. We support our community with volunteer time, donations and more.
That’s why we create great adventures that show off our Alaskan beauty and thrills with enthusiastic and knowledgeable guides. We hire and train our staff for exceptional customer service and keep our state-of-the-art equipment up to the highest standards for safety. So you get authentic Alaska, guided by those who love her.
From the sky, you can see the grandeur of the fjords. From the zip line, you can feel the adrenaline as you soar through the treetops. From behind the wheel of your kart, you experience the landscape as a living thing. From the ground, you’ll see bears, eagles and other wildlife. No matter if you’re at elevation 0’ or 3,000’, you’ll experience the adventure that is Alaska. There’s a tour for every age, interest and fitness level. From an informative walk in the rainforest to a stunning flight over a fjord, there’s an awesome, must-have experience waiting for you.
We are local and have a deep Alaskan legacy. We have been serving the local community for more than 40 years, first through Taquan Air and then later, through ground tours. Owner Brien Salazar is deeply committed to the region, supplying scheduled and charter service to remote towns, providing year-round and seasonal job opportunities and sharing his love for the world’s largest temperate forest with locals and tourists alike. We support our community with volunteer time, donations and more.
What we'll do
The Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary is a 40-acre private preserve of temperate rainforest bordering the Tongass National Forest.
Take a guided nature walk exploring the wildlife and ecology of the preserve. Visit a historic sawmill, explore a totem park, and view a featured raptor at the Alaska Raptor Center Ketchikan exhibit.
Here’s how your rainforest exploration will surprise and delight you.
You’ll start out with a scenic eight-mile coastal drive to rustic Herring Cove and the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary. The sanctuary is a temperate rainforest, nestled into the Tongass National Forest. When you arrive, a naturalist guide will be on hand to take you on a 0.75 mile guided rainforest exploration along an improved trail amongst stands of hemlock, spruce and cedar trees. The forest floor is covered with mosses, wild flowers and a variety of berries.
Your guide will lead you to a protected open estuary where you follow Herring Creek along an elevated wooden boardwalk overlooking grassy wetlands. During the seasonal spawning season, bears and seals feed on salmon in Herring Creek. Bald eagles and other birds wait for scraps in the estuary. Sitka black tail deer, mink and marten also frequent the area. Weather, tides, and seasonal ecosystem changes result in varying levels and type of wildlife activity. Everything here is alive with color and cultural history.
After your trail walk your opportunity to learn about the natural history, wildlife and cultural traditions in the region continues. You’ll be guided through the historic Herring Bay Lumber Company sawmill, seeing saws and machinery that powered this mill.
Keep your camera ready as you see a bald eagle at the Alaska Raptor Center exhibit.
Explore the first Tsimshian totem pole park in the country with its impressive 40-foot totem and 13 poles carved by the same artist.
Before your return to town visit the General Store and pick up a souvenir of your uniquely Alaskan experience.
Take a guided nature walk exploring the wildlife and ecology of the preserve. Visit a historic sawmill, explore a totem park, and view a featured raptor at the Alaska Raptor Center Ketchikan exhibit.
Here’s how your rainforest exploration will surprise and delight you.
You’ll start out with a scenic eight-mile coastal drive to rustic Herring Cove and the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary. The sanctuary is a temperate rainforest, nestled into the Tongass National Forest. When you arrive, a naturalist guide will be on hand to take you on a 0.75 mile guided rainforest exploration along an improved trail amongst stands of hemlock, spruce and cedar trees. The forest floor is covered with mosses, wild flowers and a variety of berries.
Your guide will lead you to a protected open estuary where you follow Herring Creek along an elevated wooden boardwalk overlooking grassy wetlands. During the seasonal spawning season, bears and seals feed on salmon in Herring Creek. Bald eagles and other birds wait for scraps in the estuary. Sitka black tail deer, mink and marten also frequent the area. Weather, tides, and seasonal ecosystem changes result in varying levels and type of wildlife activity. Everything here is alive with color and cultural history.
After your trail walk your opportunity to learn about the natural history, wildlife and cultural traditions in the region continues. You’ll be guided through the historic Herring Bay Lumber Company sawmill, seeing saws and machinery that powered this mill.
Keep your camera ready as you see a bald eagle at the Alaska Raptor Center exhibit.
Explore the first Tsimshian totem pole park in the country with its impressive 40-foot totem and 13 poles carved by the same artist.
Before your return to town visit the General Store and pick up a souvenir of your uniquely Alaskan experience.
What to expect / what's provided
Some of the highlights of this tour include:
*Duration: 2.75 hours
*Comfortable walking shoes, layered clothing, and a waterproof jacket are recommended
*FAQs:
- What is Kawanti's Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary?
Kawanti Adventures operates a 40-acre private reserve located at Herring Cove, adjacent to a salmon hatchery, and is Ketchikan’s only private adventure and wildlife sanctuary. The site offers the best wildlife viewing location accessible by road. Our site is endorsed and supported by all major cruise lines that call to port. We have consistently received superior quality ratings from on-line reviews and on-board cruise ships.
- What can I see and do in the Rainforest?
We offer interpretative walks through the rainforest with wildlife viewing opportunities, including seasonal Black Bears. Visit the custom-built Alaska Raptor Center exhibit and witness a flight demonstration. Join a Photography tour. View our totem park with its impressive 40-foot totem and the first Tsimshian totem pole park in the Country. Walk through a historic sawmill, visit the Blacksmith, shop in the General Store, and so much more. The site has the best that Southeast Alaska has to offer, all in one location!
- How much walking is involved?
Depending on your tour, you can expect 0.5 to 1 mile of guided walking with a Naturalist along an improved forest trail. On our Black Bear & Wildlife Exploration, you will be walking on an elevated wooden boardwalk along a protected estuary following Eagle Creek.
- Is the site accessible for guests with limited mobility?
All rainforest walks are completed at a leisurely pace and there are no stairs to climb. The walks occur over compressed gravel and wooden boardwalks that are accessible to wheelchair users, weather dependent. During periods of heavy rains (frequent in Southeast Alaska), the trail can be difficult to navigate in a wheelchair. Wheelchairs are not provided on-site, however, with at least 24 hours’ notice, we can provide an able-bodied person to push/assist anyone in a wheelchair. Most of the trail system is flat; however, there are short (30 yards) sections with moderate inclines and declines.
- Will I see wildlife?
Wildlife sightings are frequent. We offer the only drive-up bear viewing location in Southeast Alaska.
- What about your bear tour?
Our bear tour operates from mid-July into September and is small intimate groups guided by an experienced naturalist. You will enjoy wildlife and photographic opportunities from elevated bridges, boardwalks, and viewing decks, with approximately 60 minutes of wildlife viewing time. Chances of seeing Black Bear are very good. Food is not permitted on the walking trails.
- What should I wear?
Comfortable water-resistant walking shoes, layered clothing, and a waterproof outer layer are recommended.
*Duration: 2.75 hours
*Comfortable walking shoes, layered clothing, and a waterproof jacket are recommended
*FAQs:
- What is Kawanti's Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary?
Kawanti Adventures operates a 40-acre private reserve located at Herring Cove, adjacent to a salmon hatchery, and is Ketchikan’s only private adventure and wildlife sanctuary. The site offers the best wildlife viewing location accessible by road. Our site is endorsed and supported by all major cruise lines that call to port. We have consistently received superior quality ratings from on-line reviews and on-board cruise ships.
- What can I see and do in the Rainforest?
We offer interpretative walks through the rainforest with wildlife viewing opportunities, including seasonal Black Bears. Visit the custom-built Alaska Raptor Center exhibit and witness a flight demonstration. Join a Photography tour. View our totem park with its impressive 40-foot totem and the first Tsimshian totem pole park in the Country. Walk through a historic sawmill, visit the Blacksmith, shop in the General Store, and so much more. The site has the best that Southeast Alaska has to offer, all in one location!
- How much walking is involved?
Depending on your tour, you can expect 0.5 to 1 mile of guided walking with a Naturalist along an improved forest trail. On our Black Bear & Wildlife Exploration, you will be walking on an elevated wooden boardwalk along a protected estuary following Eagle Creek.
- Is the site accessible for guests with limited mobility?
All rainforest walks are completed at a leisurely pace and there are no stairs to climb. The walks occur over compressed gravel and wooden boardwalks that are accessible to wheelchair users, weather dependent. During periods of heavy rains (frequent in Southeast Alaska), the trail can be difficult to navigate in a wheelchair. Wheelchairs are not provided on-site, however, with at least 24 hours’ notice, we can provide an able-bodied person to push/assist anyone in a wheelchair. Most of the trail system is flat; however, there are short (30 yards) sections with moderate inclines and declines.
- Will I see wildlife?
Wildlife sightings are frequent. We offer the only drive-up bear viewing location in Southeast Alaska.
- What about your bear tour?
Our bear tour operates from mid-July into September and is small intimate groups guided by an experienced naturalist. You will enjoy wildlife and photographic opportunities from elevated bridges, boardwalks, and viewing decks, with approximately 60 minutes of wildlife viewing time. Chances of seeing Black Bear are very good. Food is not permitted on the walking trails.
- What should I wear?
Comfortable water-resistant walking shoes, layered clothing, and a waterproof outer layer are recommended.
Cancellation Policy
<p>Changes and cancellations can be made up to fourteen (14) days prior to the date of service with no penalty. Cancellations within fourteen (14) days and no-show guests result in full forfeiture of fare. </p><p>In the event your cruise ship is late or delayed, we will make every effort to reschedule a new tour time to accommodate your ship’s new port itinerary. In the event the minimum number of participants is not met to operate the tour, we will make every effort to reschedule a new tour time to accommodate guests.</p><p>No refunds will be made to any customer who does not use all of the services scheduled to be provided by the tour operator.</p><p>Our tours will operate in a variety of weather conditions, and we will not issue refunds to any customer who chooses not to participate in a departing tour due to weather conditions. </p>
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