National park · United States
Misty Fjords National Monument
Go only if you are already in Ketchikan: entry is free, but the monument is boat- or float-plane-only, so a day trip costs US$200–400 per person and takes most of a day. There are no maintained trails; hiking means a float-plane landing and route-finding.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
9,570 km² (3,695 sq mi)3,695 sq mi (9,570 km²)
approximate
Established
1978
Best months
May–Jul
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 11Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
- Alaska ↗Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka and most of the Arctic and Southwest are not reachable by road. Air or ferry only.
- Alaska ↗Many rental companies ban the Dalton, Denali, Steese and McCarthy roads; damage there may void your insurance. Check before booking.
- Southeastern Alaska ↗Alaska Marine Highway ferries carry vehicles and foot passengers; summer sailings fill, so reserve far ahead.
- Southeastern Alaska ↗Road and ferry routes via Canada (Skagway, Haines, Prince Rupert) need a passport or equivalent; check current US/Canada entry rules.
At a glance
- Country
- United States
- Area
- 9,570 km² (3,695 sq mi)3,695 sq mi (9,570 km²)
- About 9,570 km² (2.3 million acres) of mainland and islands; figures vary slightly by source (check).
- Established
- 1978
- Best months
- May–Jul
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Ketchikan
Misty Fjords National Monument is 9,570 km² of coastal temperate rainforest, granite walls and saltwater fjords in Southeastern Alaska, managed by the US Forest Service, not the National Park Service. There is no road in. Almost every visitor sees it on a day trip from Ketchikan by tour boat or float plane, and the monument itself has no entrance station, no concessions and no restaurants. Hiking exists but is unmarked and rough; kayakers and boaters camp at Forest Service cabins and shelters.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1978.
Size and age
9,570 km² (3,695 sq mi)3,695 sq mi (9,570 km²) · national park since 1978
About 9,570 km² (2.3 million acres) of mainland and islands; figures vary slightly by source (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Ketchikan.
Why go
- Sheer granite walls dropping straight into saltwater fjords, seen from a boat deck or a float plane window.
- Rudyerd Bay and Walker Cove are the classic scenic stops, with waterfalls running down the rock in summer.
- New Eddystone Rock, a basalt plug rising out of the water, is the monument's landmark.
- Real wilderness: bears, wolves, salmon runs and humpbacks, with no roads and no crowds once you leave the tour route.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarCaution
- AprCaution
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulBest
- AugGo
- SepGo
- OctCaution
- NovAvoid
- DecAvoid
- JanDark, wet, short days
- FebCold rain, short days
- MarWeather unsettled
- AprSnow still low on the walls
- MayLong daylight, waterfalls full
- JunLongest days
- JulWarmest; busiest, book ahead
- AugStill good; salmon runs draw bears to creeks
- SepFewer visitors, rain returns
- OctSeason winding down; check operators
- NovStorm season
- DecShort days, heavy rain
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Humpback whales and porpoisesMay–Sep · Seen from boats in Behm Canal and the fjords. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Black and brown bearsJul–Sep · On salmon creeks; watch from the water, never approach on foot. | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Bald eaglesAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Salmon runsJul–Sep | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Wolves and Sitka black-tailed deerAll year · Rarely seen; the interior is roadless. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Ketchikan
Tour boat or float plane from the Ketchikan waterfront; no road reaches the monument.
1.5–3 h
Open the page →
From Ketchikan airport (Ketchikan International, KTN)
Ferry across the channel to town, then walk or taxi to the tour dock.
30–45 min
From Southeastern Alaska region
Ferries and flights link Ketchikan with Juneau, Sitka and Prince Rupert.
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Rudyerd Bay | The most-visited fjord: granite walls, waterfalls and the usual boat turnaround. | Boat or float plane only. |
| Walker Cove | A quieter arm north of Rudyerd Bay with steep rock and old-growth forest. | Boat or float plane only. |
| New Eddystone Rock | A basalt pillar in Behm Canal, the monument's signature landmark. | Seen from the water; no landing. |
| Interior lakes and alpine | Wilderness lakes, snowfields and glacier country on the mainland. | Float plane drop-off; no trails. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
5 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions for orientation; the monument has no road access and exact points vary by source.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monument entry | Free | person | No entrance fee; the monument has no gate or ticket station. |
| Ketchikan day cruise (Rudyerd Bay and return) | US$200–350 | person | 2026 estimate; 4–6 h on the water, lunch sometimes included (check). |
| Float-plane flightseeing from Ketchikan | US$300–500 | person | 2026 estimate; 1.5–2 h, sometimes with a water landing (check). |
| Float-plane drop-off for kayaking or camping | US$600–1,200 | group | 2026 estimate; depends on distance and load (check). |
| US Forest Service cabin or shelter | US$0–60 | night | 2026 estimate; some cabins are free, others need a fee and a reservation — check current rules. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Monument entry no permit
Forest Service cabin reservation permit or guide
Commercial tour or guide permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- US$200–350
- US$300–500
- US$600–1,200
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on US Forest Service — Misty Fjords National Monument before you go.
Park rules
- No concessions
- There are no shops, restaurants or lodges inside the monument; bring all food, water and fuel.
- Food storage
- Store food in bear-resistant containers and never leave scraps at camp; bears use the shoreline.
- Camping
- Tent sites are scarce on steep, wet ground; use Forest Service cabins and shelters where you can.
- Drones
- Not allowed over the monument without authorisation (check).check
- Fires
- Keep fires small and use dead and down wood only; check for fire restrictions before you go.check
- Wildlife distance
- Do not approach bears, whales or eagles; boat operators keep a set distance.
Where to stay
Near the park
Ketchikan
Hotels, motels and hostels; the only practical base for a day trip.
In the park
US Forest Service cabins and shelters
Basic public cabins and shelters in the monument; reserve ahead and expect no services.
In the park
Anchored boat or expedition camp
What most kayakers and small-boat visitors do; there are no lodges.
Safety
Rain and cold high
Bears medium
Tides and cold water high
Float-plane weather delays medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Tour boats and float planes are not wheelchair accessible; ask operators directly before booking.
- Once ashore, terrain is steep, wet and unmarked; there are no accessible trails in the monument.
Visiting lightly
- Book permitted operators out of Ketchikan; unpermitted boat and plane trips undercut local rules.
- Pack out everything, including food waste; there is no rubbish collection in the monument.
- Keep distance from whales and bears and never chase wildlife for a photo.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Misty Fjords National Monument?
Entry is free. There is no gate, ticket or entrance fee because the monument has no road access. Your real cost is transport from Ketchikan: a day cruise is roughly US$200–350 per person and a float-plane flight about US$300–500 (2026 estimate).
What are the best hikes in Misty Fjords National Monument?
There are no maintained or marked trails. Hiking means a float-plane drop-off and route-finding through steep, wet rainforest and alpine terrain, which is why most visitors see the monument from a boat or plane instead.
When is the best time to visit Misty Fjords National Monument?
May to September. June to August has the longest days and the most boat and flight departures; May and September are quieter but wetter. October to April, most tours stop and weather cancels flights often.
How do I get to Misty Fjords from Ketchikan?
By tour boat or float plane from the Ketchikan waterfront. A boat takes 1.5–3 hours each way to Rudyerd Bay; a float plane takes about 30–45 minutes. There is no road.
Can I camp in Misty Fjords National Monument?
Yes, but tent sites are scarce on the steep, wet ground. US Forest Service cabins and shelters are the practical option and some need advance reservations. Bring all food and fuel; there are no services inside the monument.
Do I need a park pass for Misty Fjords?
No. The America the Beautiful pass covers National Park Service and some other federal sites, but Misty Fjords is US Forest Service land with no entrance fee, so a pass does not apply here.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go