The Trip
Orca’s
Cove is our most popular trip and was designed for the growing number
of people looking for a true wilderness experience. We
depart our waterfront location and travel by boat to remote Orca’s Cove.
Here you will meet your guides and become familiar with kayaking. After a basic
lesson we take off paddling, wandering amongst numerous islands, immersing ourselves
in the surroundings and keeping a lookout for wildlife. After paddling, we enjoy a
snack of the finest locally caught and smoked silver salmon and hot drinks before returning to town by boat. Our van drops guests travelling by cruise ship back at the cruise ship dock. For a more personal experience, our group size is limited to six guests per trip (or private groups of up to 12) and this trip is not sold on board cruise ships. Trips fill very quickly because we take such small groups, please book early to avoid disappointment. It is easy to Check Availability & Book Online.
Orcas Cove Scenery & Wildlife
Orcas Cove is a serene wilderness location, far from the bustle of town and the busy cruise ship docks. The old growth forest presses right down to the shoreline and the intertidal zone of over 20 feet is home to a colorful array of creatures. Several Bald Eagle nests are active in the area and we often have the opportunity to observe these remarkable birds in their homes. By it's very nature, we never know what wildlife we will see on any particular day - that's part of the excitment. Humpback Whales, Orcas, porpoises, seals and sealions all inhabit these waters. Along the shore we may see river otters, mink, deer and even occasionally, black bears.
Take our Orcas Cove/Misty Fjords Flightseeing Combination Trip to make the most of your time in town and see the very best of Ketchikan and Misty Fjords.
Friendly Guides & Relaxed Pace
Our guides are
trained naturalists and will enthusiastically share their love of the land with
you. Guides
carry binoculars to share with the group. We travel at a relaxed pace: the goal is to enjoy the wilderness and explore the shoreline, not to set any speed records. There are many
opportunities for photographing the exceptional scenery and wildlife.
What to Bring & Wear
Dry bags
are provided to protect your camera or video recorder. We ask that you dress in warm, comfortable layers. Paddling jackets and rain pants are provided. We use sprayskirts on the kayaks to help keep you dry. Sneakers are ideal for foot wear rather than large hiking boots which tend to be too bulky for the kayaks. Please do not wear high heels which can be dangerous on the docks. See our FAQ for more information.
Our Equipment
Southeast Sea Kayaks specializes in taking first-time paddlers kayaking in Southeast Alaska. Over the years we have tested all kinds of kayaks and equipment so that we can provide you with the best possible kayaking experience. We use high quality fiberglass
double touring kayaks by Current Designs on our trips – not plastic! The
double kayaks we use have a centre pod and so you do not have to coordinate your paddle strokes with your partner – making for a far more pleasurable trip. Our paddles are lightweight
touring paddles.
Trip Timing & Details
Orca’s Cove Adventure is a four hour trip. Check Availability. Approximately 45 minutes is the total travel time by boat. Cruise
ship visitors will meet our courtesy van at the Visitors Bureau Rain Gauge. Visitors staying locally can meet us at the rain gauge or at our store location. We ask all parties to meet us 15 minutes prior to trip time. If you are arriving by cruise ship, please allow 1 hour from the time your ship docks to your trip's starting time and allow at least 1 hour between your trip's finishing time and the departure time for your cruise ship.
Check Availability
Ketchikan Kayaking - 2.75 Hours
Adults:
$94
Children: $64 (6 - 15yrs)
Web Special
$89 per adult and $59 per child.
Book online before July 30th and mention "web special " in the comments section of our online booking form. Cannot be combined with any other offer.
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Courtesy van pick up and drop off on cruise ship dock
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Fun
2 hour paddle
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Great views of
Ketchikan's historic waterfront
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Explore
islands in the Tongass Narrows
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Visit
a Bald Eagle's nest
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No
experience necessary
-
Small
group size (or private groups of up to 18)
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The Trip
Ketchikan Kayaking is our original kayak adventure offering a unique way to explore Ketchikan and the surrounding islands. Despite the name, Ketchikan Kayaking is not just a paddle around the waterfront we spend most of our time exploring the shores of Pennock and Gravina Islands. After instruction in kayaking from our friendly guides, we depart right from our downtown dock and head across the Tongass Narrows to Pennock and Gravina Islands. There are no roads to these islands, the people who live there all commute by boat. Once in the West Channel we are out of sight of town and enjoy the serenity of the Tongass National Forest. Return to town rejuvenated and with time to explore on foot. Check Availability.
The Ketchikan Kayaking trip is one of the best value excursions in Ketchikan and is ideal for families and people with short stops in Ketchikan who would like to have time after paddling to explore the town. For people looking for a more remote wilderness experience we recommend the Orcas Cove trip.
Scenery & Wildlife
We see the historic town of Ketchikan from the water as we paddle across the Tongass Narrows. Seaplanes fly overhead and fishing boats head out to sea. On Pennock Island, an
active Bald Eagle’s nest offers the opportunity to see these great birds
nesting. In July and August salmon returning to spawn leap around the kayaks and occasionally we’ll
watch as eagles swoop down to snatch one from the surface and return it to the
nest to feed their young.
The 20 foot tide zone is home to an amazing variety of creatures. Brilliantly colored starfish, sun stars and even sea cucumbers are visible
beneath the kayaks in the crystal clear water. Kingfishers and Great Blue Herons
feed along the shore and Raven is ever present. Although
there are no guarantees on seeing whales or wildlife we can see pods of Humpbacks and Orcas and sometimes even black bears.
What to Bring & Wear
No
experience is necessary for this kayaking adventure. Minimum age to participate
is six years old. We have triple kayaks that can cater to our younger paddlers.
All equipment is provided including dry bags for your cameras. Raingear
is also provided and we ask that you dress in warm, comfortable layers. Please wear sneakers rather than hiking boots which are bulky in the kayaks.Please do not wear high heels which can be dangerous on our docks. Southeast Sea Kayaks only uses lightweight fiberglass kayaks,
not plastic, for your comfort and enjoyment. See our FAQ for more information.
Timing & Booking Details
Cruise ship visitors will meet our courtesy van at the visitors bureau rain gauge. Visitors staying locally can also meet us at our store location. We ask all parties to meet us 15 minutes prior to trip time. Guests on a cruise ship should allow 1 hour between their arrival time and trip time and 1 hour after the trip return time before their ship's departure time. We will advise you if the trip you request does not work for your ship time.
Because our groups are small, space is extremely limited in June, July and August and
advance bookings are highly recommended to avoid disappointment.
Check Availability
