A True Hidden Gem, The 40-Acre Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary Is Perfect For Alaska Nature Lovers
By Megan McDonald|Published September 26, 2022
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Megan McDonald
Author
Megan McDonald is a writer, photographer, and owner of humu media, an Alaska-based digital media agency. She spends her free time traveling with her husband and daughter around the US and the world.
It’s hard to choose your favorite park of Alaska’s incredible landscape, but the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary is definitely up there. Located within the impressive Tongass National Forest, this sanctuary is filled with all of the beautiful scenery that Southeast Alaska is known for. WIth a chance to see bear, raptors, and Alaska salmon, it’s a great place to walk among the tall trees outside of Ketchikan.
If you’re in Ketchikan and want to walk amongst the giants, you need to head to the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary.
The rainforest floor is absolutely saturated with unique plants like mosses, wild flowers, and also a variety of berries. The dense canopy provides a dappled, shaded area home to a wide array of plants and animals.
This gorgeous 40-acre reserve is filled with spruce, hemlock, and cedar trees.
This temperate rainforest borders Tongass National Forest, and a guide will bring you on a 0.75-mile walk through the forest. It’s an easy trail that meanders through Herring Creek, a boardwalk, open estuary, and rainforest.
Bald eagles regularly make an appearance on the nature walks, and black bears have been known to show up as well, especially during spawning season in the estuary. It’s a fabulous way to see the local wildlife in their natural habitat.
The Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary is located outside of Herring Cove.
Just eight miles from Ketchikan, it’s a quick trip if you’re in town for a visit. And the best part? They will have a van or coach come pick you up from town, so you don’t have to worry about transportation.
The sanctuary also offers a totem park to explore.
After your nature walk, spend some time exploring the Alaska Raptor Center and see the totem poles carved by Tlingit or Haida. This place is home to the first Tsimshian totem pole park in the entire country, boasting an impressive 40-foot totem pole.
This beautiful hidden retreat is worth a visit the next time you’re in Ketchikan.
Whether you want to see the wildlife, soak in the greenery, or just stroll beneath the canopy, it’s the place to go. You’ll remember this trip forever.
Have you ever visited the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary? What did you think? Was it amazing? Let us know in the comments below!
