Misty Fjords Seaplane Tour

Misty Fjords is best seen from the air, where steep granite walls, waterfalls, alpine lakes, and thick forest line up beneath your wings. The highlight is not just the flight. It is the quiet landing in a remote lake or bay, where you can step out, stretch your legs, and hear the wilderness around you. Every passenger gets a window seat, and the headsets let you talk with the pilot as you fly.

I especially like the small six-passenger DeHavilland Beaver planes and the chance to land within the monument instead of simply circling above it. Michelle, Adam, and Melissa have each received warm praise for their calm flying and clear narration. The main drawback is the price, $425 per person, plus the hard cancellation policy and the fact that fog or rain can cancel the flight.

Key points at a glance

• A six-passenger floatplane: The small aircraft gives every person a window and keeps the group intimate.
• A real wilderness landing: You may land on an alpine lake or calm bay and spend about 30 minutes outside the plane.
• Pilot-led narration: Voice-activated, noise-canceling headsets let you ask questions while flying.
• Port pickup made simple: Meet at the Liquid Sunshine Gauge outside the Ketchikan Visitors Bureau at Cruise Ship Berth 2.
• A weather-dependent adventure: Poor weather can cancel the trip, but a weather cancellation qualifies for a full refund or a different date.
• A high-cost, high-impact excursion: At $425, this is not a casual add-on, but it gives you access to a roadless national monument that is otherwise difficult to reach.

Why the air is the right way to see Misty Fjords

Misty Fjords National Monument covers about 2.3 million acres in Southeast Alaska. There are no roads through it. You can reach parts of this huge wilderness by boat, but a seaplane shows you the full shape of the country in a way a boat cannot.

From above, you can see narrow fjords cutting into the land, granite cliffs rising as much as 3,500 feet from the sea, waterfalls dropping down the rock, and bowl-shaped lakes held high in the mountains. The area receives more than 150 inches of rain each year, which helps support thick stands of spruce, hemlock, and cedar.

The weather is part of the character of the place. Mist and low cloud can soften the views, while a clear day can reveal an enormous sweep of rock, forest, water, and snow. You should not expect a guaranteed postcard sky, but even a cloudy flight can make the monument feel remote and immense.

The route crosses Revillagigedo Island toward the mainland and the fjords. The plane’s low altitude and broad windows give you a better sense of scale than a large aircraft would. You are not simply looking at one scenic point. You are watching the terrain change as islands, mountains, waterways, and forest pass below.

From Berth 2 to a six-passenger Beaver

The meeting point is the Liquid Sunshine Gauge outside the Ketchikan Visitors Bureau at Cruise Ship Berth 2. That location matters on a cruise stop because you do not need to find your way to a separate marina or airport. A company van takes you to the airport, about 15 minutes away.

Allow time to get organized at the pickup point. You must provide a contact phone number when booking or call to confirm your tour time, and cruise passengers must provide the name of their ship. These details help the operator match the flight to your port schedule.

At the airport, you meet the pilot and receive a safety briefing before boarding. The aircraft is a six-passenger DeHavilland Beaver floatplane. The small cabin is one of the strongest features of this outing. You will not need to compete for a window, and you can look down on both sides during the flight.

The tour can include up to 12 people overall, but the aircraft itself carries six passengers. That means the group may operate with more than one plane, depending on the day. Ask the operator how your party will be arranged if you are booking with a larger group.

What the headset adds to the flight

A flightseeing trip can become a quiet spectacle if you do not know what you are looking at. Here, the pilot narrates the route through voice-activated, noise-canceling headsets. You can ask questions without shouting over the engine.

The guides are a major part of the experience. Michelle, the owner and a longtime bush pilot, is often praised for explaining the forest, waterways, mountains, and flying conditions in a personal, easygoing way. Adam is also noted for his friendly narration and calm handling of the aircraft. Melissa has been praised as a safe pilot and effective guide.

The headset system is especially useful during a changing flight path. The pilot can point out waterfalls, mountain features, wildlife, or a particular lake while you are looking in the right direction. Sightings are never guaranteed, but one flight included a pod of orcas below the plane. Mountain goats and harbor seals are among the animals most often seen in this region.

Bring questions. You may want to ask about the Tongass forest, the floatplane, bush flying, or the way glacial ice shaped the fjords. The pilots have room to make the trip more than a silent scenic loop.

The Misty Fjords route and its huge scale

The main flight lasts about two hours, while the full experience runs roughly two and a half hours. That extra time includes transportation, boarding, and the stop outside the aircraft.

The scenery changes constantly. From Ketchikan, the plane heads over island country and toward the fjords on the mainland. Below you are forested slopes and channels. Ahead are long, narrow inlets framed by sheer rock.

The fjords were cut by glaciers long ago. Their steep walls rise directly from the water, creating a much more vertical setting than ordinary coastal scenery. Waterfalls may appear as thin white lines or broad plunges down the cliffs, depending on rain and snowmelt.

High alpine lakes add another layer. Some sit far above sea level in rounded basins, while the fjords below connect to the sea. The value of flightseeing is clear here: from the air, you can see several levels of the country at once. A boat gives you the walls and water at close range. The plane gives you the pattern.

The size can also make the trip feel a little abstract. You are covering a vast area in a short time, and the pilot chooses the exact route based on weather and conditions. If you want a long, close look at one fjord, a boat trip may suit you better. If you want to understand the monument as a whole, the plane has the advantage.

The landing on a lake or bay

The most memorable part of the outing is the floatplane landing. Depending on conditions, the aircraft lands on a freshwater alpine lake or a calm saltwater bay. The stop lasts about 30 minutes.

Once the plane is secure, you can get out, stretch your legs, take pictures, and enjoy the silence. Some flights land on a glacial lake surrounded by mountains. Others use a quiet bay. The exact site is not guaranteed, but the operator holds a United States Forest Service special-use permit for shore stops within Misty Fjords National Monument.

This pause changes the rhythm of the trip. For most of the flight, you are taking in one view after another. On the ground, you have time to notice the small things: the still water, the rocks underfoot, the sound of the forest, and the lack of roads or buildings. The quiet can be more powerful than the views from the plane.

Wear comfortable walking shoes, since you will step onto a natural shoreline rather than a paved dock. Layered clothing is the smart choice. Ketchikan’s rain can make the air cool, and conditions at the landing site may feel different from those at the port.

Do not count on a long hike. The stop is a short shore excursion, not a backcountry walk. Its value is the chance to stand in the monument and experience the stillness before climbing back aboard.

Is $425 a fair price?

At $425 per person, this is one of Ketchikan’s more expensive shore excursions. The price makes sense if you value access, time, and scale. Misty Fjords is roadless, and reaching its interior by boat can take much longer. The floatplane gets you over a wide area and includes a landing within the monument.

The guaranteed window seat also matters. You are paying for a small aircraft rather than a large sightseeing plane where your view may be limited. The pilot narration, airport transfer, and shore stop add to the practical value.

Still, this is not a bargain activity. Weather can limit the route, cloud can hide the high peaks, and wildlife sightings are uncertain. You also receive no food or drinks onboard, though bottled water is allowed. If your budget is tight, compare this with a boat tour or a less expensive Ketchikan activity.

I would put the seaplane near the top of the list for anyone who wants one major Alaska experience during a cruise. I would be more cautious if you are mainly looking for a low-cost way to fill two hours.

Weather, cancellations, and booking care

Misty Fjords flights depend on safe flying conditions. Fog, rain, wind, and low visibility can affect the route or cancel the trip. If the operator cancels because of poor weather, you are offered another date or a full refund.

The standard policy is strict if you cancel for another reason. The experience is listed as non-refundable and cannot be changed, so check the date, ship schedule, and port time before paying. One important warning comes from a booking problem in which a passenger selected the wrong cruise date and tried to change it only 48 hours before departure. The seats could not be resold, and the payment was not returned.

Booking directly may offer a 14-day advance cancellation policy, according to the operator’s stated terms. Third-party bookings can have different rules, including no refund except for weather. Read the conditions attached to the exact booking channel you use.

The operator normally confirms within 48 hours, subject to availability. Since the tour is often booked well in advance, do not wait until the last minute if this is your main plan in Ketchikan.

Who will enjoy this most

This flight suits you if you want big scenery, a small group, and a distinctive way to see Southeast Alaska. It is especially good for:

• First-time visitors to Ketchikan: You see far more than the streets and shops near the port.
• Photographers: Every seat has a window, and the flight offers views of waterfalls, fjords, lakes, and forest.
• Families with older children or teenagers: The short flight, water landing, and chance to step onto a remote shore create a strong shared memory.
• Couples and solo passengers: The small aircraft keeps the outing personal, and solo passengers can still enjoy the full route.
• Repeat Alaska visitors: The lake landing and aerial view offer something different from a standard cruise excursion.

It may be less suitable if you dislike small aircraft, need a guaranteed dry-weather activity, or want a long walk. The aircraft is compact, the flight can be postponed by weather, and the outdoor stop is brief.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The provided information does not list detailed aircraft accessibility specifications, so contact the operator if you have mobility needs or concerns about boarding a floatplane.

Practical tips for a smoother flight

Wear layers, comfortable walking shoes, and clothing that can handle cool or damp conditions. Bring a camera, but also leave room to watch the scenery without a screen in front of you.

Food and drinks are not allowed on the floatplane except bottled water. Eat before pickup if you need a meal, especially if your cruise stop begins early.

Confirm your time and give the operator a working phone number. Include your cruise ship name when booking. These are small steps, but they matter when port schedules and weather can change the day.

If you are nervous about flying, tell the pilot before takeoff. The aircraft is small, and the route can include normal movement from wind or changing conditions. Several passengers have found the pilots reassuring, and some flights use calming music during the trip, but no flight can promise perfectly smooth air.

Book with enough time before your cruise. The experience is often reserved about 101 days ahead, which tells you that popular dates can fill well before ships arrive.

Should you book the Misty Fjords Seaplane Tour?

I would book it if the $425 price fits your budget and you want the most dramatic view of Ketchikan’s wild side. The combination of a six-passenger plane, pilot narration, guaranteed window seats, and a landing on a remote lake or bay gives the outing more substance than a simple scenic flight.

I would skip it if you need a firm, low-cost plan or if a weather cancellation would leave your port day in trouble. For everyone else, this is a strong choice, especially when Michelle, Adam, or Melissa is flying and the conditions allow a shore stop. The fjords are enormous, the access is rare, and the silence after landing may be the part you remember longest.

FAQ

Where does the Misty Fjords seaplane tour begin?

Pickup is at the Liquid Sunshine Gauge outside the Ketchikan Visitors Bureau at Cruise Ship Berth 2.

Is transportation from the cruise port included?

Yes. An Island Wings van takes you from the pickup point to the airport and returns you to the Ketchikan cruise port afterward.

How long does the tour last?

The full experience lasts about two hours and 30 minutes. The flight itself lasts about two hours, including a shore stop of about 30 minutes.

How many people fit in the seaplane?

The DeHavilland Beaver floatplanes carry six passengers, giving every passenger a guaranteed window seat.

Will the pilot talk during the flight?

Yes. The pilot provides interactive narration, and voice-activated, noise-canceling headsets allow you to ask questions during the flight.

Where does the plane land during the tour?

The plane lands on either an alpine freshwater lake or a calm saltwater bay, depending on conditions.

Can I get out of the plane?

Yes. During the shore stop, you can get out, stretch your legs, take photographs, and enjoy the setting before returning to Ketchikan.

What should I wear?

Wear layered clothing and comfortable walking shoes. The tour includes time outside on a natural shoreline.

Can I bring food or drinks?

Food and drinks are not allowed on the floatplane, except bottled water.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes the cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund.