What Is It?
The Misty Fiords National Monument is an area of Southeastern Alaska near the Canadian border with spectacular mountains and cliffs that rise straight up from the sea. There are numerous coves, lakes, mountains, and rivers to explore that have been created mostly by glacier and volcanic activity over thousands of years. The nearly 2.3 million acre area is surrounded by the Tongass National Forest and was given the “national monument” status in 1978 by presidential proclamation.
Where Is It?
The Monument is located a little over 20 miles from Ketchikan, which is the closest city, and about 650 air miles north of Seattle. If you are traveling by boat it is about 50 miles from Ketchikan and must be accessed through the Behm Canal, which separates Revillagigedo Island (the island where Ketchikan is located) from the mainland.
How Do You Get There?
The Monument must be accessed by either boat or plane (which is half the fun) as there are no roads leading to the area. I have taken a float plane to the area and must say that it is an amazing trip. Most operators out of Ketchikan will fly you through the beautiful fiords and will even land in a nice little cove or lake so that you can take pictures and enjoy the scenery. If you are not a fan of small planes, you can also take a boat tour, although this mode of transport will obviously take a little longer to reach your destination. In addition, there are some tour companies that will take you out to the monument and give you time to kayak and explore a little. Whichever method you choose you will be sure to be amazed.
If you do decide to take a boat, you will leave Ketchikan, which is located on Revillagigedo Island (usually shortened to Revilla) and head southeast to the Behm Canal. Once you enter the over 100 mile long canal, you will have a straight shot to the Misty Fiords Monument.
What Kind of Wildlife Will I See?
One of the true amazing things about the Monument is the vast array of wildlife that can be found in the area. Other than the many obvious types of different fish you can find, you can also find eagles, black bears, brown bears, mountain goats, deer, wolves, wolverine, otter, marten, beaver, and mink. In addition, many marine animals such as whales, porpoises, seals, and sea lions can be found.
What Kind of Weather Can I Expect?
Statistically you will probably end up experiencing some rain and can expect temperatures in the 50s - 70s during the summer months. If you do up with some rain, don’t let this stop you as the area is just as beautiful in the rain and clouds as it is on a sunny day. In fact, in my opinion it looks more like the real Alaska when there are some low clouds blanketing the area.
What If I Want to Stay Longer Than One Day?
The great thing about the Monument is that you can camp out or even rent a forest service cabin, which are commonly found in the area. The cabins can be found near the coastline or in surrounding lakes and can be rented for a small fee. It is best to reserve in advance as these are popular in the summer. If you do decide to camp out please be careful of the bears. There are many brown bears in the area that will come check you out if they smell some food. Also make sure to plan for the wet weather and remember that even in summer, conditions can change with little warning.
Additional Questions?
I realize this is only a brief overview of what the Misty Fiords National Monument is so please feel free to contact us if you have any more in depth questions. We can also point you in the right direction if you have any additional inquiries related to flight seeing or excursion companies located in Ketchikan.
The Misty Fiords National Monument is an area of Southeastern Alaska near the Canadian border with spectacular mountains and cliffs that rise straight up from the sea. There are numerous coves, lakes, mountains, and rivers to explore that have been created mostly by glacier and volcanic activity over thousands of years. The nearly 2.3 million acre area is surrounded by the Tongass National Forest and was given the “national monument” status in 1978 by presidential proclamation.
Where Is It?
The Monument is located a little over 20 miles from Ketchikan, which is the closest city, and about 650 air miles north of Seattle. If you are traveling by boat it is about 50 miles from Ketchikan and must be accessed through the Behm Canal, which separates Revillagigedo Island (the island where Ketchikan is located) from the mainland.
How Do You Get There?
The Monument must be accessed by either boat or plane (which is half the fun) as there are no roads leading to the area. I have taken a float plane to the area and must say that it is an amazing trip. Most operators out of Ketchikan will fly you through the beautiful fiords and will even land in a nice little cove or lake so that you can take pictures and enjoy the scenery. If you are not a fan of small planes, you can also take a boat tour, although this mode of transport will obviously take a little longer to reach your destination. In addition, there are some tour companies that will take you out to the monument and give you time to kayak and explore a little. Whichever method you choose you will be sure to be amazed.
If you do decide to take a boat, you will leave Ketchikan, which is located on Revillagigedo Island (usually shortened to Revilla) and head southeast to the Behm Canal. Once you enter the over 100 mile long canal, you will have a straight shot to the Misty Fiords Monument.
What Kind of Wildlife Will I See?
One of the true amazing things about the Monument is the vast array of wildlife that can be found in the area. Other than the many obvious types of different fish you can find, you can also find eagles, black bears, brown bears, mountain goats, deer, wolves, wolverine, otter, marten, beaver, and mink. In addition, many marine animals such as whales, porpoises, seals, and sea lions can be found.
What Kind of Weather Can I Expect?
Statistically you will probably end up experiencing some rain and can expect temperatures in the 50s - 70s during the summer months. If you do up with some rain, don’t let this stop you as the area is just as beautiful in the rain and clouds as it is on a sunny day. In fact, in my opinion it looks more like the real Alaska when there are some low clouds blanketing the area.
What If I Want to Stay Longer Than One Day?
The great thing about the Monument is that you can camp out or even rent a forest service cabin, which are commonly found in the area. The cabins can be found near the coastline or in surrounding lakes and can be rented for a small fee. It is best to reserve in advance as these are popular in the summer. If you do decide to camp out please be careful of the bears. There are many brown bears in the area that will come check you out if they smell some food. Also make sure to plan for the wet weather and remember that even in summer, conditions can change with little warning.
Additional Questions?
I realize this is only a brief overview of what the Misty Fiords National Monument is so please feel free to contact us if you have any more in depth questions. We can also point you in the right direction if you have any additional inquiries related to flight seeing or excursion companies located in Ketchikan.
No comments:
Post a Comment