Totem Bight State Historical Park - Ketchikan, Alaska

Frank S.

We went on a Potlatch tour from a cruise we were on. Took a trolley to the park and had a small tour group walk around the various totems and other artifacts. The tour guide was underwhelming, but the stuff we saw was beautiful and historic.

David C.

Bring a rain jacket!! The park is rather small but beautiful. Come more for the scenery than the totem poles. The history is interesting but the surrounding captivated me more.

YNWA M.

Interesting park with totems and buildings but also a breath taking Coastal setting behind. It was fascinating learning about the stories of the totems and the uses of the buildings. Being in them, we could really imagine what it might have been like. Walking around the shore was equally intriguing, so much so that we came back the next day as well. We did not come in the season, but when there was a lot of snow and ice on the ground. However, this was one of the best places we visited and one of my abiding memories of Ketchikan.

JB L.

Totem Park near Ketchikan, Alaska: A beautiful place to walk around. Tours are excellent. The wood carving & totems are really spectacular. The mountains & islands around you pRovide a magnificent back-drop. This is a superb illustration of the Inuit culture.

Samuel M.

Very interesting park with a lot of historical artifacts and info. We went in a cruise tour and it guide filled in a lot of info for us.

Matt P.

Very cool self-guided park at a former Native American fish camp. With a traditional clan house and totem poles throughout, it was interesting to learn about the customs of the tribes that lived there and the process it took to carve a totem. There are kiosks at the entry where you can pay the $5 entry fee or it also seemed like many tour companies offered tours there as well. We saw a few groups with guides explaining everything so maybe that were tour groups booked through someone? It certainly is a peaceful plan to visit!

Geoff E.

This is a great destination when you have a couple hours free. Transport was easy. Take the bus $2 each way. Cash only. Entrance fee was five bucks and well worth it. Even if you have multiple large tours there, you should be able to cover the park in 1 to 2 hours. It had beautiful water coastal views, a nice variety of totem poles and an easy loop trail around the park. If you have nice weather, it would be great for a picnic and some relaxation time.

Anthony J. B.

Totem Bight is a truly magical place. We visited on a chilly April day, and the experience was unforgettable. A short path winds through a dense forest filled with towering trees and lush ferns, eventually opening into a clearing where the totems stand tall. As mist rolled in, it cast a mystical aura over the grounds, while bald eagles circled overhead, their calls echoing above the tidal waters.

The totems themselves are stunning—each one unique, beautifully carved, and rich in color, towering above visitors with stories of the past. Once a fishing camp for the Native people, this site feels like a portal to another time. Walking among the totems, you can’t help but feel a deep connection to the history and culture they represent.

If you’re interested in Native culture and history, Totem Bight State Historical Park is absolutely worth a visit.