Totem Bight State Park & Canoe Adventure

After departing from the pier, you will enjoy a brief but scenic drive up the coast to Totem Bight State Historical Park, where you will become immersed in the culture of the Alaskan Natives of Southeast Alaska. Starting in the 1940s, the CCC constructed the park here in the rainforest to accurately present the customs and family life to visitors. As you wander through the park, you will see colorful, hand-carved totem poles and a large clan house similar to ones built in the early 19th century. Your guide will go into detail about the different styles of poles. After walking through the exhibit, you will depart for lake Harriet Hunt. Here, you will board a 37-foot canoe patterned after the ones that the Tlingit and Haida built. The lake provides a beautiful setting for your paddling adventure because the dense forest comes to the edge of the water. In time, you will disembark for an Alaskan-style snack. Then, you will have the opportunity to walk through an old-growth forest while your guide points out the most interesting flora and perhaps fauna. Afterwards, you will return to Ketchikan.