Herring Cove lies about eight miles south of downtown, near the end of the paved South Tongass Highway. A creek comes down here from Whitman Lake, past a salmon hatchery, and meets the sea in a shallow, sheltered bay. When the salmon return in late summer, the concentration of fish attracts black bears to the creek, bald eagles to the trees and harbour seals to the cove — all visible from a road bridge.
The forest on the hillside above is home to the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary, a private reserve of about 40 acres with boardwalk trails, and to Ketchikan’s canopy zipline courses. So Herring Cove appears on many excursion itineraries, and it is also the best wildlife stop for independent travellers with a car or taxi.
Top things to do: Herring Cove & the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary
Watch for bears from the bridge
In season, bears walk the creek banks and the tidal flats below the bridge, especially around low tide. Stay on the road or the viewing area, keep your distance and do not go down to the water. Outside the salmon run you are unlikely to see them.
Guided rainforest sanctuary walk
Naturalist guides lead small groups along forest trails and raised boardwalks beside the creek, explaining the trees, the salmon cycle and the wildlife. The route ends at a historic sawmill, with a resident carver’s workshop and totem poles. It is an easy walk of about a mile.
Ziplining in the canopy
Courses near Herring Cove send you between platforms high in the spruce and hemlock, with suspension bridges and a rappel to finish. Guides handle all the technical work; you need only reasonable mobility and a head for heights.
Eagles and seals
Even when the bears do not show, dozens of bald eagles gather here in the salmon season, and seals patrol the mouth of the creek.
How to get there
- By road: follow the South Tongass Highway through Saxman for about 8 miles — around 20 minutes from downtown.
- By taxi: feasible as a return trip with waiting time; agree the fare first.
- By bus: the public bus does not normally run all the way to the cove.
- By tour: the sanctuary walk, ziplines and several combination tours include transport from the docks. See our tours page.
Insider tips
- Best from late July to mid-September, and best around low tide, when fish are easier for bears to catch in the shallows.
- Parking by the bridge is very limited and the road is narrow. Park considerately and watch for traffic.
- Never approach a bear for a photograph, and keep children close. A bear that feels crowded will leave — or worse.
- The sanctuary is on private land and can only be visited on a guided tour.
- Combine the trip with Saxman, which you pass on the way.
Best tours for this sight
These bookable Ketchikan excursions fit best with a visit to Herring Cove & the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary:
Nature walk from $110 Ketchikan: Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary and Totem Park Walk
A naturalist leads you along trails and boardwalks through the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary at Herring Cove, explaining the forest, the salmon stream and the animals that depend on it. The walk ends at a historic sawmill and a small totem park. Gentle, and worthwhile in any weather.
- Guided walk in a 40-acre private rainforest reserve
- Historic sawmill and totem park
- Look for bears, eagles and salmon in season
Guided tour from $85 From Ketchikan: Potlatch Totem Park and Herring Cove Tour
A guided visit to Potlatch Park to discover the art of totem carving, followed by a stop at Herring Cove to look for wildlife — eagles all season and bears when the salmon are in. One of the lowest-priced tours with transport.
- Guided visit to Potlatch Park
- Learn about the art of totem carving
- Wildlife spotting at Herring Cove
Adventure from $225 Ketchikan: Rainforest Canopy & Zipline Adventure
Glide between treetop platforms in the Tongass National Forest on a series of eight ziplines and an aerial bridge. Guides clip you in, coach you and point out wildlife below. Small groups and full safety gear; no experience needed.
- Eight ziplines through the Tongass canopy
- An aerial suspension bridge
- Wildlife seen from above
