Explore Ketchikan's extraordinary Tlingit and Haida totem poles with an Indigenous cultural guide who decodes the stories, clans, and cosmology carved into each ancient cedar pole. A profound, intimate encounter with one of the world's great living art traditions.
What to expect
Your guide collects your private group from the pier and drives the scenic North Tongass Highway to Totem Bight State Historical Park, where 14 meticulously restored totem poles and a clan house stand in a forest clearing above the Behm Canal. Each pole is a narrative in cedar: origin stories, potlatch commemorations, clan crests. Your guide answers every question with depth and warmth. The return route passes Saxman Totem Park — home to the world's largest collection of standing totems — for a second, equally revelatory stop. You'll leave with an understanding that transforms how you see the Alaskan landscape.
Good to know
Private vehicles accommodate mobility needs; confirm when booking. Best done early in the port call before large groups arrive. Allow 3–4 hours. Totem Bight park entry is free; guide fees cover transport and expert commentary. Pre-book at least 2 weeks ahead.