Misty Fjords National Monument Wilderness Area

Misty Fjords National Monument Wilderness Area Remote Wilderness Recreation Adventure Fishing, Hunting, Crabbing, Sh*****ng, Wildlife Photography, Hiking, Kayaking, Exploring, and much more!

Misty Fjords National Monument Wilderness Area was created on December 1, 1978 through presidential proclamation by President Jimmy Carter to protect the ecological, cultural, geological, historical, prehistoric, scientific, and wilderness values of the area. The entrance to the Misty Fjords is located 22 miles East of Ketchikan, Alaska with the heart of Misty Fjords, Rudyerd Bay area, farther Nor

th another 25 miles. Hundreds of tourists visit the Fjords daily via cruise ships, high speed jet catamarans, and/or float planes for a relatively quick and superficial experience of what wilderness looks like. To really experience the soul of wilderness folks can explore other areas within the Misty Fjords that are far less traveled, and spending days instead of minutes surrounded by wilderness majesty enables one to be truly touched by the Misty Fjords' awesome beauty and inspirations. There are several ways to explore Misty Fiords (often mispelled Fjords) that fit various agenda's, timeframes, and pocketbooks. From the 1 hour fly-by via floatplane or 4 1/2 hour non-stop catamaran ride, to the more relaxed cabin rental's and most adventuresome roughing it for days by kayak! The best way to explore Misty Fiords Wilderness with the least impact on wilderness yet exploring the most recreation options available is to book a 5 day, 4 night adventure with an experienced overnight charter boat! Qualified charterboat operators plying the secluded waterways of Misty Fjords (correctly spelled Fiords) are USCG licensed, carry the necessary ADF&G SportFish Guide and/or Business license for fishing saltwater and freshwater, carry the required US Forest Service Special Use Permits for freshwater fishing, hiking, photography and nature tours, along with the more recently required NOAA/NMFS Halibut Permit for catching and retaining halibut caught by guided guests. Beware of those that promise services without securing the proper permits for those services, especially the ones you are interested in participating in! For more info on service companies that have best demonstrated adhering to Federal and State regulations and guidelines, respectfully operate within, above, and adjacent to, Misty Fjords National Monument Wilderness Area, and carry the permits required for sport fishing saltwater and freshwater along with land based activities, stay tuned for updates! The pristine tranquility and serene atmosphere of the Misty Fjords will transform and relax those who truly appreciate the value of wilderness. The incredible ecological diversity, rainforest climate, and coastal waterways that cut back into the Coastal Range of mountains provides unparalleled opportunities for experiencing remote and wild recreation in a backdrop of hundreds of waterfalls cascading from sheer granite walls into the sea 3000 feet below. Lush green tide flats mark the end of most salmon bearing streams and major river systems, where folks can witness Brown and Black Bear feeding on sedge grasses, roots and tubers in the spring, and during summer and fall, be impressed with the animals' abilities to hunt down spawning salmon numbering in the millions. From picturesque snow capped peaks where the mountain goats roam, to the rugged coastal shoreline of protected coves, bays, channels and canals, you'll find wildlife in healthy abundance in the Misty Fjords. The bears of course are everywhere, and more bald eagles than you could imagine soaring overhead and often impressing guests with a fish catching show! Sitka Black Tail Deer forage through the dense old growth forests, followed closely by packs of Alaskan archipelago wolves. Birders are in for a treat with realistically often sightings of marbled murrelets, pigeon guillemonts, red throated loons, Pacific loons, and scores of other sea and shore birds. The marine mammal shows of Misty Fjords includes the migrating humpback whales, pods of killer whales, and the ever present Dall porpoises riding the bow wave of the Saltery C. You'll also find harbor seals, sea lions, hauled out on rocky outcroppings, Sea Otters rolling around the kelp beds and river otters gliding purposefully, often playfully, along the waters edges in search of food.

04/13/2026

Protect the Alaska You Came to Love!

Dear cruise enthusiasts who sail north for the breathtaking glaciers, abundant wildlife, and untouched beauty of Alaska. The majestic landscapes and crystal waters that make your voyage unforgettable are under growing pressure from the very industry bringing you here. Massive ships can discharge millions of gallons of treated, but still polluted, wastewater daily, sometimes exceeding limits with scrubber washwater containing heavy metals and toxins that harm marine life from the tiniest plankton to whales and salmon. Air emissions, noise, and concentrated visitor impacts add to the strain on fragile ecosystems and port communities. You love the pristine Alaska experience, choose operators committed to stricter standards, support smaller or low-impact vessels, reduce your onboard waste, and advocate for stronger protections. Together, we can ensure the wild wonder that drew us all remains truly protected for generations of cruisers to come. Sail responsibly, Alaska's future depends on it.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DkS4XD5u6/

04/09/2026

"TrailBest is built for people who care about the places they go.
Created by the same family behind — a trusted brand with over 1,000 five-star reviews.
Honest gear, tied to real places."
https://www.facebook.com/trailbest

TrailBest is built for people who care about the places they go.
Created by the same family behind — a trusted brand with over 1,000 five-star reviews.
Honest gear, tied to real places.

03/27/2026

Misty Dreams...

In the heart of the Alaskan wilderness lies the Misty Fjords National Monument, a place where time seems to stand still,...
03/31/2025

In the heart of the Alaskan wilderness lies the Misty Fjords National Monument, a place where time seems to stand still, and the world speaks in whispers. Here's an adventurer's tale from that enchanted land:

The journey began with the hum of a seaplane's engine, cutting through the morning mist like a hot knife through butter. As we descended, the fjords came into view, carved by glaciers into the earth's crust, their sheer cliffs rising like giants from the sea. The water below was a mirror, reflecting the sky so perfectly that it was hard to tell where the water ended and the heavens began. The fjords were named well; mist swirled around the peaks, giving the entire area a mystical, otherworldly aura.

We landed on the calm waters of Rudyerd Bay, where the silence was so profound you could hear the heartbeat of the wilderness. I disembarked onto a rocky shore, feeling the weight of adventure in my pack. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of pine and the distant, salty tang of the ocean.

As I ventured deeper into the forest, the landscape changed. I walked through groves of ancient Sitka spruce, their trunks wide and their branches like arms reaching toward the sky. Underfoot, the forest floor was a carpet of mosses and ferns, damp and lush. Every step felt like walking through history, each tree a silent witness to centuries.

Wildlife was everywhere, yet often just out of sight. I caught glimpses of black bears foraging for salmon, their dark fur blending with the shadows. Bald eagles soared above, their cries echoing off the fjord walls. Once, I watched in awe as a humpback whale breached near the mouth of the bay, its massive form a testament to the untouched nature of this place.

The waterways here are arteries of life, connecting the fjord to the sea, allowing for the migration of salmon that sustains so much of the local fauna. I followed a river, its waters clear and cold from mountain springs, until I reached a waterfall, cascading down rock faces softened by millennia of water flow.

Each step in Misty Fjords was a lesson in humility and wonder. This wilderness is not just beautiful; it's a critical part of our planet's health. Preserving places like Misty Fjords ensures that future generations can experience this raw, natural beauty, understand the interconnectedness of ecosystems, and find inspiration, solitude, or adventure in the wild.

As the sun began to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, I sat by the water's edge, reflecting on the day. Here, in this remote corner of the world, one feels the pulse of life in its purest form. It's vital we keep these areas wild, not just for the animals that call it home but for the human spirit that needs places like these to dream, to heal, and to remember what it means to be part of something much larger than ourselves.

The seaplane returned to take me back, but part of my heart remained amidst the fjords, a silent promise to return and a vow to protect this jewel of nature. For if we lose places like Misty Fjords, we lose not just land, but a piece of our soul.

RJS

https://www.oneearth.org/ecoregions/northern-pacific-alaskan-coastal-forests/This includes Misty Fjords National Monumen...
03/08/2025

https://www.oneearth.org/ecoregions/northern-pacific-alaskan-coastal-forests/
This includes Misty Fjords National Monument Wilderness Area!

Misty Fjords National Monument is a microcosm of Southeast Alaska’s wild beauty, where towering cliffs, misty rainforests, and alpine peaks create a dynamic and interconnected ecosystem. Its temperate rainforest climate sustains an ancient forest, while its elevation gradient showcases nature’s adaptability across diverse habitats.

This ecoregion is one of the wildest and best-protected regions of North America outside of arctic tundra and northern taiga zones.

North America's Treetop SeabirdMarbled Murrelet egg and growing chick. Illustration by Alex Boersma.The Marbled Murrelet...
10/17/2022

North America's Treetop Seabird
Marbled Murrelet egg and growing chick. Illustration by Alex Boersma.
The Marbled Murrelet was one of the U.S. and Canada's last breeding species to reveal its nesting secrets when — in August 1974 — a tree surgeon found a nest with a downy chick 147 feet up in a 200-foot-tall Douglas-fir tree. The discovery showed that this remarkable seabird, which is listed as Endangered by the IUCN and Threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, depends on old-growth forests in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska.The revelation galvanized forest protection and management efforts to conserve the Marbled Murrelet. More than 160 nests have since been found, the vast majority in trees. Now, with ABC support, conservationists are experimenting with social attraction to see if birds will breed in younger forests. From American Bird Conservancy…

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