Accommodations & Meals

The Lodge — Where You Stay

The lodge sits in a cathedral-like forest beside a quiet bay. The main building is warm and well-designed — 15 bedrooms, each with a private bathroom and individual climate control. The dining room and sitting area are anchored by a wood-burning stove, and just outside, there is covered outdoor seating for the evenings that cooperate.

The game room has several distinct seating areas, a big-screen TV, a pool table, board games, poker, shuffleboard, and ping pong. There is a Jacuzzi, a sauna, and a massage room. The gift shop carries basic outerwear, fleece, and essentials if you forget something.

Groups of 20 or more can buy out the entire lodge. It works for family reunions, corporate retreats, and buddy trips where you want the place to yourselves.

Lodge amenities include:

• Jacuzzi, sauna, and massage room
• Kayaks and mountain bikes
• Fire pit
• Board games, pool table, ping pong, poker, shuffleboard
• Free laundry service
• Free WiFi (satellite — sufficient for email and light browsing; slower than you are used to)
• Hair dryers, toiletries, and all-natural amenities
• Apple TV and DVD player
• Meeting area
• Gift shop

Meals

Meals are a genuine highlight. You order off the menu each morning and evening, and the chef is exceptional. Fish, pork, steaks, and more. The desserts are worth saving room for every evening.

At dinner, you fill out your lunch order from a selection of sandwich meats, snacks, sweets, and fruit. Your lunch is packed and ready before you head out the next morning.

Breakfast is made-to-order from 6:30 to 8:30 AM. Appetizers at 6:00 PM. Dinner from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. House beer and wine are served with dinner at no charge. Full bar service is available. If you want something specific, let us know and we can have it arranged at cost.

Fishing

Prince of Wales Island sits in the heart of Alaska’s Inside Passage, with access to both saltwater and freshwater fisheries on the same trip. That dual access is rare, and it matters — not just for variety, but for resilience. When one fishery is not cooperating, the other almost always is.

Saltwater: The lodge sits on the Inside Passage, which means you fish relatively calm protected waters — a small chop on a windy day, not open-ocean swell. The boats are 28-foot heated cabin cruisers with a flushing private toilet and all the tackle you need. Your captain is U.S. Coast Guard licensed, certified in first aid and CPR. You are fishing for halibut, salmon, lingcod, rockfish, and sea bass.

Freshwater: Twenty-three lakes, rivers, and streams on Prince of Wales Island, accessed by van from the lodge. Many of these waters are fished only by lodge guests. You are fishing for cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, and seasonal salmon runs. All fly and spin gear, waders, boots, and rain gear are included.

The lodge provides everything. You do not need to bring any gear. If you have a favorite rod you cannot travel without, bring it — just know that felt-sole wading boots are not permitted in Alaska.

What you can catch and when:

• Halibut — great all season
• King Salmon — early June through early July
• Silver Salmon — August through September
• Pink and Chum Salmon — mid-July through August
• Steelhead — April through early June, with May being the best
• Rockfish, lingcod, and sea bass — all season
• Cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, Dolly Varden — July through September
• Best bear viewing — July through September
• Whale watching — any time, prime from July onward

Taking fish home: The lodge cleans, fillets, vacuum packs, freezes, and boxes your fish. Each box holds up to 50 pounds. You can carry two boxes on the return floatplane at no extra charge. Additional boxes are subject to a freight charge.

Full gear recommendations, fly patterns, lure sizes, and species regulations are in the pre-trip planner we send after booking.

Weather: May and September daytime temperatures often range in the mid-40s. July and August can reach the upper 70s. If you are there more than three days, you will likely see some rain — come prepared. The dual fishery means you can always fish regardless of conditions.

Full airline recommendations, what to pack, and flight timing details are in the pre-trip planner we send after booking.

Activities

Activities & Experiences — Beyond the Boat

Not everyone in your group fishes. That is not a problem here — it is actually one of the main reasons we recommend this lodge to families and mixed groups. There is enough happening that non-fishing members will not feel like they are waiting around for the boat to come back. They will need more days.

On the water and at the lodge:

• Kayaking in the inlet — included
• Whale watching — typically July and later, included
• Seals and otter viewing — included
• Eagle viewing — included
• Beachcombing — included
• Crabbing — included
• Hiking through creeks to scenic lakes for a picnic — included
• Mountain biking on trails and gravel paths — included
• Jacuzzi, sauna, and massage — there when you want them
• Fire pit — where most evenings end up
• Game room — pool, ping pong, poker, shuffleboard, movies
• Totem Village tour — included
• Kids Program — beachcombing, scavenger hunts, fishing off the dock, arts and crafts

Off-property excursions:

• El Capitan Cave Tour — about an hour’s drive from the lodge. Open late May through early September. Entrance fee may apply.
• Anan Bear Conservancy — open July 5 through August 25. Entrance fee may apply. Book well ahead; it fills.
• Quaint fishing town visits to Petersburg and Wrangell, with local shopping and a look at working Alaska.
• Misty Fjords by floatplane — best taken from Ketchikan before or after your lodge stay. Extra expense; needs to be booked in advance.

In Ketchikan — before or after your stay:

Ketchikan is worth a day on either end. We recommend building it in. A few things worth your time:

• Saxman Totem Park
• Creek Street shopping
• Ward Lake hiking
• Helicopter tours landing at Eddystone Waterfall
• Zip line tours, ATV tours, Jeep tours
• Kayak tours and scuba diving
• Bear viewing and flightseeing — we can arrange this on your behalf through Sea Wind Air and Taquan Air, or you can contact them directly

Where to eat in Ketchikan:

• Bush Pilots Lodge — high-quality steaks, elk, pork chops, and classic Alaskan seafood. Wonderful waterfront views.
• Alaska Fish House — casual, classic fish and chips with a phenomenal smoked salmon chowder.
• Taphouse 108 — casual burger bar. Large burgers, wings, cheese curds, good craft cocktails.
• Eagles Nest — brick-oven pizza below the Cape Fox. Great deck and bar.
• Annabelle’s — authentic Alaskan cuisine in downtown Ketchikan. Delicious seafood chowder. Next to the historic Gilmore Hotel.

Length of Stay / Itinerary

How Long Should You Stay?

Most groups do 3 to 7 nights. The lodge does not require specific arrival or departure days, which makes it unusually easy to build around school schedules, work calendars, and connecting travel.

Sample itinerary — 5 days / 4 nights:

Day 1 — Arrive Ketchikan
Spend the night in Ketchikan before your lodge dates. Weather delays happen often in Alaska, and that buffer is worth the peace of mind.

Day 2 — Arrive at the lodge
Floatplane from Ketchikan in the morning. Check-in is midday. Afternoon at the lodge to settle in. Dinner at 6:30.

Days 3 and 4 — Full days on the water and around the lodge
Each day is built around what you want to do. Saltwater fishing, freshwater fishing, or a day off the water for kayaking, bear viewing, a cave tour, or a massage. Non-fishing members can join excursions or spend the day at the lodge. Evenings at the fire pit.

Day 5 — Departure day
Check-out is 10:00 AM. Floatplane back to Ketchikan. We recommend spending the night in Ketchikan again — explore Creek Street, Saxman Totem Park, or dinner at one of the local restaurants before flying home.

Optional extensions: Add time in Ketchikan for touring, or stop in Seattle on the way through. We have done both. Tell us what interests you and we will build it into the itinerary.

All itineraries are customized. Tell us what you want and we will build it around you.

Travel Details & Location

You fly into Ketchikan (KTN). From there, it is a 30-minute floatplane ride to the lodge. We coordinate the floatplane transfers.

A few practical notes:

• Arrive in Ketchikan before 4:30 PM on your lodge arrival day
• Check-in at the lodge is midday — plan to spend the night before in Ketchikan
• Check-out is 10:00 AM — plan to spend the night after in Ketchikan as well
• Floatplane services limit luggage to 40 pounds per person. The lodge provides all fishing gear, waders, boots, and rain gear, so you do not need to carry those. Soft-sided luggage is preferred.
• Private and corporate aircraft typically fly into Ketchikan first, then shuttle to the lodge dock by floatplane

Internet & Communications

• WiFi is available via satellite — sufficient for email and light browsing, slower than you are used to at home
• There is no cell service in the area
• Family and friends can call the lodge office to leave a message. Staff can reach the boats immediately in an emergency
• Alaska Time is one hour behind Pacific Time

Rates

2026 Pricing:

Starting at $6,225. Please reach out for updated pricing.

Family rates:

• Kids under 5 are complimentary, except floatplane expense
• Kids 6–12 are 50% off the lodge rate, except floatplane expense
• Private rooms carry a 50% surcharge
• Lodge buyouts available for groups of 20 or more — contact us for pricing

Trip Insurance & Cancellation Info

Trip insurance is highly recommended to protect your investment on this trip. We will assist you with trip insurance upon booking. See links at the bottom of this page for the two providers we suggest for our clients.

Family Expeditions, LLC confirmation and refund policy:

If your trip is more than 90 days out from date of departure, a 50% non-refundable deposit confirms your reservation and must be received within 10 days of booking to confirm your dates. All trips must be paid in full at least 90 days prior to the departure date. If your trip date is within 90 days, FULL payment for the trip is required. All payments to Family Expeditions are non-refundable. Should you need to reschedule or cancel your trip, we will do everything in our power to assist you in finding a suitable substitute or transferring your dates per the lodge/providers/government requirements. Trip insurance protects your investment!

FAQ

When is the best time to visit?
May through September. The full season is strong for halibut, rockfish, and freshwater species. King salmon peak in early June. Silver salmon run August through September. Steelhead are best in May. Whale watching is prime from July onward. Bear viewing is best July through September. If you have a target species, contact us and we will match your dates to it.

What if the weather is bad?
That is actually one of the strongest things about this lodge. If the saltwater is rough, you fish freshwater — there are 23 lakes, rivers, and streams within reach. If you want a day off the water entirely, there is no shortage: hiking, kayaking, a cave tour, bear conservancy, whale watching, the game room, a massage. You will not run out of things to do. The lodge has a backup for the backup.

My family does not all fish. Is there enough for non-fishing members?
Yes — and this is one of the main reasons we recommend this lodge to families. Non-fishing members can kayak the inlet, hike to a scenic lake, go whale watching, visit the Anan Bear Conservancy, take the El Capitan Cave Tour, or spend the day at the lodge with a massage and the Jacuzzi. There is also a Kids Program with beachcombing, scavenger hunts, fishing off the dock, and arts and crafts. Non-fishing family members are genuinely welcome here, not just tolerated.

How many people can the lodge hold?
The main lodge has 15 bedrooms. Groups of 20 or more can buy out the entire lodge for a family reunion, corporate retreat, or buddy trip.

Do I need to bring my own fishing gear?
No. The lodge provides all fly rods, spinning rods, reels, waders, boots, and rain gear. If you have a favorite rod you cannot travel without, feel free to bring it — but note that felt-sole wading boots are not permitted in Alaska.

What airport do I fly into?
Ketchikan — airport code KTN. From there, it is a 30-minute floatplane ride to the lodge. We coordinate the floatplane transfers.

How far in advance should I book?
This lodge fills, especially in July and August. If you have specific dates in mind, reach out as early as possible. For groups of 20 or more looking for exclusive use, book even earlier.

Should I plan to spend a night in Ketchikan?
Yes — both before and after your lodge dates. Weather delays are common in Alaska, and that buffer removes most of the stress. Ketchikan hotels are on your own expense and should be booked directly. We are happy to recommend where to stay and where to eat.

Can I extend the trip?
Yes. We can build in time in Ketchikan for touring, or add a stop in Seattle on your way through. Tell us what interests your group and we will build it in.