Settlers Cove State Recreation Site

This site is literally at the end of the road and we spotted a bear on our arrival. It was the first place we visited in Alaska. Fresh off the boat. The weather was gorgeous (it was June) but Ketchikan being in the rain forest can be wet. It is a beautiful and quiet place and I’d love to go back during salmon season as apparently the water you see on the photos is filled with fish during that time.

Settlers Cove is one of our favorite spots on the Ketchikan road system. It’s easily accessible and offers a variety of hiking options. During low tide, you can walk along the beach and spot sea stars and other marine life we also saw Black Bear tracks in the mud. On our visit, we were lucky enough to see whales passing by. The hiking trails are well-marked, easy to navigate, and surrounded by lush plant life, making it a fantastic place to explore.

We were in Ketchikan port for the day and rented a car. We lucked out with a beautiful day. Ketchikan is known to be one of the wettest areas in Alaska. We wanted to go as far away from the crowds and this was at the end of the main road. This is a beautiful area that has a scenic view of the ocean and we walked along the beach, to the campsite areas, and followed the trails. The forest and waterfall were beautiful. There were no crowds which was awesome. Highly recommend visiting if you want to enjoy nature and seeing wildlife like eagles and deer. There are plenty of parking. There is also a campground.

This is a great place to explore and get both the forest and beach experience. A very nice place for hikers to visit, or just folks who like to stretch their legs out, while enjoy some beautiful scenery. We went out there with family to see the falls and the walking trail was short enough and manageable for us to make it without issue. Afterwards, we went down to the beach and did some beachcombing and just looking around. Everything we saw was amazing and it was clean and just felt like you were in the wild. Of course, it is not exactly in town. It's way out the road and takes a bit to drive there, but it is time well spent and anyone is sure to enjoy it. Looking forward to going back in the future.

Great beach. At the end of the road do usually really quiet. Nice day use area with some covered picnic tables and fire pits, a campground and a hiking trail. Lunch Creek Falls Loop starts at the campground or Lunch Creek Trail starts at the end of the road. They do connect together (when not under construction)