Misty Fjords National Monument

Misty Fjords National Monument is a large coastal wilderness area in southeastern Alaska within the Tongass National Forest. It was designated a national monument in 1978 and protects a dramatic fjord landscape of steep cliffs, glaciers and temperate rainforest.

The monument contains deep U-shaped fjords, sheer granite and schist cliffs that rise to thousands of feet, numerous waterfalls and small tidewater glaciers; much of the area is remote and viewed from watercraft or scenic flights. The protected area covers on the order of a couple million acres and is notable for its scale and intact coastal ecosystems.

The region has long been used and inhabited by Tlingit peoples and later explored and charted during Euro-American expansion; federal designation in the late 20th century placed the area under national-level protection and management by the U.S. Forest Service as part of Tongass National Forest.

Misty Fjords lies along the Inside Passage near the city of Ketchikan in southeastern Alaska and is typically reached by boat or floatplane from Ketchikan or by longer sea voyages through the Inside Passage.

• Typical access: Access is primarily by boat or floatplane, with most visitors traveling from Ketchikan for day trips or scenic flights.
• Best time to visit: Viewing is best in summer months when weather and sea conditions are most stable for boat and plane operators.