We woke early, feasted on the immaculate breakfast buffet Salmon Falls lays out every morning, comprising belly-warming biscuits and gravy, sausage, and eggs as well as lighter fare like pastries, granola, and yogurt
Courtesy of Salmon Falls Resort
At 8 a.m., we were down at the dock, stepping onto a vintage Beaver float plane for an airborne tour of the Misty Fjords National Monument with Carlin Air.
As our pilot dipped and turned, soaring above the many shades of green, the expansive beauty of the area revealed itself. Massive cliffs rose up from the deep water. Hanging valleys high in the mountains wrapped around freshwater lakes as waterfalls tumbled down from them to the sea below.
We landed on one of those sparkling lakes, skimming across the glassy water from one edge to the other. We stepped off the plane and onto a small island. The solitude here is rousing. There’s a stillness that makes you realize how remote and far away you are.
Courtesy of Salmon Falls Resort
Exploring Salmon Falls Resort
After the float plane dropped us back off at the dock a couple hours later, we immediately headed out into the coastal rainforest for a hike to stretch our legs. Following a well-maintained path, we wandered among giant cedar trees, forded crystal clear creeks, and traced pristine shorelines that surround Salmon Falls Resort.
We break for lunch, relishing halibut fish and chips. Sated and reenergized, we arrive at Ketchikan Kayaks to meet Grayson for more wildlife viewing. His eyes scan with computer-like precision. He points out a bald eagle’s nest with a couple of eaglets in it, a harbor seal rookery, and a barking Steller sea lion. We snack on locally smoked salmon and wild blueberries and thimbleberries that Grayson harvested earlier that morning as he regales the group with stories of adventures.
