The best running trails around Ketchikan

The idyllic shores of Perseverance Lake are a popular destination, especially on weekends. When the weather is warm enough, swimmers — both human and canine — may even take a dip off the "swimmer's rock."

On a clear day you can easily see Ketchikan sprawling below you from the summit of Deer Mountain. Ketchikan International Airport is also visible just across the water, on neighboring Gravina Island. As always when running in Alaska, you should be alert to the risk of unexpected wildlife encounters, and the possibility of fast-moving, rapidly changing weather.

Easily accessible from several roadside and parking areas, the Lower Pipeline Trail offers easy jogging alongside an old, wooden pipeline that leads to Connell Lake. In summer, parts of the trail may be overgrown with salmonberry bushes and other berry plants, which really increases the risk of unexpected wildlife encounters. So, this trail is best run before the overgrowth sets in or after the plants die back — and always with appropriate caution.

Like the Lower Pipeline section of this trail, the Upper Pipeline Trail is mostly easy running that follows an old wooden pipeline. However, the trail is sometimes overcome by sprawling berry bushes, including blueberries, huckleberries and salmonberries, which can really increase your risk of unexpected wildlife encounters. Bears like berries too! With that in mind, those sections of trail are best run before the overgrowth sets in, or after the plants have died back. And, as always, with appropriate caution — because wildlife encounters can happen anywhere, in any season.

Like the Lower Pipeline section of this trail, the Upper Pipeline Trail is mostly easy walking that follows an old wooden pipeline and is sometimes overcome by sprawling berry bushes, including blueberries, huckleberries and salmonberries. This section of trail ends very close to Connell Lake; a short walk along the road will take you the rest of the way to the lakeshore.

The flat nature trail around Ward Lake is designated as ADA accessible, however it is a gravel surface. Look for benches and interpretive signs spaced around the lake, along with areas for fishing, berry-picking and picnicking. Heads up: Some parts of this trail pass so close to the lake, they sometimes flood during periods of heavy rain.

The idyllic shores of Perseverance Lake are a popular day-hiking destination, especially on weekends. When the weather is warm enough, swimmers — both human and canine — may even take a dip off the "swimmer's rock." When the trail forked shortly before the bridge across Perseverance Creek, you turned left to get here. If you were to turn right instead, you could continue in a long, challenging traverse to Carlanna Lakes, with an optional detour to Minerva Mountain in between. (There is no mass transit service at the Carlanna and Perseverance trailheads, so you would have to arrange for a taxi or other vehicle transfer to get back to your starting point.)

A salmon ladder is essentially an artificial waterfall, created to help fish travel farther upstream in a waterway that no longer has its natural contours. The salmon are most plentiful here in July and August. If you arrive much earlier or later than that, you may not get to see many, if any, salmon flinging themselves up the "ladder".