Common Trip Questions

Boardwalk Lodge is located on Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska – a short 30-minute floatplane ride west of Ketchikan. It is positioned on the North East corner of the island, facing Alaska's famous Inside Passage.

Current season rates are published on our Lodge Rates page, including peak season and reduced pricing for shoulder season packages. Published group and child rate discounts may be announced, as well as allowances for non-fishing guests.

Guests traveling from the "lower 48" fly to Seattle’s SeaTac airport, take a 90-minute commercial flight to Ketchikan, then a breathtakingly beautiful 30-minute floatplane from Ketchikan to the dock at Boardwalk Lodge.
→ More about Getting Here

It's tempting to wait for that magical ticket price, but don’t wait too long! Sooner is much better than later. Air travel in Alaska is unique, and with Alaska’s relatively limited service, summer travel can get hectic and flights can fill up quickly. There are 2 critical reasons to book your flights to Ketchikan soon:

1. Floatplane Transportation. Getting here requires that we secure roundtrip floatplane transportation for you between Ketchikan and the Lodge (included in your package). Because demand for these floatplanes is extremely high, it’s critical that we make your reservation as soon as possible, so your itinerary isn’t impacted. We need your flight schedule before we can do that.
2. Commercial Airlines. Alaska Airlines is currently the only commercial airline flying into Ketchikan International. Your flight needs to arrive in Ketchikan before 5:00 pm to get to the lodge that evening. (See our standard lodge itinerary.)

If you're looking for savings, check Alaska Airlines Companion Fares for a special offer on a companion ticket. You'll find details on their website.

Southeast Alaska is a temperate rain forest with weather conditions similar to Seattle, Washington. These mild Alaska temperatures often range from 45° to upwards of 75° F during peak fishing season.
→ More about Southeast Alaska Weather

Alaska time is one hour behind Pacific time, two hours behind Mountain Time, three hours behind Central Time and four hours behind Eastern Time.

• Check-in time is 5:30 pm You need to arrange your transportation to arrive in Ketchikan prior to 5 p.m.
• Check-out time is 10 am on the day of departure (all times are local). This will enable you to catch a 12 p.m. or later commercial flight from Ketchikan.

Be sure to let the reservationist know of any special needs when booking, so that appropriate arrangements can be made for your party.
→ See common lodge itinerary for more info.

Plan to layer comfortable clothing for temperatures ranging from 45-75 degrees. Casual dress is appropriate for dinner.
→ For more detail, see our Packing List

Depending on the season and weather and wind conditions, guests can expect little more than a mild threat from airborne pests. Boardwalk Lodge staff work hard to control mosquito and No-See-Um populations around the lodge, and DEET based repellent and protective netting are available for your comfort.

As a premier all-inclusive lodge, Boardwalk is noted for its superior quality equipment and provides all the rods, reels, waders, and protective gear you will need for a successful fishing experience.

Guests who prefer to bring their own gear are welcome to do so. However, please note:

• Felt bottom boots for freshwater anglers are banned in Alaska.
• Additional weight due to personal gear may limit the amount of fish that you are able to fly out.

See additional information on recommended gear for both freshwater spin casting and fly fishing.

Boardwalk Lodge is unique among Alaska's fishing lodges in that it is close to both fresh and saltwater fishing. This makes costly and time-consuming fly-outs unnecessary, though they can be arranged at an added cost. The lodge boasts 23 fishable lakes, rivers, and streams within a short, scenic drive, and a fleet of Suburbans to get you to the fish quickly, comfortably, and safely. Freshwater fishing access is primarily walk-and-wade.

Only the best! Each of our 28-foot V-Hull Cuddy style boats has a heated cabin with sanitary facilities, GPS navigation, fish finders, and radio communication equipment onboard. Just 4 guests to a vessel. These boats are particularly well-suited for Alaska fishing, water, and weather conditions. Boat captains are all U.S. Coast Guard Certified and trained in CPR and first aid.

Captains and guides are scheduled for nine hours of fishing time each day, from 7 am to 4 pm. Additional hours may be arranged with the lodge manager at his discretion for a moderate per-hour cost.

Prior to your trip, you will submit guest information that will be used to prepare your fishing license and King Stamp (if applicable). It will be waiting at the lodge when you arrive. The cost is included in your package.

Our staff expertly prepares fish for you to transport from Southeast Alaska to your home. The lodge crew will clean and fillet or steak the meat. We then vacuum pack each portion and freeze and box the fish for your return trip.
→ More about Fish Processing

Boardwalk Lodge is an ideal place for great family vacations. Daycare or babysitting service is not available so please don't bring younger children along without someone to care for them during the day.

Children are welcome to make use of all guest amenities available:

• Kayaking (with adults)
• Jacuzzi (under 16 with adult supervision)
• Nature hikes on nearby trails
• Horseshoes
• Dock fishing

Boat coolers are stocked with your choice of soft drinks, bottled water, and popular beer brands. House wine and beer are available free of charge, while you enjoy a delicious assortment of appetizers and hors d’oeuvres.

We stock an assortment of other alcoholic beverages for purchase. Premium wines by the glass and mixed drinks are available for a nominal fee.

Verizon has the most reliable cellular service here on the Island. AT&T service is spotty, and T-mobile is virtually non-existent. Interestingly, AT&T's signal outperforms all others on the ocean.

If you can't get a cellular signal, you may be able to use the WiFi calling mode on your smartphone (WiFi is available in, and directly around, the guest buildings). We do have a lodge phone you can use if necessary.

Internet service can only be delivered to our remote location via satellite. Our connection is reliable, but probably not what you're used to at home. We regularly have download speeds around 25 Mbps, with uploads around 1 Mbps. Our WiFi network is free and available to guests in close proximity to guest buildings.