Spend enough time in Ketchikan and you will probably hear someone joke about the rain.

Locally, you may even hear it referred to a little more affectionately as “liquid sunshine.” Rain is not just something that happens in Ketchikan. It is part of the landscape, the rainforest and everyday life in Southeast Alaska.

And when we say a lot of rain, we mean it.

Ketchikan averages about 149.5 inches of precipitation each year, based on National Weather Service climate normals. That is more than 12 feet of water. If an entire year's precipitation somehow collected in one place without draining away, it would be deep enough to cover almost the entire height of a basketball hoop.

So why does this little Alaska town get so much liquid sunshine?

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Ketchikan Is Literally in a Rainforest

The easiest explanation is geography.

Ketchikan is nestled within the Tongass National Forest, which spans 17.9 million acres and stands as the world’s largest intact temperate rainforest. Globally, it is second only to the Amazon in scale. Moist air regularly arrives from the Pacific Ocean and runs into the mountains of Southeast Alaska. As that air is pushed upward, it cools and releases moisture.

Ketchikan happens to be right in the middle of it.

But this is also where the rain starts to become more interesting.

All that moisture helps create the incredibly green landscape surrounding town. Sitka spruce and western hemlock tower overhead. Moss covers the forest floor. Ferns crowd the understory. Creeks tumble down mountainsides and through town before reaching the ocean.

When you are experiencing Ketchikan, you are seeing what all the rain has helped to create, from flora to fauna, to beautiful water landscapes.

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A Rainy Forecast Does Not Tell the Whole Story

Here is probably the most useful thing to understand before visiting Ketchikan: a row of rain icons in your weather app does not necessarily mean a week of nonstop downpours.

Ketchikan averages measurable precipitation on more than 200 days each year, but “measurable precipitation” can mean anything from a passing shower or mist to a much wetter day.

It is common for conditions to change throughout the day. You might wake up to a drizzle, have a dry stretch while exploring town, see another shower roll through in the afternoon and finish the evening under brighter skies.

Locals generally do not organize their entire lives around waiting for a perfectly dry forecast and visitors don’t need to either.

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Some of Ketchikan's Best Scenery Comes With a Little Rain

There is something distinctly Southeast Alaska about seeing low clouds wrapped around forested mountains or mist hanging over the water between islands.

Clear days are beautiful here, but they are not the only beautiful days.

Rain can bring out the deep greens of the forest, feed small waterfalls along the road and give the mountains and waterways that moody Alaska look you probably pictured before arriving.

It is also connected to something Ketchikan is famous for: salmon. The area's abundant streams and creeks form important salmon habitat, connecting the rainy landscape to the fish, wildlife and fishing culture that have shaped Ketchikan for generations.

The rain is not getting in the way of the scenery, it helped create it.

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The Secret Is Simply Being Ready for It

Enjoying Ketchikan in the rain mostly comes down to having the right gear and not letting a passing shower dictate your plans. A genuinely waterproof jacket, comfortable shoes that can handle wet ground and a few layers underneath will take care of most situations.

Once you are dressed for it, keep exploring. Walk Creek Street, head into the rainforest, go fishing, explore the waterfront or watch the floatplanes come and go. Take advantage of the sunny breaks when they appear, but do not assume a little liquid sunshine means the day needs to move indoors.

In Ketchikan, being prepared for rain gives you the freedom to enjoy whatever the weather decides to do.

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Come Experience the Rainforest

One of the best parts of visiting somewhere truly different is experiencing the conditions that helped make the place what it is.

In Ketchikan, that means mountains rising straight from the water, the awe-inspiring Misty Fjords National Monument, dense temperate rainforest, salmon-filled streams, misty mornings and, yes, a fair amount of rain. Pack the rain jacket, embrace the weather, and go see what all that water creates.

A little liquid sunshine is easier to embrace when you know you have somewhere comfortable to return to. At The Landing Hotel, you can dry off, settle in and grab a warm meal at one of the two on-site restaurants.

Come see Ketchikan for yourself.