GUESTS
Getting Ready for Alaska: Your Waterfall Resort Trip Starts Here
There’s something exciting about finally seeing your Alaska fishing trip on the calendar. Flights start getting booked, luggage pulled out of storage, and the countdown officially begins.
At Waterfall Resort, the season is just around the corner, and whether you’re already joining us this summer or still dreaming about your first trip to Alaska, now is the perfect time to start preparing.
From guest registration and travel planning to packing tips and fishing FAQs, here’s everything you should know before heading north.
Complete Your Online Guest Registration & Participation Agreement Early
One of the most important steps before your trip is completing your online Guest Registration and Participation Agreement.
This helps our team prepare for your arrival and ensures everything from travel logistics to fishing licenses runs smoothly once you arrive in Alaska.
About a week before arrival, guests will receive:
- Luggage tags
- Floatplane travel instructions
- Arrival details and reminders
And if your luggage tags don’t arrive before your trip, no worries — our crew will be waiting at the airport to assist you and help make the transition to Waterfall Resort seamless.
Booking Flights: What to Know
For many guests, the adventure begins the moment they board their flight to Alaska.
Guests simply need to book their flights into Ketchikan, Alaska, where our team coordinates the floatplane transfer to Waterfall Resort. To make planning easier, we also provide recommended flights based on arrival and departure timing that works best with resort transportation.
If your schedule allows, arriving a day early can also be a great way to explore Ketchikan before heading to the resort. Known as Alaska’s “First City,” Ketchikan offers waterfront dining, fishing history, local shops, hiking, and classic Southeast Alaska scenery.
And yes, the floatplane ride into Waterfall Resort is every bit as incredible as people say it is.
Packing for Alaska: Less Really Is More
One of the biggest mistakes guests make before an Alaska trip? Overpacking.
Packing lighter makes travel easier for everyone, especially when flying on smaller aircraft into remote Alaska destinations.
It also makes:
- Boarding and unloading faster
- Travel days smoother
- Handling luggage easier
- Packing fish to take home much simpler
And remember: many guests leave Alaska with one or even two boxes of fish, so saving luggage space ahead of time can really help on the trip home.
Airline baggage costs can also add up quickly. Alaska Airlines recently increased checked baggage fees, with many travelers now paying:
- $45 for the first checked bag
- $55 for the second checked bag
- $200 for third and additional checked bags
While airlines may not always raise ticket prices directly, increasing baggage fees are one of the ways rising travel and fuel costs are being offset.
Our team also provides a recommended packing list to help guests prepare for changing Alaska conditions.
Don’t Skip the FAQ Section
Whether it’s your first trip to Alaska or your tenth, our FAQ page is one of the best planning resources available.
It covers some of our most commonly asked questions, including:
- What fish species can I expect?
- How much fish can I bring home?
- What should I pack?
- Do I need rain gear?
- What are the fishing limits for 2026?
- How does fish processing work?
- What’s the weather like in Southeast Alaska?
- How does the floatplane transfer work?
The FAQ section also includes helpful videos that give guests a better feel for:
- The resort experience
- Daily fishing life
- Travel logistics
- Fish processing
- What to expect once you arrive
For many future guests, watching the videos is when the trip suddenly starts to feel real.
More Than a Fishing Trip
For returning guests, preparing for the season brings back the excitement of another unforgettable week in Alaska. For first-time visitors, it’s often the beginning of a trip they’ve talked about for years.
Long days on the water. Incredible scenery. Delicious food. Trophy salmon and halibut. New friendships. Stories that somehow get bigger every year. That’s part of what makes a trip to Waterfall Resort more than just a fishing vacation.
If you’re already booked for 2026, now is the perfect time to finalize travel plans and start getting ready.
And if Alaska fishing has been on your bucket list, there’s still time to make it happen this summer.