In the heyday of salmon, Creek Street was the heartbeat of the rough-and-tumble fishing town of Ketchikan. Built on piling along the salmon-rich waters of Ketchikan Creek, the street was nothing more than a wooden boardwalk leading to the brightly painted bawdy houses of such legendary madams as Black Mary and Big Dolly Arthur.

Creek Street, according to a popular saying, was where both fish and fishermen went up the creek to spawn. A more covert option was the Married Man’s Trail – a muddy, backdoor path through the woods to the Creek Street establishments. The Married Man’s Trail was only partially successful.

In July and August, take time to linger at the bridge to watch salmon school below the falls. As you watch the fish leap up the falls or navigate the fish ladder alongside, it is hard not to admire the strength and determination with which they power their way upriver.