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Short, scenic floatplane charters from Ketchikan deliver you to Hollis(Clarke Bay) for remote cabins, fishing, and true coastal solitude. Read on for logistics, wildlife notes, and what to pack for this Southeast Alaska floatplane experience.
Short, scenic floatplane charters from Ketchikan deliver you to Hollis(Clarke Bay) for remote cabins, fishing, and true coastal solitude. Read on for logistics, wildlife notes, and what to pack for this Southeast Alaska floatplane experience.
Book with Family Air Tours LLC
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Family Air Tours LLC · Ketchikan, Alaska
Hollis(Clarke Bay) is a floatplane drop-off destination reached by private charter from Ketchikan in Southeast Alaska. Family Air Tours operates short, scenic flights that thread glacial-carved channels, spruce-draped shorelines, and granite headlands to land you on water near private cabins, quiet fishing grounds, and small coastal communities. From the moment the floats kiss the sound, the landscape reads like a field guide: Sitka spruce and western hemlock crowd steep shorelines, intertidal shelves ring with barnacles and mussels, and the open water attracts seals, sea otters, and the seasonal surge of humpback whales.
The flight itself is the first act: a compact, 20-minute window into a rugged coastline where fjords narrow and islands scatter. Pilots for Family Air Tours are local pros trained in Alaska float operations; their knowledge of tides, microclimates, and safe approaches turns a short hop into a dependable gateway to places that otherwise require days of travel. The service emphasizes safety and personalization—small parties (maximum four passengers) and strict weight-and-balance rules ensure predictable performance and secure landings on lakes or protected bays.
Planning is practical: guests must secure any required USFS cabin reservations before booking transport, supply their own food and water (plus an extra 2-3 days' contingency), and carry appropriate emergency communications because cell service can vanish once you leave Ketchikan. The company enforces a 900-lb combined weight limit, individual maximums, and baggage rules favoring soft-sided duffels; oversized equipment may need additional flights. The Ketchikan Airport Dock option is available for an extra fee, and weather can rearrange itineraries—pilots have final authority.
What makes this trip stand out is its access. Hollis(Clarke Bay) and similar drop sites are living examples of a coastal ecosystem shaped by glaciation and ocean energy, where tideflats, kelp beds, and rocky islets support dense marine life and high concentrations of bald eagles. It's a working landscape—fishing skiffs, seasonal traps, and small homesteads dot the shoreline—so visitors arrive as temporary guests in places still sustained by subsistence and small-scale commercial use.
For travelers who prize immediacy and solitude over luxury, a Family Air Tours charter is transportation and introduction: a precise, airborne key to Southeast Alaska's remote edges. Come prepared, respect local protocols, and you'll walk off the floats into quiet coves, rod in hand or pack on your back, with an entire coastal frontier waiting to be explored. Book early in the high season, confirm passenger weights and gear in advance, and carry waterproof layers, a marine chart, and a charged satellite device so that your trip to Hollis(Clarke Bay) is as secure and unforgettable as the scenery that unfolds beneath the floats. Expect flexible itineraries and respect wildlife viewing distances for safe, low-impact visits and comfort.
Children must be at least 5 years old; no lap infants are permitted.
Maximum four passengers per flight; combined passenger and gear weight limits apply (see operator restrictions).
No—charters provide transportation only. Guests must arrange cabin reservations, guides, permits, and equipment separately unless otherwise specified.
Departing from the Ketchikan Airport Dock is available for an additional fee; confirm your meeting location when booking.
Guests planning to fish must obtain the appropriate Alaska fishing license before departure.
Flights may be delayed, rescheduled, or canceled for safety. Family Air Tours will attempt to rebook, but guests should plan for weather-related changes and extra days in remote locations.
Family Air Tours LLC is a Ketchikan, Alaska-based floatplane operator specializing in guided fly-out fishing and scenic floatplane tours. The company offers small-group wilderness experiences that fly guests from Ketchikan into remote lakes, streams, and fjords for fishing, wildlife viewing, and dramatic coastal scenery. Guides provide equipment and instruction on guided fly-out fishing trips that target trout, salmon, and Dolly Varden, and trips are suitable for beginners and experienced anglers alike. Flights operate from floatplanes that land on water to access secluded fishing spots and Misty Fjords National Monument landing sites. Safety and local expertise are core to Family Air Tours LLC’s operating practices. Pilots and guides are familiar with Southeast Alaska weather patterns, terrain, and wildlife etiquette, and tours follow established safety protocols for floatplane operations and remote landings. The business emphasizes respectful wildlife viewing and low-impact access to fragile wilderness areas. Booking options include a Six Hour Guided Fly-Out Fly Fishing, an Eight Hour Guided Fly-Out Fly Fishing, a Drive-Out Guided Fly Fishing Trip, and a Deluxe Misty Fjords National Monument Tour that includes a fjord landing. Each trip description lists what guests can expect, with gear provided for guided fishing trips and personalized instruction. Family Air Tours LLC serves visitors to Ketchikan seeking authentic Alaskan floatplane adventures, combining local knowledge, hands-on guiding, and direct access to remote fishing and scenic destinations. Reservations are available seasonally and subject to weather; the company recommends confirming schedules in advance to maximize safety and experience. Local permits and regulations are followed.
Book with Family Air Tours LLC