Ward Lake is a small lake in Tongass National Forest about six miles north of downtown, surrounded by old-growth Sitka spruce and western hemlock. The recreation area has a one-mile loop trail around the lake — flat, accessible, and one of the better short walks in the Ketchikan area. The forest is dense and genuinely old: some of the trees are several hundred years old, draped in moss, with a cathedral quality in the low light.
Bear watching is possible here in late summer when pink salmon run in Ward Creek. Black bears are common in the area; basic precautions apply. The campground at the lake is one of the few places to camp near Ketchikan, and the setting is quiet. Combine with Totem Bight — the two are within a couple of miles of each other — for a solid half-day north of town.