Black Bear Inn

We had a Fantastic vacation at the Black Bear Inn! We started every morning with a nourishing breakfast and then with the guidance of Jim and Nicole we took in many adventures. We snorkeled, hiked many trails, visited state parks and ate at great restaurants. It was so nice to finish our days in the fully furnished Raven Suite, soak in the hot tub and sleep in comfortable beds. Rainy day, no problem! Nothing better than snuggled in a day bed reading a book and admiring the great view from our window. Thank you Jim and Nicole for allowing us to stay at your Beautiful place! Justin and Charlotte-WI

We had the most pleasant stay at black bear inn. The hosts were so kind and welcoming. We felt like we had arrived at home! They thought of everything we could possibly need. The scenery is gorgeous and the king bed was so comfortable. They had breakfast in the morning and helped us find a wonderful hike close by the Inn. Would highly recommended a stay! Beautiful Inn right on the water. Incredible.

Location and views are the ONLY things to recommend the Black Bear Inn. Their website claims “Each of the Inn’s Elegantly [sic] suites have what you would expect to find in a fine First Class hotel or Private Villa that was designed just for your enjoyment.” My experience was the opposite. The only thing this place has in common with a luxury hotel is an overblown price point. Please do yourself a favor and look through my photos even if you don’t read this review.||||The rooms are dusty, musty, smell terrible and are desperately in need of upkeep/updating. While the bathroom sinks and toilets were clean enough, the place is deeply dirty in a years-of-neglect kind of way. Base trim is covered in sticky dust, tub grout is cracked and stained, towels are threadbare and stained, and the toilets actually sport shag lid covers with a matching bath rug in front of the toilet (ewwwww). The “first class hotel” robes look like what you’d find in the back of grandma’s closet after 40 years of use. Every possible surface is covered with tchotchkes, many of them extremely dusty and a weird mix of legit nice Alaskan artwork and kitsch such as creepy dolls. The shag-style carpet show what is obviously decades of wear, the mattresses are saggy and long past their expiration date, and furniture that used to have springs apparently no longer does. I don’t know what an “award winning fireplace” means (in my room’s description) but it’s a tiny electric unit in a wall and doesn’t work. ||||On arrival I was shown to a room with such an overwhelming pungent smell I mentioned it immediately. The host professed not to smell it and claimed never to have had an issue (although it’s mentioned in reviews from three years ago which, unfortunately, I did not check). Ironically, she removed a device left by the last guest, which I’m pretty sure was a portable air freshener. I immediately checked for alternate lodging, feeling completely deceived by both descriptions and reviews and hoping to flee the situation. Nothing else was available. Despite leaving windows open, the smell never abated and my perception never adapted—each time coming into the room was a new assault. The next day the host offered a change of room which I accepted. That one also had a distinctly aversive smell but a little less strong so I dealt with it, as no other lodging options were possible.||||The advertised “continental plus” breakfast was entirely self-service in a filthy home-style kitchen. When I came out to make my light meal the second morning, the sink was piled with dishes, compost bin overflowing, countertop deeply dirty, hosts nowhere in sight. To get dishes or silverware I had to touch grossly sticky drawer and cabinet handles. Then, biting into a cold “hard boiled” egg, I discovered it was nearly raw inside. The whole scenario was an appetite killer for sure. The outdoor kitchen wasn’t used by anyone during my stay but was also very dirty and chaotic.||||I feel compelled to add that the inn’s entry proudly displays three large emblems trumpeting (pun intended) support for 47. While the hosts are entitled to decorate as they see fit, the result was that I instantly felt unwelcome and wanted to run in the opposite direction. I think it’s important for guests to be aware this statement will be in your face, as well as FOX news blaring in the common room in the morning. ||||The view and deck areas outside the rooms are absolutely terrific. The rooms also have very pleasant “enclosed porch” sitting rooms. Jim and Nicole are kindly and pleasant in their interactions--to the point where I hesitated to be so blunt about the place—but I have absolutely no idea where the five-star reviews could possibly be coming from and wanted to show the reality.

We had such a beautiful experience at the Black Bear Inn. We had flown in from the east coast and were exhausted from such an early flight. We were warmly welcomed by the owners. Our room included everything we needed,a beautiful view of nature right on the water. Two eagles flying above our heads. We felt like we were being taken care of in every way and that was super nice. Everything one could need is provided with loving care. Highly recommend.

The hosts Nicole and Jim are truly amazing ! This property and hosts are exactly what you need to unwind and relax and yet be close to all that Ketchikan has to offer ! The room and amenities are fantastic ! We have travelled for many years and this property stands out . Thanks again Nicole and Jim for a wonderful experience and we will definitely be back again ! Ron and Suzanne Erdahl

My husband and I loved staying at the Black Bear Inn. It was very clean and very cozy. |The view was spectacular along with gorgeous sunsets. Location was perfect.

We cannot say enough about the Black Bear Inn. Jim, Nicole and Toby are excellent hosts. Very clean and we really appreciate the extra details and personal service that they offer.

The Inn is beautiful, comfortable and on the water. You could spend mornings watching cruise ships coming close enough to wave to the passengers. Jim and Nicole are locals that enjoy sharing their stories. It was like being with family, in a good way! My room had everything I needed. It was a perfect 3 days.

Our family was planning our fishing trip to Alaska and we decided to fly into Ketchikan 2 days early to explore that city. While looking for hotels my boyfriend stumbled upon the Black Bear Inn and wow we are glad we did! Great communication before the trip, Nicole answered all our questions and make sure we were in the right room for our needs. When we arrived we were welcomed in so warmly, given great recommendations for local things to and restaurants to go to. We can't wait to visit again one day in the future and highly recommend anyone traveling to Ketchikan- Black Bear Inn is a MUST STAY!!

We stayed at the Black Bear Inn for 6 nights and wish we had stayed longer. The hosts, Nicole & Jim made us feel as if we were visiting family. We found the location to be perfect. We rented a car and found that we could drive from our accommodation to the center of town in minutes if we wanted to. But most of the time we chose to walk some of Ketchikan's spectacular trails. Each morning a large breakfast was waiting for us downstairs which was very welcome after a great night's sleep. We always had the choice of pastries, fresh fruit and warm perfectly boiled eggs. (Thanks for the info on the egg cooker, Jim!) Just a tip, make sure and eat at Alava's Fish and Chowder. Never in my life have I had such perfectly prepared halibut. It's located about 5 minutes away from the inn which is a big plus.

Retreated to Ketchikan for 5 days for some peace and relaxation. I couldn't have picked a better place to stay. Nicole and her husband Jim were very hospitable and welcoming into their bed and breakfast. Every day we would say "I love this bed!" and slept so well throughout the night. The views were literally breathtaking. Though the choices for dining and shopping were small since we visited during the off season, their recommendations on where to go sightseeing and eating were spot on. I don't think my trip would've been the same staying somewhere else. Until next time, thank you again Nichole and Jim.

My husband and I visited Ketchikan for the week. He picked the Black Bear Inn and we were very happy! The owners Jim and Nichole were very hospitable, and we highly recommend this place!! Nichole was also helpful with suggestions, and she's very knowledgeable. We liked that you can cook your own breakfast in the morning , coffee, teas. Fully loaded pantry, fresh fruit, bagels, bread, eggs, etc. We stayed in the Raven room and had our own separate entrance. Nichole was kind to let us freeze our fish in her freezer that we caught and even gave us a fish box. We would definitely stay here again if we were in Ketchikan.

Came to Ketchikan for 4 nights. Called Black Bear Inn. Nicole booked us in the newly remodeled Bunkhouse Cabin. Absolute 5 star accommodation. Beautiful property, views, amenities and Jim and Nicole are the best. Couldn't imagine a better place to stay.

This is a B & B but much more. They set us up with fishing, hiking, and seaplane charters/ adventures. They have an on site executive chef, who cooked all the fish and crab we caught. They also made box lunches for us to eat while out on the boats or up in the streams. They did our laundry while we sat in the outdoor hot tub sipping scotch. A great trip where everything is thought through and plannned well for you.

I had the pleasure of staying at the Black Bear Inn twice for an extended period while I worked in Ketchikan, Alaska. Nicole and Jim were very accommodating and available to help at a moments notice. I stayed in the Eagle's Nest one bedroom suite that has a fully equipped kitchen. The location is lovely and quite close to the downtown area, less than a 10 minute drive. There is a nearby small Walmart for essentials including a small grocery section, but I found the Safeway had a much larger assortment and better prices than the closer A and P grocery store. The inn is waterfront though the view from the Eagle's Nest is obscured somewhat by the large trees, however when the weather is nice you can sit on the deck and the view is stunning.

I just had the best time at the Black bear inn. The owners Jim and Nichole helped me make the most of my short trip. It was my first time in Ketchikan. They pointed me in the right direction for shopping, hiking and even finding the local Crossfit. I highly recommend this place. Oh ya did I mention it's beautiful!!! So pretty

What a wonderful B&B with attentive hosts who doubled as angels! When we missed embarking on our cruise in Seattle, we flew to Ketchikan to get on the Bliss at its first port of call. Because of the beauty of the island, guidance from the natives and time away from the herds aboard ship, this became a genuine highlight of our vacation. Jim and Nicole anticipated just what our needs were and arranged a rental car delivery that allowed us a full day of hiking in majestic old forest, past waterfalls, beaches and totems and dining in phenomenal places that are away from the tourist melee. Our hosts were full of information, recommendations and kindness and gave us space and options. Our only disappointment was leaving an idyllic paradise to return to the amalgamation of overstimulation found aboard the cruise ship.

How could visiting Alaska get any better? Staying at Black Bear Inn made it better! Jim and Nicole were absolutely the best hosts ever. The Inn is right on the water with magnificent views. Nicole was filled with excellent recommendations for surrounding sites and restaurants. She even made us reservations with the best seating! We enjoyed the wonderful breakfast each morning. And, every evening we enjoyed the hot tub finishing our fun day! We will return back to Ketchikan- and only stay here. 5 stars only because that is the highest review... they deserve much more!!!! Ruthie- Atlanta Georgia.

We celebrated our 40th anniversary at the Black Bear Inn, it was fantastic. The room was very neat and clean and decorated whimsically. The grounds are well kept and beautiful! There was a bald eagle that flew around the area a couple of days, very cool! Ketchikan is a wonderful place and we would love to go back.

To begin with, Jim and Nicole are really hospitable hosts. You will find yourself chatting with them for several minutes at a time and Jim makes great coffee and has it ready at 5am. My wife and myself stayed here from Oct. 29th to Nov. 2nd 2015. The kitchen is well stocked for breakfast (diy) and we stayed in the cabin so we had to walk over in the mornings. The cabin was very nice, comfortable bed, little cubby kitchen with an oven/burner tops, microvave, mini fridge, cups, pots and pans, tea kettle etc. The bathroom is nice, all tile shower which matches the tile in the rest of the cabin. The cabin had an extensive cable tv line up and Sirius radio. It's also stocked with plenty of reading material aside from all the personalized maps, trail guides, tideal charts etc. That Jim and Nicole provide you. There are a couple grills on the property and a hot tub under a patio we were free to use (we didn't). The property is right on the Tongass strait so the view is nice. I'm doubtful that my wife and I will be back in Ketchikan Alaska as our next trip is going to be to Wrangell but if I did come back to Ketchikan or if any of my friends or family do come to Ketchikan I would definitely recommend the Black Bear Inn to anyone and I'm pretty picky about certain things but I can't think of anything to complain about here. Thank you Jim and Nicole for a perfect stay! Brent and Jennifer Roberts

Great place to stay in Ketchikan! Beautiful rooms and views! We loved sitting on the porch watching the cruise ships sail in and out and the float planes gathering speed as they roared into the sky. Jim and Nicole are great hosts and so helpful with dinner reservations and getting us a local rental car. I would love to return. Patti and Mike

We stayed here six nights for our honeymoon, and it was perfect. Beautiful grounds, amazingly decorated rooms, with every detail thought out, right down to all kitchen needs and fully stocked bathrooms. Sitting in the hot tub listening to the rain was great. Be sure to call and book directly with Nicole and Jim. They are great hosts, but also serve as great historians, make great recommendations, and Nicole even got us reservations at two amazing restaurants that we couldn't get into on our own. We will definitely return! Ashley, Okeechobee Florida.

My family and I really enjoyed our stay at the Black Bear Inn. Nicole and Jim are very welcoming hosts who are very knowledgeable about the area. Nicole helped us with dinner and fishing reservations. Jim gave us a ride to the airport on our final day. The room was incredibly comfortable and opened to a beautiful yard with a stunning view of the water. The Black Bear Inn is truly a great place to stay.

My husband and I recently stayed at this B & B while on our way down the inside passage. Jim and Nicole are super people, full of information and commentary. As a fellow Alaskan I was so happy to have someone of the same mindset as myself running this great B & B. Wonderful rooms, beautiful location and all the amenities you could want. I loved being allowed into the kitchen to do my own thing. We were the only guests at the time so had the run of the place. We would defintiely go back anytime just to watch the boat traffic, eagle sightings and perhaps even whales at this seaside getaway.

First of all: Don't visit Ketchikan for a day through a cruise. The island is awesome with great hikes and things to do. As for the inn: Nicole is an awesome host. We stayed in the Eagles Nest which is an apartment on the top floor. Great furnishings and even a kitchen if you want to make dinner yourself. Breakfast in the morning is do-it-yourself, but everything you need is provided and it's all very laid back. Kids had a great time playing on the small beach out back. Nice recommendations by Nicole for dinner, hikes and other activities.

My husband and I live in Ketchikan and the only place we'd want our visiting families to stay is the Black Bear Inn! Nicole and Jim are great hosts with countless recommendations. The rooms feel like home and are very clean. The real gem of the inn is the outside seating areas that overlooks the Tongass Narrows. Perfect summer sunset watching! A little trail leads down the beach too which we all enjoyed. Thank you Nicole and Jim for treating our family like your family!

Black Bear Inn was great for our honeymoon. Nicole and Jim were very accommodating and we enjoyed talking to them. The bunk house was perfect for our short stay in Ketchikan.

This place was a dream to stay. I highly recommend this b&b. It couldn't have been better!

Lovely Inn and friendly owners. We loved it. Very clean and well-designed. Lots of extras and oh so quiet! Breakfast is self-serve from the pantry.

We recently stayed at the Black Bear Inn with our young daughter, we stayed in the 'bunkhouse'. The bunkhouse was very roomy and very comfortable for all of us. The owners went out of there way to help us find wonderful things to do during our visit. The views are amazing, the grounds are beautiful, and the location is very central to everything around the Ketchikan area. We had a wonderful visit and highly recommend staying at the Black Bear Inn!

This is THE BEST place to stay in Ketchikan by far. Cozy little B&B super friendly owners. Kept very clean. Great bathrooms. Out door hot tub. Yummy treats for morning. Who could ask for more. Thumbs up for sure!

This is the perfect spot! Ketichikan is beautiful, the Black Bear in was so quaint and comfortable. The hosts Nicole and Jim were so gracious. The Inn is picture perfect with tons of amenities. The hosts went out of their way to help us plan trips, give tips and made our stay amazing! This is a magical little moss blanketed island. It's like being in the pages of a fairytale! Skip the cruise and stay at Black Bear Inn! We saw orcas from the summer kitchen overlooking the water and the fishing was amazing as well. Thanks again Nicole and Jim!

My hubby and I got off a cruise in Ketchican, I was to stay by myself at the Black Bear Inn for 4 days while my hubby went fishing to the Prince Of Whales @ Waterfall Resort. I wanted a more small, personal, private, quiet environment and yet luxurious and above hotel standards. I must say my expectations were exceeded. The ambiance was exceptional, the grounds were lovely with a variety of flowers and beautiful views. There were Black Bear's to greet me everywhere. They followed through with details of white napkins with black bear paw prints. I was given "Raven's Haven" it was exceptionally modern and clean and decorated in the theme of the room's name. Black ravens were perched high on the armoire and on the glass coasters. Now, with all that care to visual detail the owners Jim & Nicole Church, also have genuine care for their guests. They are warmly hospitable and are a great source of information and help, they made reservations for anything that I might want to do, restaurant and/or spa, zipline. They accommodated my needs to make my stay extraordinary. Jim drove my hubby to his fishing meeting place and dropped him off at 5am so I would not have to get up early and be disturbed. They expect nothing in return except to leave with a wonderful experience and a warm feeling like I have been hugged by a big black bear. Their other guests were friendly and yet respectful of when I may want my privacy. When I left I knew I wanted to bring home with me the genuine warmth that they gave to me. Thanks, Jim & Nicole Church

What a slice of heaven! You will not find a more beautiful place to stay or two nicer folks in Ketchikan. The rooms and views are stunning. We arrived without confirming any activities. Had it not been for Nicole we would not have seen much. We were not aware that the cruise ships book up most of the things that you would like to see. Nicole was able to get us in for the zip line experience, the Deadliest Catch Tour (which if you want to see eagles there's no place better), and dinner reservations at an awesome restaurant. Jim having grownup in Ketchikan shared some of the history of Ketchikan that was quite interesting. I spent many hours talking with him. My wife Susan and I were so blessed to have chosen their B&B and would do it again in a heartbeat. We feel like we've gained two friends for life. We'd rate our stay there a 10 star experience! We wish them all the best and continued success. ..

Exceptional accommodations,with personal touch and lots of amenities. Would highly recommend staying here for the rooms, grounds, location, hosts & competitive rates. Outside of the center of town, thank goodness as its super touristy with tons of commerce (almost forgot I was in Alaska). Only regret, was not staying longer.

I am a local of Prince Of Wales (a neighboring island) I had to come over to ketchikan for a doctors appt which required me to stay the night, upon calling the Black Bear B&B Nicole (the owner) quite rudely told me (out of the blue) "you probly can't afford our rates, you should try the Gilmore" taken back at the way I was spoken to, I immediately hung up. I would NOT recommend this B&B as the owner is clearly very full of herself.

The Black Bear Inn is a quintessential lovely upscale B&B. It has half a dozen rooms with charming names (we stayed in the Raven's Haven), with attractive furniture, nice bathrooms filled with amenities, and a balcony with a great view overlooking the well-tended gardens and the ocean. The co-owner, Nichole Church, has thought of everything. The public rooms--a large living room and large kitchen with big dining table--are comfortably furnished with TV, fireplace, books and newspapers, and snacks, and there is a computer for guest use as well as wi-fi throughout the house. You can also sit out on your balcony or the deck below facing the water. Breakfast is DIY, with a huge assortment of cereals, breads, bagels, pastries, and beverages. If you want, you can raid the large fridge and find eggs, cheese, fruit, etc. Nichole was also a terrific fount of knowledge about Ketchikan, and pointed us towards locally owned shops and restaurants, instead of the ubiquitous Caribbean jewelry stores. Thanks to her we had great dinners at Annabelle's and Bar Harbor, and a terrific halibut sandwich at a cute and enormously popular diner, the Burger Queen. My only regret is that we couldn't stay longer! Apparently the Black Bear gets a lot of repeat business from the West Coast and other areas, with folks coming back a few times a year and staying for a week at a time. That certainly speaks well to the quality of the accomodations and food, as well as to the hospitality of the hosts, Nichole and her spouse.