Thorne Bay Ranger District (north)
Craig Ranger District (south)

Craig Ranger District
717 Kegan Lake Trail
12 mile from saltwater at head of Kegan Cove in Moira Sound to Kegan Lake. Easy hike along Kegan Creek. Featured in fishing magazines the Kegan Lake area is internationally acclaimed for steelhead, sockeye. and coho runs. The lake has a native rainbow population and excellent fishing.

Thorne Bay Ranger District

716 Karta River Trail
Moderate 4.8 mile hike from mouth of Karta River at Karta Bay to Salmon Lake Cabin. Access is provided to Karta River, Karta Lake, and Salmon Lake cabins. This area lies within the heart of the Karta Wilderness Area. The Karta River has a tremendous run of coho, pink, chum, and sockeye salmon, as well as native populations of dolly varden, cutthroat trout, and steelhead. This trail is the most heavily used trail on the Thorne Bay Ranger District.

717 Kegan Lake Trail
12 mile from saltwater at head of Kegan Cove in Moira Sound to Kegan Lake. Easy hike along Kegan Creek. Featured in fishing magazines the Kegan Lake area is internationally acclaimed for steelhead, sockeye. and coho runs. The lake has a native rainbow population and excellent fishing.

736 One Duck Trail
1.25 mile trail. Trailhead located off the Hydaburg road 2.0 miles south of the intersection with the Hollis-Klawock Highway. Accesses a 3-sided Adirondack type shelter located at the edge of the alpine vegetation zone. Trail climbs 1,400 feet in 1.25 miles. Be prepared for a steep climb! The trail provides for outstanding panoramic views of the Klawock Mountains and the surrounding area. Deer and black bear are common and in heavy snow years the area is popular for cross country skiing.

737 Trocadero Trail
1.3 mile trail. Trailhead located off the Hydaburg Road 9.0 miles south of the intersection with the Hollis-Klawock Highway. Trail descends to the west and ends at Snipe Creek. After fording the creek (no bridge), an unmaintained path can be followed to the estuary at Trocadero Bay.

741 Soda Lake Trail
2 5 mile Iail. Trailhead located off the Hydaburg road 12.0 miles south of the intersection with the Hollis-Klawock Highway. The trail heads west through a muskeg and ends at Soda Lake.

775 Harris River Trail
1.3 mile trail. Trailhead located off Hollis-Klawock Highway 2.0 miles east of the Hydaburg turnoff. Trail descends to the south side of the road and ends along the Harris River. The Harris River is a large river with excellent wildlife viewing opportunities and good salmon, steelhead, and trout fishing.

716 Karta River Trail
Moderate 4.8 mile hike from mouth of Karta River at Karta Bay to Salmon Lake Cabin. Access is provided to Karta River, Karta Lake, and Salmon Lake cabins. This area lies within the heart of the Karta Wilderness Area. The Karta River has a tremendous run of coho, pink, chum, and sockeye salmon, as well as native populations of dolly varden, cutthroat trout, and steelhead. This trail is the most heavily used trail on the Thorne Bay Ranger District.

772 Red Bay Lake Trail
34 mile hike rated more difficult. Trail extends from trailhead on road #20 to a row boat at the north end of Red Bay Lake. The row boat can then be used to access the Red Bay Lake Cabin. Trail is rated more difficult because of poor trail conditions as the trail follows Red Bay Lake Creek. The trail is muddy, marshy, and slippery The district is now making plans to relocate the trail to a drier site. Fishing opportunities are abundant. The species most noted in the area include coho, pink, chum, and sockeye salmon, steelhead, cutthroat, and Dolly Varden.773 Salmon Bay Lake Trail
1.5 mile hike rated more difficult. Trail extends from the saltwater flats of Salmon Bay to the Salmon Bay Lake Cabin located at the creek outlet from Salmon Bay Lake. There are areas of mud and bad footing on the trail. At the north end there is some moderate climbing. There is a Forest Service skiff at the lake. Fishing opportunities include pink, chum, coho, and sockeye salmon and cutthroat and Dolly Varden.

785, 786 Lake Ellen/ Salt Chuck Trail
Trailhead accessed by following road 2030-970 just east of the Goose Creek bridge, approximately 15 miles from Thorne Bay, to a parking area just south of Lake No. 3. Salt Chuck Trail (#786) is 1 mile long and begins in an old clear-cut at the edge of the gravel. For most of the way the trail follows closely the banks of Ellen Creek. It passes the historic site of the old Salt Chuck mine. The Salt Chuck ruins are extensive and include a number of shacks, a collapsed refinery, a home, a barge, and numerous pieces of machinery. The collapsed buildings are in extremely hazardous condition. Please exercise extreme care when looking around and do not climb on them. The trail is rated more difficult due to deep mud, downed logs and overgrown underbrush.

791 Rio Roberts Trail

Easy 34 mile trail from State Highway 929 to fish pass and viewing deck on Rio Roberts Creek. The trail traverses through a muskeg, and is well maintained. A viewing deck allows a close view of the fish pass structure and the falls.

795 Shipley Bay Trail
34 mile hike rated more difficult. Trail extends from Shipley Bay Cabin to Shipley Lake where there is a Forest Service skiff for public use. Many species of fish are present in the lake including rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, steelhead, and salmon. Location includes a very scenic valley and leads to views of the Nipples, one of the higher peaks on the outside islands. Trail leads past the cabin along the north shore of Shipley Creek, crosses over a bridge to the south shore, then follows a moderate to fairly steep (for short distances) incline along this shore to the banks of Shipley Bay.

Hugh Smith Lake
Distance (miles): 0.25
Feature: Boca De Quadra to Hugh Smith Lake
USGS Topographic Map”Ketchikan”: A-3Punchbowl Lake
Distance (miles): 1.0
Feature: Punchbowl Cove to Punchbowl shelter
USGS Topographic Map “Ketchikan”: C-3

Ella Lake
Distance (miles): 4.3
Feature: Ella Bay to Ella Lake
USGS Topographic Map “Ketchikan”: C-3,C-4,B-3,B-4

Manzanita Lake
Distance (miles): 3.3
Feature: Manzanita Bay to Manzanita Lake
USGS Topographic Map “Ketchikan”: C-3, C-4

Grace Lake
Distance (miles): 1.9
Feature: Grace Cove to Grace Lake (poor condition)
USGS Topographic Map “Ketchikan”: C-3, C-4

Nooya Lake
Distance (miles): 0.8
Feature: Rudyerd Bay to Nooya Lake (shelter at lake)
USGS Topographic Map “Ketchikan”: C-3

Winstanley Lake
Distance (miles): 2.3
Feature: Behm Canal to Winstanley Lake
USGS Topographic Map “Ketchikan”: B-3

Checats
Distance (miles): 1.0
Feature: Checats Cove to Lower Checats Lake
USGS Topographic Map “Ketchikan”: B-3

Humpback
Distance (miles): 3.0
Feature: Mink Bay to Humpback Lake
USGS Topographic Map “Ketchikan”: A-2, A-3

Bakewell Lake
Distance (miles): 1.3
Feature: Bakewell Arm to Bakewell Lake
USGS Topographic Map “Ketchikan”: B-2

Cathedral Falls Trail . . . Quarter mile hike to good fishing creek
Goose Lake Trail . . . Three quarters of a mile to lake with good fishing, hunting and cross country skiing.

Hamilton Creek Trail . . . 1 mile. Good fishing and hunting.

This recreation access trail is popular with hunters and anglers.Length (one way): 1 mile
Rating: Easiest
USGS Maps: Petersburg D-5 and D-6

Access: From Kake, drive 13 miles on Road #6314 to the trailhead. Alaska Marine Highway ferries make regular stops at Kake.

Description/Attractions: The trail leads from the road to Hamilton Creek. To the west lie the tidal flats of Hamilton Bay. The trail continues southeast, meandering upstream along the banks of the creek and leading to many fishing and waterfowl hunting sites. Trout, char, and salmon inhabit the creek and black bears frequently fish there during the summer and fall. No facilities are provided.

This trail gives hunters and anglers access to Goose Lake from Kake.Length (one way): 0.75 mile
Rating: Easiest
USGS Maps: Petersburg D-5 and D-6

Access: From the town of Kake, drive 10 miles on Road #6314 then 1 mile on Road #6030 to the trailhead. Alaska Marine Highway ferries make regular stops at Kake.

Description/Attractions: The trail leads from the road to Goose Lake, where trout fishing, waterfowl hunting, and winter cross-country skiing are popular. Short parts of the trail are boardwalk. A small boat is provided for fishing and rowing on the lake. No other facilities exist.

This recreation access trail leads to the falls on Cathedral Falls Creek.

Length (one way): 0.25 mile
Rating: More Difficult
USGS Maps: Petersburg D-5 and D-6

Access: From Kake drive 8 miles on Road #6314, then turn right onto Road #6312. The trailhead is at the end of Road #6312, about 1 mile from the turnoff. Road #6312 is narrow and somewhat overgrown. Alaska Marine Highway ferries make regular stops at Kake.

Description/Attractions: The trail first passes through a small area thick with berries, then descends steeply to the creek. Cathedral Falls is a popular spot for trout and salmon fishing. No facilities are provided.

A. Blind River Rapids Trail . . . . Short (0.25 mile) boardwalk trail to one of the most popular fishing spots in southeast Alaska
B. Cascade Creek Trail . . . 4 miles along a scenic creek
C. Ideal Cove Trail . . . 1.5 mile connecting trail
D. Ohmer Creek Trail . . . 1 mile nature trail with interpretive signs
E. Raven Trail . . . 4 miles. Good views of Petersburg.
F. Spurt Lake Trail . . . 1.5 miles to lake with good trout fishing. Boat provided
G. Three Lakes Trail . . . 4.5 mile boardwalk trail.

This primitive trail provides access to Spurt Lake from Thomas Bay.Length (one way): 1.5 miles
Rating: More Difficult
USGS Map: Sumdum A-3

Access: The Spurt Lake Trail begins on the shore of Thomas Bay, about 0.25 mile northeast of the Spurt Cove Cabin. The trailhead is 18 air miles northeast of Petersburg and can be reached by boat or floatplane.

Description/Attractions: The trailhead is marked with a red and white diamond and the trail itself is marked with blue diamonds. The first half of the trail is through mature forest and follows the base of a vertical rock wall. The second half of the trail travels through semi-open muskeg, finally cresting a ridge and descending to Spurt Lake. Spurt Lake offers fair cutthroat trout fishing. A small boat is provided for visitor use.