A gravel road curving into a high mountain valley at first light, the peaks catching the sun.

Forest Service cabin or lookout

Devils Elbow Cabin

Forest Service cabin or lookout in Tongass National Forest, Prince of Wales-Hyder County, Alaska. 73 feet. 23.9 miles from Kake.

Managed by
Forest Service Tongass National Forest
Elevation
73 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
1 1 cabin non-electric
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov

Overview

Devil's Elbow Cabin is set back from the coastal water in a scenic area of southeastern Alaska. It provides access to a variety of recreational activities, including fishing, hunting and viewing wildlife. The location is also popular among rockhounds and geology enthusiasts.

The cabin is accessible by boat or float plane only, and tides impact access. Those arriving by boat should be prepared to hike a half-mile to reach the cabin if they arrive at low tide. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.

Recreation

The cabin's location makes it a favorite among kayakers and canoers, as it provides some protection from inclement weather. Rocky Pass is known for its interesting geology, inviting boaters from all over. Low tides affect boat navigation over the tide flats around the cabin, so boaters should consult tide charts in advance (local tide tables). Hunting is possible for waterfowl, grouse and bear in designated seasons as per state or federal hunting regulations; click here for more information from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Anglers may find steelhead during April and May and coho salmon in August and September. The tide flats are a rockhound's paradise.

Facilities

The A-frame cabin has bunks and a sleeping loft to accommodate up to seven people. It is equipped with a table, benches and an oil stove for heat. An outhouse with a pit toilet is provided. Water for drinking, cooking and cleaning is not provided at the cabin. Water taken from the creek, which is a quarter-mile south of the cabin, should be treated or boiled before consumption. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own drinking water if possible. Heating oil is not supplied at the cabin. Visitors must bring enough kerosene or No. 1 heating oil for the oil heater, approximately one gallon per day. Visitors need to bring their own sleeping bags and pads, cook stove and cooking gear, towels, food, clothing, fire starter and garbage bags, among other necessities. All trash and food must be packed out, and visitors are expected to clean the cabin before leaving. Click here for more cabin details and maps.

Natural Features

The cabin is located on a narrow isthmus on Kuiu Island in Rocky Pass. It is along Keku Strait between Kuiu and Kupreanof Island. The cabin sits near the Devil's Elbow, a sharp turn in Rocky Pass for which the cabin is named. The cabin is surrounded by tide flats for several miles to the south. It is also situated along a major waterfowl resting area, making the spot a favorite of hunters. A variety of wildlife also makes its home in the area, including grouse, seals, black bears and wolves (learn about bear safety ).

The description, directions and fees are the Forest Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • boating
  • camping
  • fishing
  • hunting
  • wildlife viewing

The land around Devils Elbow Cabin

The ringed pin is this cabin or lookout; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Interactive map. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select any point to see which agency manages the land. Arrow keys pan and the plus and minus keys zoom when the map has focus. A list of every state with its share of federal land is on the Explore page.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated February 25, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.