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

Forest Service cabin or lookout

Heckman Lake Cabin

Forest Service cabin or lookout in Tongass National Forest, Ketchikan Gateway County, Alaska. 155 feet. 16.6 miles from Ketchikan.

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

Overview

Heckman Lake Cabin is located in the Naha Recreation Area at the end of the Naha River National Recreation Trail. The cabin is open year-round, offering opportunities for sightseeing, relaxation and recreation.

The site can be accessed by float plane or by boating into Naha Bay and hiking six miles on the Naha River National Recreation Trail. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.

Recreation

The Naha River provides opportunities to fish for trout and Dolly Varden. There are also steelhead and salmon runs.

Guests have use of the cabin's provided 14-foot aluminum skiff with oars, but they must provide their own life jackets. A short shaft motor can be used with the skiff, but one is not provided.

The Naha River National Recreation Trail winds downstream along the river through old-growth Sitka spruce and western hemlock rain forest. Sights between Naha Bay and Heckman Lake include Roosevelt Lagoon, Jordan Lake and a waterfall.

Facilities

This 12-by-14 cabin ( pan-abode style ) has two single and two double bunks, to accommodate up to six people. It is also equipped with a table and benches, wood stove, splitting maul, broom and an outhouse. NOTE: Firewood may be available, but visitors are encouraged to contact the Ketchikan Misty Fjords Ranger District to check the status of the woodshed. Water and electricity are not provided. Water is available from a nearby creek or the lake, but guests should be sure to treat water before drinking or cooking with it ( water safety tips ). It is recommended that guests bring their own water supply. Other items to pack include sleeping bags, sleeping pads, lanterns or flashlights, cookware, plates, utensils, food, toilet paper, garbage bags, a fire extinguisher and matches, among other necessities. Guests are expected to pack out trash and clean the cabin before leaving ( click here for more cabin details).

Natural Features

The cabin sits on a low knoll and is backed by old-growth Sitka Spruce and western hemlock. The front deck of the cabin overlooks the lake and the gentle, densely forested mountain slopes on the opposite shore.

Sitka black-tailed deer, black bears, beavers, marten, otters, mink and wolves are common to the area ( bear safety information ). Trumpeter swans are frequently seen on the lakes within the Naha Recreation Area.

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
  • hiking
  • wildlife viewing

The land around Heckman Lake 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.