A dark green Toyota pickup with a roof tent parked in tall dry grass as mist closes in.

Forest Service cabin or lookout

Little Dry Island Cabin

Forest Service cabin or lookout in Tongass National Forest, Wrangell County, Alaska. 78 feet. 22.3 miles from Kupreanof.

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

Overview

Little Dry Island Cabin offers a secluded retreat on the Stikine River Delta in the Stikine-LeConte Wilderness, with expansive views of the surrounding grassflats. The cabin is popular for bird watching, waterfowl hunting and as a paddling destination. The site can be accessed by float plane or shallow draft boat, depending on conditions. Little Dry Island is 12 miles by air or boat from Wrangell, or 7 miles from the boat ramp on the south side of Mitkof Island. Access to the cabin requires at least a 15-foot tide for boats and a 17-foot tide for float planes. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.

Recreation

The waters around the cabin are ideal for exploring by kayak or canoe during high tide. The Forest Service does not provide boats, and guests must also bring their own flotation devices. Tide tables should be consulted before any boating excursion.

Waterfowl hunting is possible in the fall with proper permits.

Facilities

The 16-by-16 cabin ( modified A-frame style ) was built in 1980 and has two single bunks (one with a trundle bed) and a second-floor loft, to sleep up to seven people. It also has a table with benches, a wood stove, broom and an outhouse. A wooden cooler box for food storage is attached to the cabin. Water and electricity are not provided. Water may be available from a rain catchment barrel, 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. In addition to bringing a cook stove, guests should provide their own firewood, 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 is perched on a low rock outcrop between tide flats and a forest of spruce and hemlock. The surrounding terrain is relatively flat with grass and shrubs growing on the tide flats. Wildflowers are prominent in May and June. Brown and black bears, bald eagles, owls, hawks and moose inhabit the area ( bear safety information ). The Stikine River tidal flats are a major stopover spot for waterfowl and shorebirds during spring and fall migrations.

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

What people do here

  • birding
  • boating
  • camping
  • hunting
  • paddling
  • wildlife viewing

The land around Little Dry Island 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.