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

Forest Service cabin or lookout

Manzanita Lake Cabin

Forest Service cabin or lookout in Tongass National Forest, Ketchikan Gateway County, Alaska. 276 feet. 26.4 miles from Saxman.

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

Overview

Manzanita Lake Cabin is located in Alaska's Tongass National Forest. Manzanita Lake Cabin is located on the scenic northwest arm of Manzanita Lake approximately 28 miles northeast of Ketchikan on Revillagigedo Island. The cabin offers recreational and wildlife viewing opportunities and makes an excellent base for experiencing this corner of Alaska.

The cabin is remote and accessible only by float plane or canoe, depending on conditions. This primitive cabin has no electricity, indoor plumbing or cell phone coverage. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.

Recreation

A 14-foot aluminum skiff with oars is provided for rowing around the lake, but visitors must provide their own life jackets. Visitors can row over and explore the nearby stream inlet delta.

The lake offers excellent fishing for cutthroat trout, Dolly Varden and kokanee salmon. Sitka black-tailed deer and black bear hunting is possible with a permit.

Facilities

The 12x14-ft. ( pan-abode style ) cabin can accommodate 6 people with 2 single bunks and 2 double bunks. Other amenities include a table with benches, a cooking counter, food storage, broom and an wood stove for heat. An outhouse is located nearby.

Drinking water and firewood are not provided. Visitors must bring their own supply of drinking water and biobricks for tiny wood stove. Water is also available from a nearby stream or the lake ( water safety ).

Visitors should also bring sleeping bags, sleeping pads, cooking gear, lanterns or flashlights, food, toilet paper, garbage bags, a fire extinguisher and fire starter. Rain gear and boots are recommended. Visitors are expected to pack out their trash, gear and food and clean the cabin before leaving ( more cabin details ).

Natural Features

The cabin is located about 100 yards from the lake shore beside a spectacular series of cascading waterfalls. Visitors can also enjoy views of steep granite walls and snow-capped peaks. The cabin is surrounded by large old-growth spruce, hemlock and cedar.

The Misty Fiords Monument Wilderness supports a diverse variety of wildlife. Mountain goats, bears, deer, moose and bald eagles make their home here ( bear safety ). Many species of birds may be seen in or around the lake, and visitors may catch a glimpse of beavers in the 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
  • hunting
  • wildlife viewing

The land around Manzanita 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 May 20, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.