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

Forest Service cabin or lookout

Petersburg Lake Cabin

Forest Service cabin or lookout in Tongass National Forest, Petersburg County, Alaska. 98 feet. 8.1 miles from Kupreanof.

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

Overview

THIS IS NOT THE PETERSON LAKE CABIN NEAR JUNEAU. Petersburg Lake Cabin offers a tranquil place to stay on the shores of a Wilderness lake in southeastern Alaska. It provides access to outstanding fishing opportunities, as well as hunting and wildlife viewing. This trail is in the process of being maintained, it is difficult to find at times and has many natural features such as large sections of beaver ponds and downed trees to navigate. If you intend on hiking in to this cabin please come prepared with map, compass, GPS and please know your route or discuss trail with Petersburg Ranger District prior to departure.

The cabin is accessible by float plane or by a boat-trail combination, dependent on tides. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety and must bring several of their own amenities.

Recreation

The nearby creek offers outstanding steelhead, coho and sockeye fishing, while the lake boasts cutthroat trout and sockeye salmon. A rowboat and oars is available at the cabin, however, life jackets are not provided and guests should bring their own. Guests may also choose to bring a small outboard motor.

Attention Hikers: Petersburg Lake Trail is in very poor condition. The middle section of the trail, around mile marker 4 to 9.5, is very muddy, wet and not well marked. If you plan on hiking that part of the trail make sure and bring a map and compass and know how to use those tools. Rubber boots with non-slip soles are recommended. Portions of the trail have rotting and broken boards to beware of. We recommend avoiding this section of the trail if possible.

Hiking and hunting are popular activities. Hunting is available as per state or federal hunting regulations; click here for more information from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Facilities

This pan-abode style cabin was constructed in 2003. It has two bunk beds with double space below and single above. The cabin is equipped with a table and benches and both a wood stove and oil stove for heat. Firewood is not guaranteed. Please bring your own kerosene for the oil stove. An outhouse with a basket/barrel system is provided.

The only fresh water available is from the lake, creek or melted snow. Water taken from any outdoor source should be treated or boiled before consumption. Guests are encouraged to bring their own drinking water if possible.

Guests will need to bring their own kerosene, sleeping bags and pads, lanterns and flashlights, cook stove and cooking gear, towels, food, clothing, fire starter and garbage bags, among other necessities. The cabin will need to be cleaned prior to leaving and all garbage and food needs to be carried out.

Click here for more cabin details and maps.

Natural Features

The cabin is located on Kupreanof Island, 9 miles northwest of Petersburg, in the Petersburg Creek-Duncan Salt Chuck Wilderness. The Petersburg Creek Valley is a glacial valley with a broad, flat bottom and steep sides. The area surrounding the lake and creek is flat; otherwise the terrain is steep. The setting is pristine, old-growth spruce and hemlock forest with scattered muskeg.

The area abounds with wildlife and wildflowers. The creek and lake are a haven for black bears and eagles, who feed on the spawning salmon there (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

  • camping
  • fishing
  • hunting
  • wilderness
  • wildlife viewing

The land around Petersburg 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.