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

Forest Service cabin or lookout

Reflection Lake Cabin

Forest Service cabin or lookout in Tongass National Forest, Ketchikan Gateway County, Alaska. 331 feet. 21.3 miles from Wrangell city and.

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

Overview

Reflection Lake Cabin is situated on the Cleveland Peninsula at the shore of Reflection Lake approximately 50 air miles from Ketchikan. The cabin is available year-round and makes an excellent base for experiencing this corner of Alaska with its recreation options, beautiful scenery and abundant wildlife.

The cabin is remote and accessible only by float plane or boat, depending on conditions. Boats can be moored in Short Bay, and visitors can hike 2.3 miles to the cabin along the Reflection Lake Trail.

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

Fishing, boating, hiking and hunting are popular options at this cabin. Steelhead and salmon runs occur in Short Creek. Resident trout and Dolly Varden are available in the lake. For information about fishing and hunting permits and seasons, visit the Alaska Department of Fish and Game website.

A 14-foot aluminum skiff with oars is provided for rowing around the lake, but visitors must provide their own life jackets. The skiff can use a short-shaft motor, which is not provided.

The 2.3-mile Reflection Lake Trail spans from Short Bay in northern Behm Canal to Reflection Lake Cabin. The bridge near Short Bay is out, so hikers must be prepared to ford the stream. This is only possible during low water.

Facilities

The 12x14-ft. ( pan-abode style ) log cabin accommodates 6 people with 2 single and 2 double bunks. Other amenities include a table and benches, a cooking counter, food storage, broom, splitting maul, and an outhouse. A wood stove is provided for heat. Bring your own firewood as it cannot be guaranteed.

Drinking water is not available at the cabin. Visitors must bring their own water supply, but water is also available from a nearby creek and should be treated before drinking or cooking with it (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 (additional cabin details).

Natural Features

The cabin sits in heavily wooded area backed by hills. The area features numerous rolling muskegs, and the cabin offers stunning views of steep mountains with peaks as high as 5,000 feet and clinging ice fields.

Wildlife includes Sitka black-tailed deer, black and brown bear, mountain goat, wolf, beaver, marten, mink and otter ( bear safety and precautions ). A variety of birds may be spotted in or near the lake.

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 Reflection 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.