A gray 4x4 Sprinter with a roof rack on a two-track through a wildflower meadow, cloud sitting on the mountains behind.

Forest Service cabin or lookout

Twin Lakes Cabin

Forest Service cabin or lookout in Tongass National Forest, Wrangell County, Alaska. 36 feet. 28 miles from Kupreanof.

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

Overview

Twin Lakes Cabin is located on the Stikine River in the Stikine-LeConte Wilderness. It provides access to Twin Lakes, a popular area for swimming and boating. The location also provides access to fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities. The site can be accessed by shallow draft boat, float plane or kayak, depending on conditions. Low river levels can affect access to the cabin and Twin Lakes. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.

Recreation

Fishing is possible in Dog Salmon Creek (North Arm Creek) about 1.7 miles west of the cabin. Cutthroat trout is available from May through September. Salmon fishing includes chum, pink in July and August, and silver in August and September. Twin Lakes offers opportunities for swimming, paddling and water skiing. A picnic site is located on the south shore of the lake that includes two campfire rings and an outhouse. When entrance to the lakes becomes restricted at low river levels, a 0.1-mile trail leads from the cabin to the site ( Stikine River level at Shakes Gage ). It is possible to explore the Stikine River area and the Stikine-LeConte Wilderness by canoe or kayak, but local tide charts and river levels should be consulted in advance. Hunting is available in the area with the proper permits.

Facilities

The 16-by-16 cabin (A-frame style) was built in 1962 and has two single bunks (one with a trundle bed) and a second-floor loft, to sleep up to seven people. The cabin also has a table with benches, oil stove (No.1 oil only), broom and outhouse. The partially covered front porch has a built-in bench and wooden cooler box for food storage. Water and electricity are not provided. Water is available from the lake or slough, but guests should be sure to treat water before taken from any outdoor source prior to drinking or cooking with it ( water safety tips ). It is recommended that guests bring their own water supply. Heating oil is not supplied by the Forest Service. In addition to bringing a supply of No.1 stove oil, guests should pack sleeping bags, sleeping pads, a cooking stove, 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 relatively flat land on the mouth of Twin Lakes Slough, facing Limb Island and the upper end of Hooligan Slough. The surrounding trees are primarily Sitka spruce, cottonwood, alder and willow. The vegetation in front of the cabin is mostly grass, with meadows nearby. A sand beach between the riverbank and the slough can be accessed at low river levels. Steep mountains rise from behind Figure 8 Lake, known locally as Twin Lakes, which is about 400 feet behind the cabin. Brown and black bears are common in the area, and moose may be seen in the willow thickets ( bear safety information ). Mountain goats inhabit the nearby mountains. The Stikine River tide flats are a major stop for migratory waterfowl and shorebirds in the spring and fall.

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
  • hunting
  • swimming site
  • water sports
  • wildlife viewing

The land around Twin Lakes 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.