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A white Tacoma with a camper shell parked on a rise above a broad, empty basin under building cloud.

Forest Service cabin or lookout

Wilson View Cabin

Forest Service cabin or lookout in Tongass National Forest, Ketchikan Gateway County, Alaska. 295 feet.

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

Overview

Wilson View Cabin is situated on the north end of Wilson Lake approximately 44 air miles east of 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, 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

Wilson Lake is an angler's paradise, offering excellent cutthroat trout, Dolly Varden and kokanee salmon fishing at the lake outlet.

A 14-foot aluminum skiff with oars is provided for rowing around the lake, but visitors must provide their own life jackets.

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, cleaning equipment and an tiny woodstove for heat. An outhouse is located nearby.

Drinking water and firewood is not guaranteed . Visitors must bring their own supply of drinking water. Firewood cannot be guaranteed, bring a supply of firewood or biobricks is highly recommended. Water is also available from Wilson 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 situated within Misty Fjords National Monument Wilderness on the shore of long and narrow Wilson Lake, which was carved out by glaciers. Cabin visitors can enjoy looking out over the placid lake, which is surrounded by rugged mountain peaks and evergreen forest.

Mountain goat, Sitka black-tailed deer, black bear and brown bear are common to the area ( bear safety ). A variety of birds may be seen in and around Wilson 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
  • wildlife viewing

The land around Wilson View 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.

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.

Nearest campgrounds

Camping near

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.

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