Tongass National Forest

Photo Essay: Hiking the Andes with Mountain Lodges of Peru

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A. Blind River Rapids Trail (#454). . . . Short (0.25 mile) boardwalk trail to one of the most popular fishing spots in southeast Alaska
B. Cascade Creek Trail (#458). . . 4 miles along a scenic creek
C. Ideal Cove Trail (#508). . . 1.5-mile connecting trail
D. Ohmer Creek Trail (#603). . . 1-mile nature trail with interpretive signs
E. Raven Trail (#607). . . 4 miles. Good views of Petersburg.
F. Spurt Lake Trail (#457). . . 1.5 miles to lake with good trout fishing. Boat provided.
G. Three Lakes Trail (#600). . . 4.5-mile boardwalk trail.

Blind River Rapids Trail (#454)
This short boardwalk trail leads to one of the most popular fishing spots in all of Southeast Alaska.

Length (one way): 0.25 mile
Rating: Easiest
USGS Map: Petersburg C-3

Access: The Blind River Rapids trailhead is 15 miles south of Petersburg on the Mitkof Highway.

Description: The boardwalk begins at a paved parking area just off the highway and stretches through muskeg to the rapids of Blind Slough. At the end of the trail, a small day-use shelter sits just above the high tide level of the slough. There is a barrier-free outhouse in the corner of the parking area.

Attractions: Blind River Rapids has long been the most popular place on Mitkof Island to watch and fish for king and silver salmon during their migrations. King salmon return to the river in June and July, and silver salmon return in September. Steelhead also run up the slough in April and May.

History: Early European explorers thought the slough connected Wrangell Narrows with Sumner Strait and so called it Blind Passage. In 1891, U.S. Navy Commander H. E. Nichols officially named the waterway Blind River.

In 1927, the Forest Service built a 5-mile trail along the slough from Blind Point to the city powerhouse then located where Crystal Lake Hatchery is today. City powerhouse employees and anglers used the trail for over 20 years. The extension of the Mitkof Highway to Blind Slough in 1953 made the slough and powerhouse accessible by road and the trail became obsolete. However, the area remained popular with anglers, hunters, and hikers, so the Forest Service constructed the plank trail from the highway to the rapids in 1965.

Ideal Cove Trail (#508)
This primitive trail connects the Three Lakes Trail with Ideal Cove.

Length (one way): 1.5 miles
Rating: More Difficult
USGS Maps: Petersburg C-2 and C-3, C-3

Access: The trail begins at the Hill Creek bridge, about half way between the Crane Lake and Hill Lake trailheads on the Three Lakes Trail. From Petersburg, drive south on Mitkof Highway for 20 miles, then turn left onto the Three Lakes Loop Road (#6235). The Three Lakes Trail trailheads are along the Loop Road. (See Three Lakes Trail listing.) You can also reach the trail from saltwater about 0.25 mile north of Ideal Cove in Frederick Sound.

Description: From the Hill Creek bridge, the trail descends gradually through muskeg and timber to the beach north of Ideal Cove. The trail parallels Hill Creek for most of its length and parts of it are muddy and hard to follow. None of the trail is boardwalk. The beach at the end of the trail offers views of Frederick Sound and the mainland.

History: Hunters and anglers hiking to the three lakes from Ideal Cove originally referred to them as the Ideal Lakes. In the 1930's, District Ranger J.M. Wyckoff named the lakes after the Sandhill Cranes that frequent the area. The Forest Service built the first trail to access the lakes in 1938. The trail started near Ideal Cove and skirted the northeast shores of the lakes. Later that same year, a crew cleared the original Three Lakes Trail, built the shelter at Shelter Lake, and built docks and rafts at Hill, Shelter, and Sand Lakes. The Forest Service maintained this trail until the early 1970's when logging road #6235 was built. The new road made access to the three lakes area by automobile possible and the Ideal Cove Trail fell out of use. Today the Forest Service maintains the trail at a primitive level for more ambitious hikers.

Ohmer Creek Trail (#603)
Located next to Ohmer Creek Campground, this trail follows Ohmer Creek through mature temperate rainforest, muskeg, and over a beaver pond. The first section is barrier-free and has interpretive signs. The second section of the trail provides anglers with access to Ohmer Creek and adjacent beaver ponds.

Length (one way): 1 mile
Rating: First 0.25 mile is Easiest (barrier-free); remaining 0.75 mile is More Difficult
USGS Map: Petersburg C-3

Access: Both the campground and the trail at Ohmer Creek are 22 miles from Petersburg on the Mitkof Highway. The highway is paved for 17 miles, then gravel, in good condition, for the remaining 5 miles.

Description: The barrier-free part of the trail begins at a small parking area off the Mitkof Highway. It follows the creek, crosses Woodpecker Cove Road (#6280) near its junction with the highway, and ends at the boardwalk of the next section. This segment of the trail is wide with a mostly flat, gravel surface.

The second segment of the trail begins as boardwalk from the end of the gravel and leads through spruce and hemlock forest to a floating bridge over a beaver pond. From the pond, the trail continues through muskeg and timber and ends at the bridge on the Snake Ridge Road (#6246). About half of the trail is boardwalk and other sections are muddy and uneven. Two spur trails lead from the main trail to fishing areas on Ohmer Creek.

From the trailhead at the Snake Ridge Road, turn left and follow the road to its junction with the Woodpecker Cove Road. Turn left again onto the Woodpecker Cove Road and follow it back to the Mitkof Highway.

Attractions: Interpretive signs along the first segment of the trail describe the natural history of fisheries and methods of improving fisheries habitat. Ohmer Creek offers fair to good trout and salmon fishing in late summer and fall. King Salmon return to the creek in June and July.

Raven Trail (#607)
This trail climbs the ridge behind the Petersburg airport to the Ravens Roost Cabin and offers outstanding views of Petersburg, Frederick Sound, and the mainland. The area is also popular for telemark and cross-country skiing in winter.

Length (one way): 4 miles
Rating: More Difficult
USGS Map: Petersburg D-3

Access: The trail begins near the water tower on the south side of the airport. Walk or drive Haugen Drive or Sandy Beach Road to the turnoff between the airport and Tent City. Watch for trail signs that lead uphill toward the water tower. You can also reach the Raven Trail by hiking or skiing 4.9 miles up the Twin Ridge Ski Trail from the Twin Creek Road. (See Twin Ridge Ski Trail listing.)

Description: Only parts of the Raven Trail are boardwalk; other segments are often very muddy and slippery. Rubber boots are recommended. The route is marked with blue diamond trail markers. The trail begins as boardwalk through a muskeg, but soon moves into timber. It continues through muskeg and timber to an overlook about 1 mile from the trailhead. A short spur trail leads to an open muskeg and views of Frederick Sound and the mainland. From the overlook, the trail climbs steadily through mature spruce and hemlock forest for about 2 miles, then moves into subalpine muskeg and meadows. The trail ends at the Ravens Roost Recreation Cabin.

Attractions: The trail offers spectacular views of both the Wrangell Narrows and the mainland. This is also one of the few winter use trails on the Petersburg Ranger District because of its access to telemark and cross-country skiing runs. The open muskegs around the cabin provide excellent skiing, especially for the beginner, from November to April. Many people enjoy flying to the cabin in a helicopter and skiing down. Contact the Petersburg Ranger District for Ravens Roost Cabin information and cabin permit applications.

Three Lakes Trail (#600)
Try this boardwalk trail for a beautiful hike through the Three Lakes Recreation Area.

Combined Length (one way): 4.5 miles
Rating: Easiest
USGS Map: Petersburg D-3

Access: Drive south from Petersburg on the Mitkof Highway. The Three Lakes Loop Road (#6235) meets the highway at both 10 miles and 20 miles from Petersburg. The three trailheads are about 15 miles from the north end of the Loop Road and 6 miles from the south end. You can also reach the trail by hiking the Ideal Cove Trail from Frederick Sound. (See Ideal Cove Trail listing.)

Description/Attractions: You can begin hiking at any of the three trailheads. The trail makes a figure-eight with Sand Lake Trailhead to the north, Hill Lake Trailhead in the middle, and Crane Lake Trailhead to the south. Parking space is available at each trailhead. The entire trail is boardwalk and is mostly flat with a few short, steep sections. The trail wanders through muskeg and timber, crosses creeks and drainages, and passes four lakes.

Each of the lakes has a picnic table and fire ring, and all except Shelter Lake have a small rowboat. A 1930's three-sided Adirondack shelter sits on the shore of Shelter Lake, about midway between Sand Lake and Hill Lake. Beaver, bear, deer, and eagles inhabit the area, and Sandhill Cranes visit often. Wildflowers and berries abound along most of the trail and all four lakes offer trout fishing.

History: Hunters and anglers hiking to the three lakes from Ideal Cove originally referred to them as the Ideal Lakes. In the 1930's, District Ranger J.M. Wyckoff named the lakes after the Sandhill Cranes that frequent the area. The Forest Service built the first trail to the lakes from Ideal Cove in 1938.

The Three Lakes Loop Road, built in the early 1970's, provided access to the lakes from Mitkof Highway and the Ideal Cove Trail fell out of use. A Youth Conservation Corps crew constructed the three trails from the Loop Road to Sand, Hill, and Crane Lakes shortly after the road was completed in 1973. Between 1981 and 1990, Forest Service and Southeast Alaska Guidance Association youth crews added to the trail system at different locations, extending and reconstructing the original trails. Then, in 1991, the Petersburg Ranger District Trail Crew completed the construction that linked the entire back portion of the trail from Sand Lake to Crane Lake.

Cascade Creek Trail (#458)
This popular trail follows Cascade Creek upstream through cathedral-like timber from the Cascade Creek Cabin to Falls Lake first, then on to the west end of Swan Lake.

Length (one way): 4 miles
Rating: First 0.5 mile is Easiest; remainder is More Difficult and Most Difficult
USGS Map: Sumdum A-3 and Petersburg D-3

Access: The Cascade Creek Trail is accessible from three trailheads; by boat or floatplane to the Cascade Creek Cabin trailhead; by boat or floatplane to tidewater trailhead near the mouth of Cascade Creek; and by floatplane to the trailhead at the west end of Swan Lake or skiff from the Swan Lake Cabin. All three trailheads are marked. Cascade Creek and the cabin are about 16 air miles northeast of Petersburg in Thomas Bay.

Description: The trail leaves the Cascade Creek Cabin through spruce and hemlock forest, then follows the shoreline to the tidewater trailhead about 0.25 mile from the cabin. From the beach, the trail follows Cascade Creek for 0.25 mile to the lower falls. This part of the trail is boardwalk and provides excellent views of the lower falls. The trail continues up Cascade Creek from the lower falls, but becomes steeper and more difficult. A bridge spans the creek about 0.25 mile from the lower falls and the trail continues upward along the opposite side of the creek. The trail becomes still more challenging after the bridge as it ascends rapidly and is minimally developed.

About 2.5 miles from the cabin trailhead you will reach a junction in the trail. The spur trail to the right goes to the lower (west) end of Falls Lake. You can row the boat provided to the upper (east) end of the lake where another spur trail leads to the Falls Lake Shelter and back to the Cascade Creek Trail.

From the 2.5-mile junction, the main trail continues around Falls Lake to a high muskeg with spectacular views of Petersburg and Frederick Sound. This section of the trail is minimally developed and very challenging. About 0.5 mile from the first junction is the second Falls Lake junction. The spur to the right leads 0.25 mile to the Falls Lake Shelter, then another 0.25 mile to Falls Lake. The main trail continues to the left of the junction. It crosses a small lake providing views of cliffs and waterfalls, then follows Cascade Creek for 1 mile to the trailhead at Swan Lake.

Attractions: The trail offers beautiful views of the creek as it falls through the canyon. Both Falls Lake and Swan Lake offer excellent rainbow trout fishing. The three-sided Adirondack shelter at Falls Lake is for overnight use for no fee. Contact the Petersburg Ranger District for Cascade Creek and Swan Lake Cabin information and cabin permit applications.

History: In 1933, Harry Colp, Fred Magill, and Fred Porter, long-time residents of Petersburg, traveled up Cascade Creek on a prospecting venture. They followed a trail that led all the way to Falls Lake. Colp later wrote "The Strangest Story Ever Told" about his adventures prospecting in the Thomas Bay area. Throughout the 1940's and 50's, the Forest Service intermittently maintained the little used trail. Crews built a skiff at Falls Lake to cross to the falls where the trail continued to Swan Lake. Between 199O and 1993, the Petersburg Ranger District Trail Crew reconstructed the entire trail from the Cascade Creek Cabin to Swan Lake.

Spurt Lake Trail (#457)
This primitive trail provides access to Spurt Lake from Thomas Bay.

Length (one way): 1.5 miles
Rating: More Difficult
USGS Map: Sumdum A-3

Access: The Spurt Lake Trail begins on the shore of Thomas Bay, about 0.25 mile northeast of the Spurt Cove Cabin. The trailhead is 18 air miles northeast of Petersburg and can be reached by boat or floatplane.

Description/Attractions: The trailhead is marked with a red and white diamonds and the trail itself is marked with blue diamonds. The first half of the trail is through mature forest and follows the base of a vertical rock wall. The second half of the trail travels through semi-open muskeg, finally cresting a ridge and descending to Spurt Lake. Spurt Lake offers fair cutthroat trout fishing. A small boat is provided for visitor use.