Devils Elbow Cabin
Devil's Elbow Cabin is set back from the coastal water in a scenic area of southeastern Alaska. It provides access to a variety of recreational activities, including fishing, hunting and viewing wildlife. The location is also popular among rockhounds and geology enthusiasts. The cabin is accessible by boat or float plane only, and tides impact access. Those arriving by boat should be prepared to hike a half-mile to reach the cabin if they arrive at low tide. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Cabins | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Shade | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| P09 | Full | 7 / – |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Fees | Reservations can be made the day of arrival or up to 180 days in advance and are restricted to a maximum stay of 7 consecutive nights per party for any one reservation between May 1and September 30, and a maximum stay of 10 consecutive days from Oct. 1 through April 30. |
The A-frame cabin has bunks and a sleeping loft to accommodate up to seven people. It is equipped with a table, benches and an oil stove for heat. An outhouse with a pit toilet is provided. Water taken from the creek, which is a quarter-mile south of the cabin, should be treated or boiled before consumption. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own drinking water if possible. Visitors must bring enough kerosene or No. 1 heating oil for the oil heater, approximately one gallon per day. Visitors need to bring their own sleeping bags and pads, cook stove and cooking gear, towels, food, clothing, fire starter and garbage bags, among other necessities. All trash and food must be packed out, and visitors are expected to clean the cabin before leaving.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Access is by boat (66 miles from Petersburg or 26 miles from Kake) or float plane (44 miles from Petersburg). A 16-foot tide is required for direct float plane access to the cabin. Arrival at lower tides will require a half-mile walk on the tide flat. Refer to USGS topographic map Petersburg C6. Petersburg D6 may also be helpful.
| Nearest town | Petersburg, Alaska |
| Coordinates | 56.6436° N, 133.7217° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Water for drinking, cooking and cleaning is not provided at the cabin.
- Heating oil is not supplied at the cabin.
Explore
Public land it sits in
Tebenkof Bay Wilderness begins about 10.8 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 10.8 miTebenkof Bay Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 66,994 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
Natural features
The cabin is located on a narrow isthmus on Kuiu Island in Rocky Pass. It is along Keku Strait between Kuiu and Kupreanof Island. The cabin sits near the Devil's Elbow, a sharp turn in Rocky Pass for which the cabin is named. The cabin is surrounded by tide flats for several miles to the south. It is also situated along a major waterfowl resting area, making the spot a favorite of hunters. A variety of wildlife also makes its home in the area, including grouse, seals, black bears and wolves (learn about bear safety ).
Recreation
The cabin's location makes it a favorite among kayakers and canoers, as it provides some protection from inclement weather. Rocky Pass is known for its interesting geology, inviting boaters from all over. Low tides affect boat navigation over the tide flats around the cabin, so boaters should consult tide charts in advance (local tide tables). Anglers may find steelhead during April and May and coho salmon in August and September. The tide flats are a rockhound's paradise.
Guidebooks for Alaska
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Devils Elbow Cabin?
Sites at Devils Elbow Cabin are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Devils Elbow Cabin?
Reservations can be made the day of arrival or up to 180 days in advance and are restricted to a maximum stay of 7 consecutive nights per party for any one reservation between May 1and September 30, and a maximum stay of 10 consecutive days from Oct. 1 through April 30.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Devils Elbow Cabin?
Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Devils Elbow Cabin have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Devils Elbow Cabin?
The cabin's location makes it a favorite among kayakers and canoers, as it provides some protection from inclement weather. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Devils Elbow Cabin?
Petersburg, Alaska.
Source: Getting there
What if Devils Elbow Cabin is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are El Capitan Campground (36.6 mi), Ohmer Creek Campground (37.6 mi, first-come), and Davidof Lake Cabin (42.6 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby