Salt Chuck East Cabin

The Salt Chuck East Cabin is located on Kupreanof Island on the east side of the Duncan Salt Chuck. It provides access to a variety of recreational opportunities, including fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing. The cabin is accessible by boat or float plane only. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety. The Portage Mountain Loop Trail is a primitive trail leading from the cabin to Portage Bay (Goose Cove) and Petersburg Lake. The trail is especially primitive and hard to follow between Goose Cove and Petersburg Lake, which is why few people hike that section. Fishing opportunities abound: anglers will find abundant steelhead in April and May, coho salmon in August and September and trout from June to September. A rowboat and oars are available at the cabin, however life jackets are not provided and visitors must bring their own; guests may also choose to bring a small outboard motor. Hunting is available as per state or federal hunting regulations. The modified A-frame cabin has two wooden bunks and a sleeping loft that can accommodate up to seven people. It is equipped with a table, benches and a clean-burning oil heater, and an outhouse with a pit toilet is provided. Water for drinking, cooking and cleaning is not provided at the cabin; the nearest water source is a small creek nearby, and water taken from any outdoor source should be treated or boiled before consumption. Guests are encouraged to bring drinking water if possible. Guests will need to bring their own sleeping bags and pads, cook stove and cooking gear, towels, food and clothing, fire starter and garbage bags, among other necessities, plus enough kerosene or No. 1 heating oil for the oil heater, which burns at a rate of approximately one gallon per day. A broom, dust pan, axe and splitting maul are generally available, but may be missing or damaged. The cabin needs to be cleaned prior to leaving and all garbage and food must be carried out. The cabin sits within the Petersburg Creek-Duncan Salt Chuck Wilderness, overlooking a large expanse of saltwater grass flats. The terrain behind the cabin is old growth spruce and hemlock forest. A variety of wildlife can be seen in the area, including waterfowl, grouse, deer and black bears.