Hugh Smith Lake Cabin

Minimum ceiling: 2000 feet
Minimum flying altitude: 1500 feet
Minimum visibility: 1 mile
Approximate distance: 55 miles

Direct from Mountain Point to Cabin: 32 miles at 086
Direct from Cabin to Mountain Point: 32 miles at 267

VFR Directions: To the Island Cabin

  1. After leaving PAKT or 5KE, position over Pennock Island in the Tongass Narrows at a heading of 110
  2. At the south end of Pennock Island, head toward Bold Island, Set your heading at 094. Bold Island is 9 miles ahead. [5.5 minutes]
  3. At the south end of Bold Island, set a heading for 088 for Alava Point, the point of land 8.3 miles ahead. [5 minutes]
  4. At Alava Point set your heading at 115 for the State Islands 8 miles ahead [4.5 minutes]
  5. Over the State Islands, set a heading of 097 for Kah Shakes Point 3 miles ahead. [1.5 minutes]
  6. At Kah Shakes point, set a heading of 029 heading for Orca Point 6.2 miles ahead. You are flying up the Boca de Quadra channel [3.5 minutes]
  7. Orca Point comes on on your right, and this is where you will make a right turn to 114 degrees for the tiny Kite Island in the center of the channel, 3 miles ahead. [1.5 minutes]
  8. Over Kite Island, set a heading of 050 heading for Sockeye Creek that you can see emptying from Hugh Smith Lake, just beyond. Reduce altitude to 1200 feet to prepare for landing about 5 miles ahead. [2 minutes]
  9. As you come over the shore of Hugh Smith Lake a correction to your right by 5 degrees and fly down the lake. The Hugh Smith Cabin is toward the end of the lake on the right.

VFR Directions: Returning to Ketchikan

  1. Taxi out in front of the cabin and set your heading for about 240 to fly down the lake and take off. Fly the lake to go over Sockeye Creek.
  2. As you come over Sockeye Creek, you should set a heading for Kite Island, 3 miles ahead at a heading of 230. [1.5 minutes]
  3. At Kite Island, turn to 295 heading for Orca Point about 3 miles ahead on the left. At Orca Point you will turn left.[2 minutes]
  4. Round Orca Point and come to a heading of 210 which will take you to Kah Shakes Point about 6 miles ahead [3.5 minutes]
  5. At Shakes Point, you can set a heading of 279 for the small State Islands.
  6. At the State Islands, set a heading of 295 to Alava Point about 8 miles ahead [4.5 minutes]
  7. At Alava Point, set a heading of 269 for Bold Island 8.3 miles ahead. [5 minutes]
  8. Over Bold Island, set a heading of 275 for Pennock Island [5.5 minutes] ... you are now in the Tongass Narrows and ATC should be directing your destination.

Description: This is a rustic style 12' x 14' Pan-Abode log cabin with a wood-burning stove andsleeping space for 4 to 6 people. The cabin was constructed in 1965.

Location: Approximately 55 air miles southeast of Ketchikan on the mainland south of Martin Arm, elevation 100 feet (30 meters). It is accessible by float plane. In fall, winter and early spring, the cabin may be inaccessible due to the frozen lake surface (float planes cannot land). This cabin is located within the Misty Fiords National Monument Wilderness. Please Leave No Trace of your visit.

Season of Use: Year-around.

Facilities:2 single plywood bunks, 2 double plywood bunks, Table and benches, Wood stove, Cooking counter, Food cupboard and shelves, Broom, mop and bucket, Outhouse toilet, Axe, Maul and wedge, 14' aluminum skiff with oars and NO life jackets

Water is available from the lake. Treat all water before using. Bring your own sleeping bags, sleeping pads, cooking stove, lantern, pots, pans, plates, utensils, food, toilet paper, garbage bags, fire extinguisher and fire starter. This cabin contains a wood stove. Please conserve firewood; supplied firewood is for wood stove use only.

Special Features: The cabin is located on a point of land extending into Hugh Smith Lake. Along with the standard opportunities provided at our cabins, this cabin offers something a little different. For those of you who enjoy exploring some of Southeast Alaskan History, there is an old abandoned cannery on the east end of the lake. A trail to salt water, a working fish weir, and a cabin used by Alaska Department of Fish and Game are located at the west end of the lake. This lake has good cutthroat and dolly varden fishing as well as salmon fishing. Hunting for Sitka blacktail deer and black bear is popular in this area.