Route Notes:

• Minimum altitude: no minimum ... suggested 1000 feet.
• Direct Routing: If the weather is favorable, from Higgins Point fly 010 for 26 miles.
• Landing zone: water, water can freeze in winter
• Spotted Lake Retreat and Cedar Ridge Lake sceneries are needed from Misty Moorings, Inc.
• Click [here] for printer-friendly TripTic
• Note: This route takes an experienced pilot or a working reset button!

Cedar Ridge Lake Retreat

From Bill Dick, a fine fly fisherman's dream retreat. Tucked back into the beautiful Misty Fjords scenery in a location you will have to work on a little to "find." This come complete with tents for camping, docks for your boats and a nice small lodging facility. You first fly to Spotted Lake, then move on from there. You will fly up a rather narrow canyon to finally arrive at Orchard Lake and Cedar Ridge Lake.

TreeTop VFR Plan

From: Ketchikan International
To: Cedar Ridge Lake Retreat

1. Fly a heading of 100 down the Tongass Narrows toward Pennock Island
...Fly over the center of Pennock Island
...watch for the cruise ships on left and the Clione vessel plying the narrows.
...You'll pass Ketchikan on your left and see Saxman coming up on your left as you fly over Pennock Island.
...Coming up on your right is Gravina Point.

2. Over Pennock Island, set a heading of 095 shooting the gap between Mountain point on your left and Race Point on your right.
...You are now heading directly for Bold Island
...As we fly, you will be passing the entrance to the the Carol Inlet on your left, it winds up behind Ketchikan, but is eventually a dead end.
...Small Spire Island comes up to starboard
...Just past Spire Island the point of land is Reef Point. You should be heading for the center of Bold Island, just ahead.

3. Over Bold Island, maintain a course of 095, you are heading for Alava Point about 8 miles ahead.
...look closely and you will see the small Antellope Trail Ranch down to your left there in Coho Cove.
...To our left is the inlet to the Thorne Arm.
...You are flying down the Revillagigedo Channel ( the gateway to Alaska from the south). Wach for cruise ships in this area.
...Continue to Alava Point, we will be rounding it to the left starting to fly up the Behm Canal.

4. Once you have just cleared Alava point, make a left turn to 010 setting a visual heading for the left shore far in the distance
...We are getting ready to fly over Alava Bay, look closely at the large island and you may see the Alava Bay Cabin
...The first point you encounter after Alava Bay is Ape Point
...The next point justting into the Behm Canal from the left shore is Fox Point ... head to fly over Fox Point.
...continuing on this heading (095) you will see Rudyerd Island coming up, visually head to fly over it.
...just beyond Rudyerd Island is Smeaton Island. Head for the center of Smeaton Island, maintain minimum of 1200 feet.
...off to the right of Smeaton Island you'll see Smeaton Bay on the starboard side of the canal.
... the leading edge of Smeaton Island is called Harris point ... recheck your altitude for minimum 1200.

5. As you reach the far shore of Smeaton Island, make a heading correction, turn left to 335 over Eddystone Rock.
...the northern point of Smeaton Island should come under your port wing, that is Harding Point.
...off to starboard (your right) you will see little Candle Island, then just beyond it the beautiful Winstanley Island
...there are two cabins on Winstanley Island.
... you may want to drop down to 300 feet to get a good look at Eddystone Rock, a strange rock structure in the center of the Behm Canal.

6. Over Eddystone Rock, continue heading of 335 flying toward Manzanita Island, 4 miles ahead.
...You will see it appearing like a penninsula from the port side of the Behm Canal.

7. Over Manzinita Island, set a heading of 320 following the port shoreline toward Snip Island.
... don't get too close in foggy weather as there are mountains near the shore.
... you will pass over tiny Snip Island.

8. Over little Snip Island, come slightly left (about 310) following the left shoreline watching for a misting outfall of a river.
... reduce altitude to 1000 feet
... You will see a small inlet called Portage cove on the left shore in about 3 miles... fly just off the shoreline
... The inlet to the Chickamin River will pass on the starboard side of the canal.
... you will see a river coming out from between the mountains about 11 o'clock, with mist coming from a waterfall, this is where you will make a sharp turn to port.

9. At the misting waterfall, turn to port to follow the curving little river to its outfall on Spotted Lake.
... following the river will line you up on the runway at the Spotted Lake Retreat. You may wish to stop for a cup of coffee before you move on to Cedar Ridge lake. Or you may fly over Spotted lake assuming a heading of 270 as you fly over the retreat.

10. Start at Spotted Lake! This will be your start Point. From there you take off and climb to 500 ft, use your own discretion on this, but as low as you can fly (safely). Come to a heading of 270. You will see a river at the end of the lake and when it comes into view.
... Follow the canyon made by the river.

11. Arriving at Cedar Ridge Lake and other tent campsites.
... There will be a junction a short ways into the canyon, do not go to your right. Stay to your left and this will lead you to a campsite at the end of the river as it comes out of Orchard Lake. The campsite has a few tents and a cabin for Fly Fishemen who like to fish the river for Steelhead. A great spot the river is deep enough to land a float plane, but be careful.
... There is another camp on the right hand side of the large lake you are on.(Orchard Lake) with a small tributary leading to the "Cedar Lake Ridge. Here you will find another Campsite for these fly Fisheman. The little lake is about 200 ft higher than Orchard lake and is full of Speckled Trout and a great delicacy.

To Return to Ketchikan, Reverse the above Route.
Or fly direct from Cedar Ridge Lake on a heading of 189 for 25 miles taking you to Higgins Point.

Doug Linn
Charter Manager
Misty Moorings, Inc
contact@mistymoorings.com