Destinations
* Indicates historic canoe route access.
- Situk Lake
- Russell Fjord
- Harlequin Lake
- Ahrnklin River
- Situk River
- Strawberry Point *
- Tawah Creek Bridge *
- Tawah Creek at Cannon Bridge *
- Summit Lake *
- Yakutat Bay
- Ankau River/Estuary
- Disenchantment Bay
- Redfield Lakes
Additional Information
Yakutat Wildlife Viewing
Water Trails
Hundreds of miles of Yakutat area waterways, including rivers, fjords, estuaries, bays, and open waters, may be explored by canoe, kayak, raft, drift boat and motorized skiff. It’s as easy as renting a car, and perhaps a boat, and driving to any of several access points, most of which are relatively close to town. Some people also plan multi-day trips and camp along the way. In some areas, the U.S. Forest Service has cabins available for overnight use.
Some waterways have been used for centuries. The original inhabitants of the area, the Yakutat Kwaan, established a canoe trade route between Yakutat and Dry Bay of which Yakutat to Dry Bay Ancestral Lingit Canoe Route is the official name. A large portion of this historic route is passable between Summit Lake and the Ahrnklin River/Seal Creek estuary. This route may be accessed from several launch sites. Due to changes in topography and the river channels over time, however,travel beyond Ahrnklin River Delta is not recommended
Access to Water Trails
The starting point for the following directions to all destinations—trailheads, boat launches, etc—is the intersection of Forest Highway #10 (FH#10, also called the Dangerous River Road) and Airport Road in Yakutat. Driving distances listed on this site are one-way and approximate.
Redfield Lakes
Directions: Drive 6.4 miles on FH#10 to West Gate Road (FH991). Turn left and drive 3.8 miles to boat launch access and turnout on the left hand side of road. The turnout is more apparent than the boat access. Walk a short distance into the woods along an unimproved trail and climb up onto a bluff. A small lake is visible from the bluff. A short walk to the lake—less than 500m—will give paddlers access to Redfield Lakes.
Notes for water travelers: This canoe/kayak route is for advanced wilderness travelers and requires use of a map, compass, and GPS to stay oriented. The launch area, which is primitive at best, is in a group of no-name lakes that drain into Humpy Creek. Redfield Lakes, which paddlers will eventually access, is the headwaters of the west fork of the Situk River. If one continues driving 0.7 miles on West Gate Road, you will encounter a bridge crossing the west fork of the Situk River.