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.


Summit Lake

caption follows
Mouth of Summit Lake

Directions: Drive 0.3 miles on Airport Road. Turn right on Ophir Creek Road and drive 3.1 miles. Look for a small area to park in a narrow break in the matted vegetation on the left. From there, you can see Summit Lake. This is in fact the launch site. If water levels at the lake are too low, continue 0.5 mile to Inner Beach Rd. and turn left. Go 2.3 miles to Cannon Beach and the Cannon Bridge launch site on Tawah Creek (see Cannon Bridge access information above).

Notes for water travelers: Traveling along Inner Beach Road you will pass three USFS tent platforms with wonderful access to beaches on Yakutat Bay. From Ophir Creek Road driving southeast on Inner Beach Road the campgrounds are 0.7 mile, 1.2 mile and 1.6 mile, respectively.