USDA Forest Service · Alaska
Devils Elbow Cabin
USDA Forest Service · Alaska, United States
- Sites
- 1
- Hookups
- 1 no hookups
- Season
- Year-round
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 39 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Tongass National Forest
- Nearest town
- PETERSBURG
- Address
- PO BOX 1328, PETERSBURG, AK, 99833
- Phone
- 907-772-3871
- Activities
- Camping, Canoeing, Fishing, Hunting, Wildlife Viewing
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Devil's Elbow Cabin is set back from the coastal water in a scenic area of southeastern Alaska. It provides access to a variety of recreational activities, including fishing, hunting and viewing wildlife. The location is also popular among rockhounds and geology enthusiasts.
The cabin is accessible by boat or float plane only, and tides impact access. Those arriving by boat should be prepared to hike a half-mile to reach the cabin if they arrive at low tide. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.
Recreation
The cabin's location makes it a favorite among kayakers and canoers, as it provides some protection from inclement weather. Rocky Pass is known for its interesting geology, inviting boaters from all over. Low tides affect boat navigation over the tide flats around the cabin, so boaters should consult tide charts in advance (local tide tables).
Hunting is possible for waterfowl, grouse and bear in designated seasons as per state or federal hunting regulations; click here for more information from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Anglers may find steelhead during April and May and coho salmon in August and September.
The tide flats are a rockhound's paradise.
Facilities
The A-frame cabin has bunks and a sleeping loft to accommodate up to seven people. It is equipped with a table, benches and an oil stove for heat. An outhouse with a pit toilet is provided.
Water for drinking, cooking and cleaning is not provided at the cabin. Water taken from the creek, which is a quarter-mile south of the cabin, should be treated or boiled before consumption. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own drinking water if possible.
Heating oil is not supplied at the cabin. Visitors must bring enough kerosene or No. 1 heating oil for the oil heater, approximately one gallon per day.
Visitors need to bring their own sleeping bags and pads, cook stove and cooking gear, towels, food, clothing, fire starter and garbage bags, among other
necessities. All trash and food must be packed out, and visitors are expected to clean the cabin before leaving.
Click here for more cabin details and maps.
Natural Features
The cabin is located on a narrow isthmus on Kuiu Island in Rocky Pass. It is along Keku Strait between Kuiu and Kupreanof Island. The cabin sits near the Devil's Elbow, a sharp turn in Rocky Pass for which the cabin is named.
The cabin is surrounded by tide flats for several miles to the south. It is also situated along a major waterfowl resting area, making the spot a favorite of hunters.
A variety of wildlife also makes its home in the area, including grouse, seals, black bears and wolves (learn about bear safety ).
Fees
Reservations can be made the day of arrival or up to 180 days in advance and are restricted to a maximum stay of 7 consecutive nights per party for any one reservation between May 1and September 30, and a maximum stay of 10 consecutive days from Oct. 1 through April 30. There are no discounts for Alaska cabin rentals with Golden Age and Golden Passports.
Only one change per reservation for all Alaska cabins is allowed. Change is defined as a modification to the start or end date of the reservation; after one change has been made, if additional changes are desired, the customer must cancel the current reservation and re-book the new dates.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 39° | 32° | -6° | 51° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 38° | 30° | 10° | 49° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 40° | 31° | 19° | 60° | 10 of 11 |
| April | 46° | 35° | 25° | 59° | 7 of 11 |
| May | 55° | 43° | 36° | 79° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 58° | 48° | 41° | 75° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 60° | 52° | 46° | 75° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 62° | 53° | 47° | 79° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 59° | 49° | 41° | 72° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 49° | 42° | 31° | 62° | 1 of 10 |
| November | 42° | 35° | 21° | 50° | 7 of 10 |
| December | 38° | 31° | 10° | 49° | 9 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Kadake Bay Cabin · USDA Forest Service · 14 mi · 1 sites
- Big John Bay Cabin · USDA Forest Service · 14 mi · 1 sites
- Castle River Cabin · USDA Forest Service · 18 mi · 1 sites
- Castle Flats Cabin · USDA Forest Service · 18 mi · 1 sites
- Towers Arm Cabin · USDA Forest Service · 19 mi · 1 sites
All public campgrounds in Alaska · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.