Fishing spot
Luck Lake and Eagle Creek
Trout lake with a road access site, draining to Eagle Creek's steelhead run.
7.7 mi
Bear viewing site
Big Lake Fish Viewing Site
Accessible platform at Ratz Creek rapids where salmon leap in late summer and fall.
Tongass National Forest · USFS
- Peak months
- Aug–Oct
- Viewing type
- Fish-viewing platform
- Platform
- Yes
- Permit required
- No
- Access modes
- Road
- Fee
- 0 USD
Road
A 100-foot accessible gravel path leads to a viewing platform with signs on the salmon life cycle and how a fish pass works. In the late-summer and fall runs, salmon leap the rapids of Ratz Creek. It is on Forest Road 30302, about 22 road miles north of Thorne Bay off Forest Road 30. No restrooms.
Location
Wildlife viewing · Photography
Sources
- Big Lake Fish Wildlife Viewing SiteUSDA Forest Service, Tongass National Forest · Accessed 2026-11-05
Last updated 2026-11-05
Nearby within 25 miles
Fishing spots
Fishing spot
Thorne River
The island's biggest road-accessible river for steelhead, coho and trout, reached at Gravelly Creek.
10.6 mi
Fishing spot
Staney Creek
Road-accessible west-side creek for coho and steelhead, with free campsites and a cabin.
19.5 mi
Fishing spot
Karta River
Wilderness steelhead and trout river reached by boat or floatplane to Karta Bay.
21.3 mi
Fishing spot
Sarkar Lake and River
Canoe-route lake with cutthroat and rainbow trout and a steelhead outlet river.
23.1 mi
Viewpoints
Public use cabins
Public-use cabin
Honker Lake Cabin
Small cabin on the Honker Divide canoe route, by floatplane or a 6-mile paddle.
10.2 mi
Public-use cabin
Sweetwater Lake Cabin
Lake cabin 10 road miles from Coffman Cove, then a short hike and skiff ride.
13.2 mi
Public-use cabin
Control Lake Cabin
Road-access lake cabin a short row from the Control Lake junction.
14.9 mi
Public-use cabin
Barnes Lake Cabin
Cedar cabin on a saltwater lagoon with crabbing and some of the island's best silver salmon fishing.
16.6 mi
Public-use cabin
Staney Creek Cabin
Easy-access cabin a half mile by boardwalk from Forest Road 2054, near Staney Creek's salmon and steelhead.
20.4 mi
Public-use cabin
Karta Lake Cabin
Lake cabin in the Karta River country, 1.5 miles by trail from Karta Bay or by floatplane.
21.2 mi
Public-use cabin
Karta River Cabin
Cedar cabin at Karta Bay, at the start of the Karta River Trail.
21.3 mi
Public-use cabin
Sarkar Lake Cabin
Lake cabin on the Sarkar Canoe Route, with skiffs provided.
23.1 mi
Public-use cabin
Black Bear Lake Cabin
Fly-in lake cabin below Patricia Peak, reachable only by floatplane.
24.2 mi
Floatplane bases
Trails
Trail
Balls Lake Trail
- Distance
- 13.7368588228931 mi
Lakeshore loop from the Balls Lake picnic shelter, linked to Eagles Nest Campground.
13.7 mi
Trail
Karta River Trail
- Distance
- 21.3398958826019 mi
Wilderness river trail from Karta Bay to Salmon Lake.
21.3 mi
Trail
Sarkar Canoe Route
- Distance
- 23.2638915680923 mi
Fifteen-mile paddle linking seven lakes from the Sarkar Lake boat ramp.
23.3 mi
Campgrounds
Campground
Eagles Nest Campground
Forest campground above Balls Lake in the center of the island, with a canoe launch and lakeside walk-in sites.
13.9 mi
Campground
Lake No. 3 Dispersed Campsite
Free two-site lakeside camp near the Salt Chuck mine trail, west of Thorne Bay.
15.8 mi
Campground
Staney Bridge Dispersed Campsite
Free two-site camp at the Staney Creek bridge on Forest Road 2050.
19.5 mi
Campground
Horseshoe Hole Dispersed Campsite
Free two-site forest camp near Staney Creek on the island's west side.
19.7 mi
Lodges
Lodge
Boardwalk Lodge
An all-inclusive freshwater and saltwater fishing lodge at Cook's Cove in Thorne Bay on eastern Prince of Wales Island. Guests fish for all five Pacific salmon species, steelhead, halibut and black cod.
14.7 mi
Lodge
El Capitan Lodge
A chalet-style, full-service fishing lodge in remote Sea Otter Sound on the north end of Prince of Wales Island. Guests target trophy king and silver salmon, halibut and rockfish.
25.0 mi
