Tongass National Forest

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Forest Services and Programs

The Tongass National Forest is the nation's largest national forest, containing 17 million acres in Southeast Alaska. The Petersburg Ranger District is 1.7 million acres, including Mitkof, Kupreanof, Woewodski, and Kuiu Islands, a section of the mainland, and several smaller islands. It surrounds the communities of Petersburg, Kupreanof, and Kake. The Petersburg Ranger District is responsible for managing the national forest for multiple uses, including special use permits, timber, recreation, fish, wildlife, subsistence, and wilderness areas.

Special Use Permits

Special use permits are required to use national forest land for certain purposes. In Petersburg, the majority of special use permits are issued to guides for hunting, fishing, and sightseeing tours on the Tongass. A special use permit may also be required for recreation, mineral exploration, and other commercial and private enterprises on national forest land. Please contact us for more information.
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Timber

The forests in the area are a mix of spruce, hemlock, cedar, and pine. Many residents cut firewood from the national forests. A permit is not needed to cut dead trees without needles, alder, or cottonwood. A permit is required to cut green trees.  Maps of designated firewood cutting areas and firewood permits are available from our office. National Forests in Alaska allow 10,000 board feet of timber to be selected and harvested by residents annually for personal use. A permit must be issued and trees selected must be in designated areas for timber harvest. Please contact us for more information, an application, and a map of designated areas.
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Recreation

On the Petersburg Ranger District, there are 20 public use cabins maintained for use throughout the year. Residents and visitors wishing to rent a cabin may contact the National Recreation Reservation Service toll-free at 1-877-444-6777 or visit ReserveUSA.com. The cost of renting most cabins is $25.00 per night during the non-peak season (October 1st to April 30th) and $35.00 per night during the peak season (May 1st to September 30th). Forest Service cabins are accessible from Petersburg by either trail, boat, or charter flight.

There are almost 70 miles of trail on the Petersburg District. Some trails lead to public use cabins, others provide portages for canoeists and kayakers, still others offer access to rivers, lakes, and mountains. The trails vary in length from a quarter mile to over ten miles. They travel through different landscapes and offer a variety of recreation opportunities. Trails lead through hemlock forests and spongy muskegs, some even lead to excellent hunting or fishing areas.
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Fish

The Petersburg Ranger District has a fisheries program which emphasizes a commitment to the development of partnerships and cooperative projects and focuses on research, monitoring, and protection of resources. Habitat protection and improvement are the two most important functions of the Forest Service's fish habitat management programs. We work hard to protect all fish habitat from damage that might result from timber harvest, road construction, and mineral developments. Almost all our fish habitat improvement projects are completed in partnership with other organization and agencies such as Alaska Department of Fish and Game, citizen groups, and aquaculture associations.

A total of seven fish passages have been constructed on the Petersburg Ranger District. The fish passages are designed to make it easier for fish to travel upstream, which allows them to spawn in new habitat. This benefits both recreational fishing and commercial fishing, which is very important to the local economy. The Dean Creek, Slippery Creek, and Kwatahein Fish Passes are located on Kuiu Island. The Irish Creek, Mitchell Creek, Portage Creek , and Duncan Creek Fish Passes are on Kupreanof Island.
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Wildlife

Wildlife management on the Petersburg Ranger District focuses on monitoring and protection of habitat for all species. The area around Petersburg is rich with wildlife including swans, sea lions, black bear, brown bear, deer, moose, whales, elk, eagles, geese, porpoises, and many other species. If you are interested in the best locations for viewing these animals, please contact us. Many programs are carried out in close cooperation with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. A popular summer activity in the Petersburg area is marine mammal viewing. The National Marine Fisheries Service provides regulations for safe and considerate viewing. For more information on marine mammals, visit the Marine Mammal Center.
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Subsistence

The Forest Service has copies available of federal subsistence hunting regulations and federal regulations for the taking of fish and shellfish in Alaska. These regulations apply to national forest lands and waters. Only rural residents of Alaska are eligible for subsistence use, and all users must comply with both federal and state regulations. For more information on state subsistence regulations, contact the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. For more information about federal regulations, please stop by our office or contact us. The Forest Service issues federal designated hunter permits as well as federal subsistence fishing permits.
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Wilderness Areas

There are three wilderness areas within the Petersburg Ranger District; Petersburg Creek - Duncan Salt Chuck, Tebenkof Bay, and Kuiu Wilderness Areas.  In 1964 the United States Congress passed the Wilderness Act, restricting activity in wilderness areas. These areas are protected and valued because of their history and ecology, as well as the unique experiences they offer. Wilderness areas are managed to retain a natural state. They may be used for recreation, subsistence use, public recreation cabins, and certain fish enhancement activities.  Visitors to wilderness areas should be familiar with and adhere to the principles of leave no trace camping.
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USDA Forest Service - Tongass National Forest
Last Modified: May 05, 2006