Thayer To Salt Lake Trail

The Thayer To Salt Lake trail is 4.7 miles long. It begins at Thayer Lake and gradually descends through a spruce/hemlock forest following the edge of Freshwater lake to Salt Lake. The trail is open for the following uses: Hiking

At a Glance

Permit Info:	No
Usage:	Light
Closest Towns:	Juneau
Water:	Non-Potable Water
Restroom:	No
Operated By:	Forest Service

General Information

Directions: Located on the west central side of Admiralty Island and north of Mitchell Bay, this trail is accessed by float plane or canoe/portage. One-way flight time from Juneau to Thayer or Freshwater lakes is 45 minutes. The trail is located at the southern end of Thayer lake and follows along the shoreline of Freshwater lake. It connects to the Davidson Lake and Salt Lake trail junctions. Suggested USGS topo maps: Sitka C-2.

Recreation Map

Map showing recreational areas. Map Information

Activities

Dispersed Camping

3-sided CCC Adirondack-style shelter with gravel floor at the Thayer Lake end with tent sites beside the northwest end of Freshwater Lake. Water sources are from nearby streams or lakes, treated with a purifier.

Lake and Pond Fishing

Thayer Lake is usually ice free by early May through mid November for fishing. Shallow along edge of lake.

Special Designations	For fishing information, contact the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
Fishing Mode	shoreline, hip and chest waders
Fish Species	Cutthroat trout, Dolly Varden and kokanee
Water Temperature	Ice covered for five months and fed by snowmelt and cold rain runoff, this lake remains cold
Fishing Method	Lures: artificial lures - shiny spoons and spinners, and flies
Water/Flow Level	Lake level will rise abruptly and cover shoreline beach during periods of heavy rainfall

Day Hiking

The Thayer To Salt Lake trail is 4.7 miles one-way. This trail begins at Thayer Lake and gradually descends through a spruce/hemlock forest following the north side of Freshwater Lake to Salt Lake.

Elevation desc	Elevations range from near 10 feet by Salt Lake to 450 feet approaching the Thayer Lake shelter.
Difficulty Level:	Moderate

Big Game Hunting

The Thayer To Salt Lake trail is 4.7 miles long one-way. This trail begins at Thayer Lake and gradually descends through a spruce/hemlock forest following the north side of Freshwater lake to Salt Lake. Additional trails branch to Davidson Lake and Mitchell Bay. For hunting regulations, contact the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Species	Brown Bear, Sitka Blacktail Deer
Difficulty Level:	Moderate

Small Game Hunting

The Thayer To Salt Lake trail is 4.7 miles one-way. This trail begins at Thayer Lake and gradually descends through a spruce/hemlock forest following the north side of Freshwater lake to Salt Lake. Additional trails branch to Davidson Lake and Mitchell Bay. For hunting regulations, contact the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Species	Marten, Red Squirrel, River Otter, Beaver, Mink
Difficulty Level:	Moderate

Game Bird/Waterfowl

The Thayer To Salt Lake trail is 4.7 miles one-way. It begins at Thayer Lake and gradually descends through a spruce/hemlock forest following the north side of Freshwater lake to Salt Lake. Additional trails branch to Davidson Lake and Mitchell Bay. For hunting regulations, contact the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Species	Grouse, Canada geese, scoters, long-tailed duck, Barrow's goldeneye, harlequin, and buffleheads along with mallards, scaups, and mergansers.
Difficulty Level:	Moderate

Viewing Wildlife

Admiralty Island's combination of varied ecotypes, pristine habitat, and healthy wildlife populations provide extraordinary wildlife viewing along the 4.7 miles one-way Thayer To Salt Lake trail. This trail begins at Thayer Lake and gradually descends through a spruce/hemlock forest following the north side of Freshwater lake to the tidal grass at Salt Lake. Additional trails branch to Davidson Lake and Mitchell Bay. Look for brown bear tracks during early spring or summer while the salmon are spawning.

Species	Brown bear, Sitka blacktail deer, numerous bird species, mink, marten, river otter, beaver, red squirrel, western toad, rough skinned newt are among the list of creatures inhabiting the area.
Difficulty Level:	Moderate

Viewing Plants

Admiralty Island's varied pristine ecotypes provide for extraordinary plant viewing along the 4.7 miles one-way Thayer To Salt Lake trail. This trail begins at Thayer Lake and gradually descends through a spruce/hemlock forest following the north side of Freshwater lake to the tidal grass at Salt Lake. Additional trails branch to Davidson Lake and the Mitchell Bay coastline ecology.

Species	Admiralty Island comprises one of the greatest remaining blocks of productive old-growth temperate rain forest in the world. Alpine, tidal marsh and muskeg meadows are some of the other plant communities. The temperate rainforest primarily consist of western and mountain hemlock, Sitka spruce, alder, yellow cedar and shore pine. Forest understory consists primarily of blueberry, huckleberry, salmonberry, thimbleberry, fern, mosses ,devils club, false azalea, mushrooms and dwarf dogwood.
Difficulty Level:	Moderate

Species

Admiralty Island comprises one of the greatest remaining blocks of productive old-growth temperate rain forest in the world. Alpine, tidal marsh and muskeg meadows are some of the other plant communities. The temperate rainforest primarily consist of western and mountain hemlock, Sitka spruce, alder, yellow cedar and shore pine. Forest understory consists primarily of blueberry, huckleberry, salmonberry, thimbleberry, fern, mosses ,devils club, false azalea, mushrooms and dwarf dogwood.

Difficulty Level:

Moderate