Stikine-LeConte Wilderness
The mighty Stikine River is the lifeline flowing through this Wilderness. It is North America's fastest, free flowing navigable river. LeConte Glacier also flows through the Wilderness, if a bit slower. LeConte is North America's southern most tidewater glacier, depositing icebergs into LeConte Bay. Glaciers have sculpted the granite bedrock into the U-shaped valley of the Stikine River. For centuries that valley has served as a corridor through the Coast Range for wildlife and humans, including native peoples and the rush for gold. The valley, with its thick forest and side sloughs, provides a Wilderness playground for boaters. There are opportunities for tranquil paddling as well as speedy motorboat rides.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Alaska |
| Size | 436,084 acres |
| Designated | 1980, by Congress |
| Center point | 56.78° N, 132.22° W |
| Night sky | Some glow on the horizon (Black Marble reading 40) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground Forest Service recreation site
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 1 federal campground within ten miles sits inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Trailheads and sites
The Forest Service lists 11 recreation sites inside this wilderness, among them 9 cabins, 1 picnic area, 1 swimming. Each links to its page on fs.usda.gov, which carries the season, fees and current status.
- 5 miTwin Lakes Picnic Site ↗Picnic area
- 6 miTwin Lakes Cabin ↗Cabin
- 6 mi
- 6 mi
- 7 miChief Shakes Hot Springs Site ↗Swimming
- 13 mi
- 15 mi
- 16 mi
- 16 mi
- 16 miKoknuk Cabin ↗Cabin
Show all 11Hide
- 16 mi
Distance is from the center point of the boundary, not from a road or town.
Trails
2 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 3 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Mallard Slough Trail | 2.2 | |
| Shakes Hot Springs Trail | 0.3 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas. This trail list was copied from Trailhead Atlas on November 1, 2026 and is copied again on each weekly run. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 7 miSons of Norway Hall ↗Petersburg, AK
- 7.1 miF/v Charles W (Schooner) ↗Petersburg, AK
- 7.2 miSaint Philip's Episcopal Church ↗Wrangell, AK
- 7.5 miChugach (Ranger Boat) ↗Petersburg, AK
- 7.6 miChief Shakes Historic Site ↗Wrangell, AK
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Alaska
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Stikine-LeConte Wilderness?
436,084 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Stikine-LeConte Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Stikine-LeConte Wilderness in?
Alaska.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Stikine-LeConte Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1980.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Stikine-LeConte Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Stikine-LeConte Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 56.781° N, 132.218° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Are there historic places near Stikine-LeConte Wilderness?
The National Register has 5 listings within 15 miles, including Sons of Norway Hall and F/v Charles W (Schooner).
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.