North Tongass Roadside Trail — return from Sunset Drive
Alaska · Greenway
From Refuge Cove visitor parking, walk to the North Tongass/Sunset Drive access. The paved bicycle path begins across the highway: cross only where current signs and sight lines permit, and choose another ride if the crossing is uncomfortable. Follow the separated trail north for up to its published 2.9-mile extent and retrace, turning before Whipple Creek Road or the actual paved end. Do not cross again at Totem Bight’s retaining wall or enter natural forest roads.
Plan your ride
- Location
- North of Ketchikan · Alaska
- Ride length
- Up to about 5.8 miles return
- Ride format
- Out and back
- Surface
- Paved separated main trail; natural park paths and highway shoulders excluded
- Road crossings
- A North Tongass Highway crossing is required between this park start and the bicycle path, once each way. This is a significant access limitation: walk the bicycle, use current lawful crossing controls and do not attempt the crossing if visibility or traffic makes it uncomfortable. Once on the path, stay on its side of the highway; the Totem Bight retaining wall is not an access crossing.
- Elevation
- Forest Service describes an easy route without significant elevation gain. The raised retaining-wall section and access ramps still require care; no current surveyed maximum slope.
- Starting location
- Refuge Cove State Recreation Site, Sunset Drive, Ketchikan Gateway Borough, AK
Forest Service’s approximately 2.9-mile paved route each way gives about 5.8 miles return. An earlier work barrier, actual path end or turnaround shortens the ride; parking walks are extra.
Published shore/park-area reference, not parking or the highway crossing. Use the written public park start; a highway crossing is required to reach the bicycle path.
North Tongass Roadside Trail — return from Sunset Drive — detailed guide
Source review: 2026-10-22. A dated source review does not guarantee current-day conditions.
An established separated paved bicycle path north of Ketchikan, using the documented northern trail access.
Start and parking
Start: Refuge Cove State Recreation Site, Sunset Drive, Ketchikan Gateway Borough, AK.
Forest Service guide identifies public parking at Refuge Cove State Recreation Site via Sunset Drive. Use open designated visitor spaces under current state-park terms and walk the approach. This start requires a highway crossing to reach the trail; the park lot is not on the trail side. No unverified Whipple Creek road parking pin is substituted.
Ride and distance
Selected ride: Up to about 5.8 miles return. Format: Out and back.
Ride: From Refuge Cove visitor parking, walk to the North Tongass/Sunset Drive access. The paved bicycle path begins across the highway: cross only where current signs and sight lines permit, and choose another ride if the crossing is uncomfortable. Follow the separated trail north for up to its published 2.9-mile extent and retrace, turning before Whipple Creek Road or the actual paved end. Do not cross again at Totem Bight’s retaining wall or enter natural forest roads.
Forest Service’s approximately 2.9-mile paved route each way gives about 5.8 miles return. An earlier work barrier, actual path end or turnaround shortens the ride; parking walks are extra.
Surface and effort
Paved separated main trail; natural park paths and highway shoulders excluded. Forest Service describes an easy route without significant elevation gain. The raised retaining-wall section and access ramps still require care; no current surveyed maximum slope.
Crossings and shared use
A North Tongass Highway crossing is required between this park start and the bicycle path, once each way. This is a significant access limitation: walk the bicycle, use current lawful crossing controls and do not attempt the crossing if visibility or traffic makes it uncomfortable. Once on the path, stay on its side of the highway; the Totem Bight retaining wall is not an access crossing. Yield to pedestrians, keep right, and slow at blind corners. Stop at barriers; never use a traffic-road detour to bypass a trail closure.
Hours, costs and access
Use daylight and snow-free conditions; obey present parking and trail controls. No current trail parking tariff was established in the guide; posted public-parking terms govern. State-park admission or parking elsewhere is separate.
Reviewed 2026-10-22. Forest Service regional guide explicitly identifies a 2.9-mile paved trail separated from the highway along its entire route and describes bicycle use. This historical route/access description is not a current-day surface inspection. No specific active trail closure was identified in the reviewed primary material; confirm local work and snow conditions before travel and stop at barriers. Current state-park profile confirms Refuge Cove’s public day-use setting and Sunset Drive approach; state park natural footpaths are not this bicycle course. This is a source review, not a same-day inspection. Recheck the linked manager before travel.
Map and Directions
Use the named public start and its posted parking signs. The map reference identifies the facility or selected trail area; it is not a surveyed parking stall or navigable route line. Bicycle and e-bike rules can differ; only ordinary bicycle use is established unless noted.