Record

About Cape Pole

Cape Pole is a former census-designated place (CDP) and populated place on the eastern shore of Fishermans Harbor, on the southwest coast of Kosciusko Island in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska. It was a thriving logging camp from 1954 until it was shut down by a federal court ruling in 1978.
From Wikipedia, "Cape Pole, Alaska", CC BY-SA 4.0.

This is a site record: what public sources say about Cape Pole, gathered in one place. We haven't written a full guide yet, so history, current access and photos are still to come. Treat the status as unknown until a guide confirms it.

Map

Where Cape Pole is

USGS topographic map around Cape Pole — USGS topographic map, The National Map (public domain). The pin marks the coordinates in the record; old townsites are often a little off.

Historic maps

2 historic USGS maps cover Cape Pole

Topographic sheets from the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection (public domain), oldest first. Older sheets often show the camp, mines and roads while the place was alive. The downloads are large map scans; USGS topoView shows them in the browser.

1951 Craig D-6 sheet, 1:63,360 · GeoTIFF download
1957 Craig sheet, 1:250,000 · GeoTIFF download

Directions

Getting there

Google Maps directions Apple Maps OpenStreetMap

Before you go

Many ghost town sites are on private land, active mining claims or tribal land. Check land status and ask permission.
Roads to old townsites are often unmaintained dirt. Map apps may route over closed or impassable tracks.
Removing artifacts from public land is illegal under federal and most state laws.

Sources

Wikipedia, "Cape Pole, Alaska": coordinates and summary.
Wikidata Q5035000.
USGS 3D Elevation Program, elevation at the coordinates.
USGS The National Map and Historical Topographic Map Collection (public domain).