Salmon Lake Cabin Sitka

SALMON LAKE CABIN SITKA4
SALMON LAKE CABIN SITKA2
SALMON LAKE CABIN SITKA5
SALMON LAKE CABIN SITKA
SALMON LAKE CABIN SITKA1

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Average nightly rates

1 total site

Tent Sites

1 site

About Salmon Lake Cabin Sitka

Salmon Lake Cabin sits on the east shore of Salmon Lake on Baranof Island, 11 miles southeast of Sitka, Alaska. The cabin was built in 1998 by volunteers from the U.S. Coast Guard. This remote site is generally accessible year-round by boat to Silver Bay, then walking 2 miles along the Salmon Lake-Redoubt Lake Trail. The cabin can also be accessed via float plane, a 10-minute ride from Sitka. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring their own amenities.

Activities & Attractions

Nearby

Boating

Boating

Spring Summer Fall
Fishing

Fishing

Year-round
Hiking

Hiking

Year-round

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently open - Jun 1 to Oct 31

Campground Amenities

Water Access

Water Access

  • Lake Access
  • Boat Ramp / Launch
Missing information?

S18, Loop: AREA SALMON LAKE CABIN SITKA

⛺ Tent

Site Details

Up to 6 guests
View Site Details

Reviews (14)

What Guests Are Saying

The Salmon Lake Cabin is a cozy and well-maintained retreat, perfect for a short getaway. Guests enjoy exploring the excellent trails and the fun little boat available. It's a magical spot that visitors love to return to annually, though it's recommended to bring extra supplies for comfort.

Review Summary

4.8
14 reviews
5
78.6%
11
4
21.4%
3
3
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2
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1
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Cameron L

Verified

January 17, 2020 Stayed at: S18, Loop: AREA SALMON LAKE CABIN SITKA

5

Super spot, good seaplane dock, firewood supply excellent, nearby hiking super ...a canoe would be fantastic..

David S

Verified

September 9, 2020 Stayed at: S18, Loop: AREA SALMON LAKE CABIN SITKA

4

Great cabin and location to explore. Our trip was 8/29/20 through 9/4/20. The trail from the cabin to the estuary takes about 1 hour (give or take 15 minutes) at a normal/average pace. There are a few wet/mucky spots along the way. There is another trail along a large part of Salmon Creek which is also in good condition. If you take a boat motor, as this site says: take a long shaft outboard. We rented a short/medium shaft and it made boating a little bit of a challenge. However, the lake is beautiful and rowable at less than a mile long (a little over 4,000 ft). We fished both of the prominent inlet streams and caught fish in both, mainly the primary creek (Salmon Creek). Unfortunately we did not have an opportunity to explore the stream further above the lake or hike over to Redoubt Lake. Most of the salmon were caught at the outlet; however, it rained a lot which may have affected fishing at the inlet more so. We caught Silver Salmon, Pinks, Dollies (several 2 to 4 lbs) and a few good sized Cutthroat (only 5) in the lake. From the lake to the ocean, the river was covered (Swamped) with Pink, Chum and Coho salmon. I hiked to the ocean and was able to use my cell phone there only. The wood stove is a beast (not so great) and the supplied fresh/ moist wood does not burn well. However, this is a great location that I would like to explore earlier or later in the year next time and go for trout and Steelhead. We took a Cessna 206 (10 minute flight) in to the lake however a water taxi would be fine and much more cost effective for those who pack lite.

Maia S

Verified

February 21, 2021 Stayed at: S18, Loop: AREA SALMON LAKE CABIN SITKA

5

Wonderful cabin experience. Stove worked well (except we weren't 100% sure on which settings kept air flow steady!). Amazing hike out. Can't wait to get back out there!

Aurora T

Verified

February 25, 2021 Stayed at: S18, Loop: AREA SALMON LAKE CABIN SITKA

5

Beautiful destination and an easy hike, 1.5 miles one way to the cabin from the trailhead / mooring buoy. I stayed in mid February and the lake was completely frozen over, we tried to ice fish with no luck. Lots of wood for splitting in the shed despite not being maintained in the winter. A couple decks of cards and pans left there for use. Warm and comfy stay! Would highly recommend staying here. The boat ride through Silvery Bay can be windier than you expect, but we made it there in ~45 minutes with a 25hp outboard.

Reid W

Verified

January 24, 2022 Stayed at: S18, Loop: AREA SALMON LAKE CABIN SITKA

5

Hard to beat it. Snow was much heavier in the narrow valley than in town. Highly recommend skipping the first part of the trail by paddling up into the estuary at high tide.

Brenda B

Verified

August 19, 2022 Stayed at: S18, Loop: AREA SALMON LAKE CABIN SITKA

4

Such a beautiful spot! Cabin was left very clean for us which we appreciated. Seems like firewood may run out/down so plan accordingly. New flat bottom boat great for fishing. Lots of bear scat so be prepared. Loved it!

Matthew R

Verified

September 21, 2022 Stayed at: S18, Loop: AREA SALMON LAKE CABIN SITKA

5

Awesome, dry, and clean cabin! The wood stove worked well, although with high relative humidity it was difficult to dry our gear out even with the stove running all night. If rain is in the forecast it's definitely worthwhile to bring extra base layers. A few of the bug screens could use replacement, but that wasn't a big issue for us.

Lot of bear sign on the trail up to the cabin, but thankfully we did not encounter any bears. Boat looked to be in nice shape although we did not use it. Hike to the muskeg is flat and straightforward following the trail, hike to the alpine southeast of the cabin is a steep bushwhack with only game trails to follow, we found it easiest to start north of the cabin and work our way southeast.

Anderson E

Verified

November 23, 2022 Stayed at: S18, Loop: AREA SALMON LAKE CABIN SITKA

5

Awesome cabin with a sweet raft trip out.

Peter G

Verified

August 16, 2023 Stayed at: S18, Loop: AREA SALMON LAKE CABIN SITKA

4

Great location and facility. Lake could be to0 short for a heavily loaded aircraft. I cleaned the windows, emptied the stove ashes, took out a considerable amount of trash, and swept accumulated dirt from under the bunks. Unfortunately your "guests" aren't good at helping take care of the facility.

Rio B

Verified

April 28, 2024 Stayed at: S18, Loop: AREA SALMON LAKE CABIN SITKA

5

It was great, the cabin was stocked with dry firewood and some propane for the camp stove.

Location Salmon Lake Cabin Sitka

Address:
Sitka Ranger District
Sitka, AK, 99835
United States

Elevation: 8 feet

Distance to downtown

14 mi drive to downtown Sitka (about 44 min)

Policies & Rules

General

  • This facility is located in an extremely remote and wild area; before making a reservation, become aware of bear, water, and weather safety (including cold)
  • Recreating in Alaska can present both obvious and hidden dangers; please be aware of your surroundings and be prepared for extended stays due to occasionally poor weather
  • Plan arrival and departure during high tide, unload gear at east shore at estuary head, then tie up boat at mooring buoy
  • Cabin may be inaccessible by plane from November through early April due to frozen lake surface (floatplanes cannot land); please contact the local Forest Service Ranger District office for current information prior to making reservations during this period
  • Cabin may also be inaccessible by boat as the head of Silver Bay may freeze mid-November through mid-February
  • Cabin not maintained in the winter
  • For boat or air charters, contact the Sitka Convention and VisitorsBureau at 907-747-5940 or www.Sitka.org
  • Boil or treat lake water before drinking
  • Pack out all garbage and food
  • Rain gear is recommended
  • Firewood may be scarce
  • Click here to learn more about Tongass National Forest
  • Check out the forest's campground description for specific information to Fish Your National Forest
  • Don't Move Firewood: Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by purchasing firewood near your destination and burning it on-site. For more information visit dontmovefirewood.org.
  • The invasive European Green Crab (EGC) has been found in southern Southeast Alaska and is suspected to be in more locations on the Tongass National Forest. Please actively look for and report EGC to help map the distribution and contribute to management.

Nearby Campgrounds

Nearby destinations


Last updated: September 17, 2026

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