Shelikof Cabin

Shelikof is the best beach in southeast Alaska. The cabin is quiet and pristine, the beach feels like Southern California without all the people, and the tide pools are incredible for all ages.

Had to snowshoe the entire way, still lots of snow.

Had to snowshoe the entire way, still lots of snow.

Make sure the previous group closed the upstairs window otherwise the cabin won't heat appropriately in cold weather.

Make sure the previous group closed the upstairs window otherwise the cabin won't heat appropriately in cold weather.

Shelikof cabin is a nice hike from the road whereas much more popular North Beach cabin is accessible directly by ATV/UTV. Shelikof cabin offers different more remote experience. It is not used so hard. People who use this cabin like to keep nice. Shelikof beach is huge but inaccessible from North Beach which protects it from 99% of Kruzoff users and all ATV traffic.
Same long, gradual beach and break which makes this location great for surfing and shell collecting also makes boat landings directly to the cabin dangerous and generally impossible. If accessing the cabin by water arrive very early in the day especially in winter when days are short and have a backup plan for going someplace else to camp. I’ve tried a Shelikof beach boat landing a couple times on nice days and the breaking waves still made it way too dangerous.
About the best chance to beach a dinghy is to go around to the north shore of Port Mary 57.15705, -135.7474 where rock outcropping to west and south shore of Port Mary will break some waves. It’s about 850 yard walk along beach from north Port Mary to cabin. Even on a super nice day with under 5’ ocean swell and no wind waves it’s a dicey landing in Port Mary so plan on getting wet. I would not try a beach landing directly to Shelikof beach ever and will only do Port Mary landings in an inflatable I can walk out into to surf. It’s nothing like the Mud Bay landing on other side of Kruzoff. Almost totally exposed to the long, powerful open gulf waves.
Anchoring in Port Mary is good behind the rock outcropping.
There is a nice freshwater pipe here 57.15992, -135.74565 which is in from the beach a little and about 450 yards from cabin halfway to Port Mary.
The cabin is here: 57.16341, -135.74596
Wood stove kept us warm in January.
There are definitely bears here (like everywhere else) so plan accordingly.

Shelikof cabin is a nice hike from the road whereas much more popular North Beach cabin is accessible directly by ATV/UTV. Shelikof cabin offers different more remote experience. It is not used so hard. People who use this cabin like to keep nice. Shelikof beach is huge but inaccessible from North Beach which protects it from 99% of Kruzoff users and all ATV traffic.
Same long, gradual beach and break which makes this location great for surfing and shell collecting also makes boat landings directly to the cabin dangerous and generally impossible. If accessing the cabin by water arrive very early in the day especially in winter when days are short and have a backup plan for going someplace else to camp. I’ve tried a Shelikof beach boat landing a couple times on nice days and the breaking waves still made it way too dangerous.
About the best chance to beach a dinghy is to go around to the north shore of Port Mary 57.15705, -135.7474 where rock outcropping to west and south shore of Port Mary will break some waves. It’s about 850 yard walk along beach from north Port Mary to cabin. Even on a super nice day with under 5’ ocean swell and no wind waves it’s a dicey landing in Port Mary so plan on getting wet. I would not try a beach landing directly to Shelikof beach ever and will only do Port Mary landings in an inflatable I can walk out into to surf. It’s nothing like the Mud Bay landing on other side of Kruzoff. Almost totally exposed to the long, powerful open gulf waves.
Anchoring in Port Mary is good behind the rock outcropping.
There is a nice freshwater pipe here 57.15992, -135.74565 which is in from the beach a little and about 450 yards from cabin halfway to Port Mary.
The cabin is here: 57.16341, -135.74596
Wood stove kept us warm in January.
There are definitely bears here (like everywhere else) so plan accordingly.

It was beautiful and clean. I called the forest service about the broken but functional stove. Glad that people are packing out their garbage!

It was beautiful and clean. I called the forest service about the broken but functional stove. Glad that people are packing out their garbage!

Fantastic cabin, location, maintenance. The only thing is the stove door handle is a little broken, but still functions perfectly.