Polk Camp

Polk Camp

About this campsite

Overview

Polk Camp is a three bedroom cabin located in Polk Inlet on Prince of Wales Island in southeastern Alaska. The site offers recreation, relaxation and a unique lodging experience in the Tongass National Forest.

Polk Camp once served as a remote administration camp for the Craig Ranger District and is now a recreation cabin with limited amenities. The cabin is accessible by vehicle, boat or floatplane.

Although the site is not as remote as others in the area, visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.

Recreation

Anglers will find that Dog Salmon Creek, which flows into the inlet, has an excellent run of coho, chum, sockeye and pink salmon, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout and Dolly Varden. Crabbing, beachcombing and wildlife viewing are popular in the area as well.

Dog Salmon Fish Pass is noted as a popular bear viewing site in August. A system of roads for off-road enthusiasts is also in the vicinity.

Hunters can take advantage of the long hunting seasons in the surrounding national forest. Bear season occurs during spring and fall, while deer season begins in late summer and lasts through late fall.

Polk Inlet also has a rich logging history. Log landings and log transfer facilities can be found on the nearby shoreline, but are not visible from the cabin.

Facilities

The Polk Camp has a large kitchen with a fully functional propane stove and oven, a sink (NO RUNNING WATER), and plenty of counter and cupboard space. There are three bedrooms with two moveable beds in each room. Running water is currently inavailable. Please bring your own water. There is a large gathering room, a great deck and exquisite views. Polk Camp is a wonderful spot for a family reunion, a wedding or a weekend with your friends.

Natural Features

The cabin is nestled in a canopy of young Sitka spruce and western hemlock. There are plenty of places to explore in the Polk Inlet area, including an estuary just south of the cabin, where wildlife is abundant, including sandhill cranes, eagles, wolves, black bears, Sitka black-tailed deer and a variety of migratory birds.

Nearby Attractions

Nearby attractions include: Dog Salmon Wildlife Viewing Area; Polk Inlet Road system; Polk Inlet all-terrain vehicle roads (trails); hunting; fishing; crabbing; wildlife viewing.

Location

POLK CAMP•AK

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Weather Forecast

via Open-Meteo

SUN🌦️

14° / 9°

💧 100%

TODAY🌦️

14° / 10°

💧 100%

TUE🌦️

13° / 9°

💧 100%

WED🌦️

13° / 8°

💧 61%

THU🌦️

14° / 6°

💧 88%

Nearby Campsites

within 50km

12.3 km away

JOSEPHINE LAKE CABIN

Overview Josephine Lake Cabin offers visitors recreation, relaxation and a unique lodging experience on Prince of Wales Island in southeastern Alaska. The remote site is located at an elevation of 1,800 feet and offers a scenic setting for fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing, within the vicinity of the cabin. The site is accessible by float plane only. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities. Recreation There are no fish in Josephine Lake, but hiking, hunting and wildlife viewing are popular pastimes for visitors to the cabin. The alpine terrain is quite stunning, showcasing a display of wildflowers in mid-summer. Boating or kayaking on the lake offers a peaceful setting for viewing wildlife in the area. An aluminum skiff with oars available for use. Guests are responsible for bringing and using their own personal floatation devices. Facilities The cabin is a 12 x 12 - foot primitive, pre-cut cedar log cabin ( pan-abode style ) furnished with wooden bunkbeds (without mattresses) that sleep up to six people. The cabin is equipped with a table, benches, an oil stove for heat and an outside toilet. Other amenities include a cooking counter, shelves, cupboard space, and a broom. The cabin does not have running water or electricity. Visitors must bring their own food, water, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, cook stove, stove fuel, #1 diesel stove oil, fire starter, cooking gear/utensils, light source (lantern), toilet paper, first aid kit and garbage bags. Water is available from the lake, but must be filtered, boiled or chemically treated before drinking. Click here for more cabin details. Natural Features The cabin is situated on the shores of Josephine Lake, a cold, clear alpine lake surrounded by snow-capped peaks reaching elevations of 4,000 feet. The terrain is rugged with a mixture of stunted trees and alpine vegetation. Wildflowers dot the area in mid-summer. Wildlife in the area is abundant, including Sitka black-tailed deer and black bears. Learn more about bear safety in the Tongass National Forest. The area is famous for its quartz and epidote crystals. Several mining claims are nearby, including some that are active, and others that have been idle for some time. Visitors are asked to please respect the property rights of private landowners and note that prospecting, digging, or collecting mineral specimens on the private land near Josephine Lake is prohibited.

13.2 km away

TWELVEMILE CABIN

Overview Twelvemile Cabin is a fully accessible cabin located on Twelvemile Inlet on Prince of Wales Island in southeastern Alaska. The site offers recreation, relaxation and a unique lodging experience in the Tongass National Forest. Construction of this cabin was made possible through mitigation funds from Alaska Power and Telephone and the Federal Energy Regulatiory Commission. The cabin is accessible by vehicle and a short gravel trail. Although the site is not as remote as others in the area, visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities. Recreation Anglers will find that Twelvemile Creek, which flows into the inlet, has an excellent run of coho, chum and pink salmon, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout and Dolly Varden. At Old Frank's natural area, located east of the cabin, visitors can find streams supporting cutthroat and Dolly Varden. Crabbing, beachcombing and wildlife viewing are popular in the area as well. Dog Salmon Fish Pass is located approximately 10 miles from the cabin, and is noted as a popular bear viewing site in August. A system of roads for off-road enthusiasts can be found about 4 miles south of the cabin. Hunters can take advantage of the long hunting seasons in the surrounding national forest. Bear season occurs during spring and fall, while deer season begins in late summer and lasts through late fall. Twelvemile Inlet also has a rich logging history. Remnants of an abandoned camp, log landings and log transfer facilities can be found on the nearby shoreline, but are not visible from the cabin. Facilities The 16x20-ft, one-story, fully accessible cabin can sleep up to six people on wooden bunkbeds without mattresses. The cabin is equipped with a table, benches, a wood stove for heat and a fully-accessible outdoor toilet, located 40 feet from the cabin. Other amenities include a cooking counter, shelves, cupboard space, axe, splitting maul and a broom. Firewood is available, though the supply is not guaranteed. The cabin does not have running water or electricity. Visitors must bring their own food, water, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, cook stove, stove fuel, fire starter, cooking gear/utensils, lantern or flashlight, toilet paper, first aid kit and garbage bags. Water is available from a stream south of the cabin, but must be treated before being used. A primative boat ramp is located .25 miles north of the cabin, and an accessible gravel foot trail from the parking area to the cabin entrance is located on-site. Click here for more cabin details. Natural Features The cabin is nestled in a canopy of young Sitka spruce and western hemlock. There are plenty of places to explore in the Twelvemile area, including an estuary just south of the cabin, where wildlife is abundant, including sandhill cranes, eagles, wolves, black bears, Sitka black-tailed deer, and a variety of migratory birds. Across the inlet from the cabin is a view of Twelvemile old growth reserve. This area is managed for old growth characteristics and provides a pristine forest setting.

20.5 km away

TROLLERS COVE CABIN

Overview Trollers Cove Cabin offers recreation, relaxation and a unique Alaskan lodging experience on Prince of Wales Island in the Tongass National Forest. The remote site offers a scenic setting for fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing. The site is accessible by boat or floatplane. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities. Recreation Trollers Cove offers anglers opportunities for bottom fishing and salmon trolling off 20 Fathom Bank. It is also used as anchorage by commercial and pleasure boats. Hunters can take advantage of the long hunting season in the surrounding national forest. Bear season occurs during spring and fall, while deer season begins in late summer and lasts through the late fall. Hikers will enjoy exploring many of the primitive trails extending from the cabin, showcasing nearby lakes and waterfalls. Since trails are not designated, visitors should become familiar with their surroundings and utilize good map and orienteering skills. Facilities The 14x14-ft cedar, pan-abode style log cabin sleeps up to four people on wooden bunkbeds without mattresses and a sleeping loft. The cabin is equipped with a table, benches, a wood stove for heat and an outside toilet. Other amenities include a cooking counter, shelves, cupboard space, fire extinguisher, axe, splitting maul and a broom. Firewood may be available, but the supply cannot be guaranteed. The cabin does not have running water or electricity. Visitors must bring their own food, water, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, cook stove, stove fuel, fire starter, cooking gear/utensils, light source, toilet paper, first aid kit and garbage bags. Water is available from the creek, but must be filtered, boiled or chemically treated before drinking. An unimproved boat ramp at nearby Polk Inlet is available for launching small craft to reach the cabin. A mooring buoy in the cove is available on first-come, first-served basis. Click here for more cabin details. Natural Features Trollers Cove Cabin is located in a protected cove surrounded by flat, coastal terrain and an old-growth forest of cedar, spruce and hemlock. At low tide, a 50-foot tidal flat emerges at the cove, exposing rock and boulders. Small lakes dot the rolling terrain behind cabin and waterfalls plunge in nearby coves. North of the cabin, Spiral Cove is known for its scenic landscapes. Wildlife in the area is abundant, including eagles, shorebirds, Sitka black-tailed deer and black bears.

23.0 km away

KARTA RIVER CABIN

Overview Karta River Cabin offers visitors recreation, relaxation and a unique lodging experience on Prince of Wales Island in southeastern Alaska. The remote site offers a scenic setting for fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing, all within the vicinity of the cabin. The site can be accessed by float plane or boat. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities. Recreation Anglers will find the surrounding snow-capped peaks and forested shoreline to be quite scenic while fishing for rainbow and cutthroat trout, Dolly Varden and four species of salmon. Visitors should contact the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for fishing regulations as catch and release orders may be in effect. During sockeye salmon season, people gather at mouth of river to subsistence fish, often processing and smoking the fish on site. The 5-mile Karta River Trail follows the Karta River up from Karta Bay to Salmon Lake, allowing excellent access to the river for steelhead, sockeye and coho salmon runs. The trail provides access to Karta River, Karta Lake, and Salmon Lake cabins. Facilities The cabin is a 12 x 14 foot primitive, pre-cut cedar log cabin ( pan-abode style ) furnished with wooden bunkbeds (without mattresses) that sleep up to five people. The cabin is equipped with a table, benches, a wood stove for heat, and an outside toilet. Other amenities include a cooking counter, shelves, cupboard space, and a broom. The cabin does not have running water or electricity. Guests must bring their own food, water, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, cook stove, stove fuel , fire starter, cooking gear/utensils, light source (lantern), toilet paper, first aid kit and garbage bags. Firewood may be provided but it is not guaranteed. Water is available from the river, but must be filtered, boiled or chemically treated before drinking. Click here for more cabin details. Natural Features The cabin sits on a bluff above the Karta River mouth surrounded by gentle slopes of second growth spruce and hemlock. It is located in the Karta River Wilderness area , best known for large salmon runs and the scenic quality of the large river drainage system. Wildlife fills the area, including wolves, black bears, Sitka black-tailed deer, beavers, otters, minks, martens, and weasels. Trumpeter swans and various other waterfowl are commonly seen in the area. ( Learn more about bear safety ).

23.5 km away

KARTA LAKE CABIN

Overview Karta Lake Cabin offers visitors recreation, relaxation and a unique lodging experience on Prince of Wales Island in southeastern Alaska. The remote site offers a scenic setting for fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing, within the vicinity of the cabin. The site can either be accessed by float plane or boat and trail. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities. The cabin can be heated using the small wood stove inside. Recreation Anglers will find the surrounding snow-capped peaks and forested shoreline to be quite a scenic setting while fishing for rainbow and cutthroat trout, Dolly Varden and a variety of salmon species. Visitors should contact the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for fishing regulations as catch and release orders may be in effect. The 5-mile Karta River Trail follows the Karta River up from Karta Bay to Salmon Lake, allowing excellent access to the river for steelhead, sockeye and coho salmon runs. The trail provides access to Karta River, Karta Lake, and Salmon Lake cabins. For visitors interested in exploring the area by water, there is an aluminum skiff with oars available for use. Visitors are responsible for bringing and using their own personal floatation devices. Facilities The cabin is a 12 x 12 foot primitive, pre-cut cedar log cabin ( pan-abode style ) furnished with wooden bunkbeds (without mattresses) that sleep up to six people. The cabin is equipped with a table, benches, a small wood/ biobrick stove for heat and an outside toilet. Other amenities include a cooking counter, shelves, cupboard space, and a broom. The cabin does not have running water or electricity. Visitors must bring their own food, water, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, cook stove, stove fuel, fire starter, cooking gear/utensils, light source (lantern), toilet paper, first aid kit and garbage bags. Wood or biobricks are not provided. Bio bricks can be purchased in Ketchikan and on Prince of Wales. Please contact the district if you need more info. Water is available from the lake, but must be filtered, boiled or chemically treated before drinking. Click here for more cabin details. Natural Features The cabin sits on the eastern shore of Karta Lake in the Karta River Wilderness area on east-central Prince of Wales Island. The Karta River Wilderness is best known for large salmon runs and the scenic quality of the large river drainage system. Wildlife fills the area, including wolves, black bears, Sitka black-tailed deer, beavers, otters, minks, martens and weasels. Trumpeter swans and various other waterfowl are commonly seen on the lakes and rivers in the area as well. The area burned in 1910 and is forested with second growth spruce, hemlock and cedar. Native Alaskans, particularly the Haida, historically lived around the bay and utilized the rich food sources of the area. Learn more about bear safety in the Tongass National Forest.