Anan Bay Cabin

Anan Bay Cabin

About this campsite

Overview

Anan Bay Cabin is popular for wildlife viewing due to its location near Anan Wildlife Observatory, where bears and bald eagles come to fish for salmon in the adjacent creek. The setting in Anan Bay also provides access to saltwater fishing, viewing marine mammals and paddling. The cabin is located about 27 miles southeast of the town of Wrangell, Alaska, and can be accessed by float plane or boat, depending on conditions. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.

Recreation

The 1-mile Anan Creek Trail leads from the cabin to the Anan Wildlife Observatory. During peak viewing season, the months of July and August, Forest Service interpreters are on-site to provide current information on bear safety, trail conditions and bear activity. During peak season no one is allowed past the trailhead before 8am or after 6pm. There is a high possibility of encountering bears on this trail during this time. Fishing is only permitted from the shore at the trailhead between June 15th and September 15th, due to bear activity. No one is allowed off the trail from June 15th to September 15th by order of the Forest Supervisor. Steelhead is available in April and May, and cutthroat trout, Dolly Varden and pink salmon in July and August. There are opportunities to fish for salmon and halibut in the surrounding saltwater.

There are no outdoor fires allowed at this cabin due to bear activity.

Facilities

Anan Bay Cabin was originally built in 1964, but a new cabin was constructed in the spring of 2012 using Alaska yellow cedar from the Tongass National Forest. That cabin was destroyed by a fallen tree in 2023. A new cabin was built in 2024. This 16' x 20' cabin with loft was constructed from Western Red Cedar, 2 single bunks, table, benches, oil heater (#1 stove oil only), and outhouse toilet. Bedding, cooking utensils, stove oil not provided. A 40' mooring float is located in front of the cabin in the bay, but is open to use by the general public as well as cabin users. Vessel limit on the float is a maximum of 30 feet long, with a 30" draft. Water and electricity are not provided. Visitors should bring their own supply of water. From June 15th to September 15th visitors are not allowed off trail by order of the Forest Supervisor. Additionally, no dogs are allowed. No food is allowed outside of the cabin and the trailhead from June 15th to September 15th. During permit season of July 5th to August 25th no one is allowed past the trailhead before 8am or after 6pm. Four permits for the observatory are reserved each day for purchase at the trailhead specifically for cabin users. These permits must be purchased on-site at the trailhead using a credit card. If more than 4 permits a day are needed, or if permits are required for the day of departure, they should be purchased in advance through Recreation.gov. Heating oil is not supplied by the Forest Service. In addition to bringing a supply of #1 stove oil, guests should pack sleeping bags, sleeping pads, a cooking stove, lanterns or flashlights, cookware, plates, utensils, food, toilet paper, garbage bags, a fire extinguisher and fire starter. Guests are expected to pack out trash and clean the cabin before leaving. There are no outdoor fires allowed at this cabin.

Click here for additional cabin information

Natural Features

The cabin sits on a gentle slope leading down to the beach, overlooking Anan Bay. The surrounding rainforest is primarily Sitka spruce and western hemlock with some scattered cedar. The slopes around the cabin are gentle to moderate. The nearby lagoon is an intertidal area that often goes dry during low tide.

The area provides excellent opportunities to view black and brown bears, harbor seals, bald eagles and various gulls (<a

Location

ANAN BAY CABIN•AK

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Weather Forecast

via Open-Meteo

FRI🌦️

12° / 3°

💧 87%

SAT🌧️

15° / 7°

💧 100%

SUN🌦️

13° / 9°

💧 100%

TODAY🌦️

14° / 10°

💧 100%

TUE🌦️

12° / 9°

💧 96%

Nearby Campsites

within 50km

6.9 km away

ANAN LAKE CABIN

Overview A stay at Anan Lake Cabin provides for a unique experience at a remote, backcountry lake only accessible by floatplane. The cabin sits on the mainland above Anan Bay at the south end of Anan Lake. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities. Recreation Boulder Lake is about 0.3 miles from the cabin via a primitive trail. Another trail shown on topographic maps from Anan Lake to saltwater is also primitive and overgrown, making it difficult to navigate. The lower portion of this primitive trail passes through an area closed to the public between June 15 and September 15. Guests can use the cabin's skiff with oars to explore the lake; however, they must supply their own personal flotation devices and secure the skiff before leaving the cabin. Fishing for cutthroat trout in Anan Lake is possible from May to September and silver salmon in September. Anan Creek offers steelhead fishing in April and May and pink salmon in July and August. In-season hunting is popular in designated areas with the proper permits. Facilities Anan Lake Cabin was built in 1967, and had its foundation replaced in 1996 through a cost-share partnership with the Wrangell Teacher's Association. This pre-cut cedar wood frame cabin (hunter-style ) sleeps 4 people with 2 double and 2 single bunks. The cabin is also equipped with a table with benches, oil stove (#1 oil only), broom and an outhouse toilet. Water and electricity are not provided. Water is available from the lake and stream next to the cabin, but visitors should be sure to treat water before drinking or cooking with it. It is recommended that visitors bring their own water supply. Heating oil is not supplied by the Forest Service. In addition to bringing a supply of #1 stove oil, guests should pack sleeping bags, sleeping pads, a cooking stove, lanterns or flashlights, cookware, plates, utensils, food, toilet paper, garbage bags, a fire extinguisher and fire starter. Guests are expected to pack out trash and clean the cabin before leaving ( click here for more cabin details). Natural Features The beach in front of the cabin is ideal for plane parking. The terrain adjacent to cabin features moderate to steep mountain peaks, covered primarily with Sitka spruce and western hemlock rainforest with some cedar. Muskeg is also common. A fast-flowing stream runs adjacent to the cabin. Black and brown bears, deer, bald eagles and waterfowl are abundant in this area ( bear safety information ). The salmon run in Anan Creek during July and August is a peak time for bear activity in the area. Nearby Attractions The Anan Wildlife Observatory is a popular destination for bear watchers during the peak months of July and August to watch brown and black bears hunt for salmon in Anan Creek. A permit is required to visit the observatory, which is $10 per day. There is no developed access from Anan Lake Cabin to the observatory; access is by boat or float plane.

10.6 km away

MARTEN LAKE CABIN

Overview A stay at Marten Lake Cabin provides for a unique experience at a remote, backcountry lake only accessible by floatplane. It is situated on the north side of Marten Lake, above Blake Channel and Bradfield Canal, 25 miles southeast of Wrangell, Alaska. The site can be accessed by float plane, depending on conditions. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities. Recreation Anglers can fish for cutthroat trout and Dolly Varden in Marten Lake and nearby Clay Lake. Steelhead is available in lower Marten Creek. A skiff with oars is available at the cabin for rowing around the lake, but guests must provide their own flotation devices and ensure that the skiff is secured before leaving the cabin. Bear and mountain goat hunting is possible in designated seasons with the proper permits. Facilities The 12-by-14 cabin ( pan-abode style ) has single and double bunks to sleep up to four people. The cabin also has a table and benches, a broom and a wood-burning stove for heat. An outhouse is located just outside the cabin. A wooden cooler box for food storage is located on the partially covered front porch. Water and electricity are not provided. Water is available from a stream behind the cabin, but guests should be sure to treat water taken from any outside source before drinking or cooking with it ( water safety tips ). It is recommended that guests bring their own water supply. In addition to bringing a cook stove, guests should provide their own firewood, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, lanterns or flashlights, cookware, plates, utensils, food, toilet paper, garbage bags, a fire extinguisher and matches, among other necessities. Guests are expected to pack out trash and clean the cabin before leaving ( click here for more cabin details). Natural Features The cabin sits in a relatively flat valley, with scenic views of Marten Lake and the steep mountains rising from the shoreline. The surrounding rainforest is primarily Sitka spruce and western hemlock with some cedar. There is a sand beach in front of the cabin at low and moderate lake levels. This area is home to brown and black bears, as well as moose ( bear safety information ). Mountain goats can sometimes been seen on the surrounding peaks.

14.9 km away

FROSTY BAY CABIN

Overview Frosty Bay Cabin offers an ideal base camp for hiking, fishing, crabbing, hunting and exploring. Frosty Bay is 36 miles south of Wrangell, Alaska, and can be accessed by float plane or boat, depending on conditions. Frosty Bay offers good anchorages. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities. Recreation Anglers can fish for King salmon from May to July, pink salmon in July and August, and silver salmon in August and September. Crab, halibut and shrimp are also available in nearby saltwater. From the cabin, hikers can find a surfaced planked trail that goes 600 feet to an unmaintained 10 miles of road system built in the early 1990s. Hunting is also available in the area during designated seasons. Facilities This 14-by-16 cabin ( hunter-style ) sleeps six and comes equipped with two single bunks, two double bunks, a table and benches, broom, oil stove for heat (No. 1 oil only) and an outhouse toilet. A small loft provides additional storage space. A small deck wraps around two sides of the cabin, and a wooden cooler box is provided for food storage. A mooring buoy is available for cabin guests. Water and electricity are not provided. Water is available from an adjacent stream, but guests should be sure to treat any water taken from an outside source before consumption ( water safety tips ). It is recommended that guests bring their own water supply. Heating oil is not supplied by the Forest Service. In addition to bringing a supply of No. 1 stove oil, guests should pack sleeping bags, sleeping pads, a cooking stove, lanterns or flashlights, cookware, plates, utensils, food, toilet paper, garbage bags, a fire extinguisher and matches, among other necessities. Guests are expected to pack out all trash and clean the cabin before leaving ( click here for more cabin details). Natural Features The cabin is situated overlooking Frosty Bay and a portion of Deer Island, which is just across Seward Passage. The surrounding rainforest is primarily Sitka spruce and western hemlock with some cedar, and the landscape features hills and mountains, with elevations reaching 2,800 feet. Brown and black bears, moose and Sitka black-tailed deer make their home in the area around the cabin ( bear safety information ). The area is known for having a high density of brown bears. Bird species in the area may include swans, geese and bald eagles.

16.9 km away

HARDING RIVER CABIN

Overview Harding River Cabin is located in the Bradfield Canal near excellent fishing and crabbing spots. It is also in a prime spot for viewing birds and wildlife. The site can be accessed by float plane or boat, depending on conditions. Boats and planes should anchor in deeper water, and guests should take small skiffs or punts to the cabin. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities. Recreation Anglers can fish in the Harding River for cutthroat trout and Dolly Varden from May through September, steelhead in April and May, and silver and chum salmon in August and September. Bradfield Canal offers excellent crabbing, but tide charts should be consulted before planning any boating or crabbing excursions. Facilities This 14-by-16 cabin ( hunter-style ) was built in 1978 and has two single bunks and two double bunks to sleep up to six people. It is also equipped with a table and benches, broom, an oil stove for heat (No. 1 oil only) and an outhouse toilet. A food storage locker is located on the partially covered front porch. Water and electricity are not provided. Water is available from the Harding River, but guests should be sure to treat or boil any water taken from an outside source, prior to consumption ( water safety tips ). It is recommended that guests bring their own water supply. Heating oil is not supplied by the Forest Service. In addition to bringing a supply of No. 1 stove oil, guests should pack sleeping bags, sleeping pads, a cooking stove, lanterns or flashlights, cookware, plates, utensils, food, toilet paper, garbage bags, a fire extinguisher and matches, among other necessities. Guests are expected to pack out trash and clean the cabin before leaving ( click here for more cabin details). Natural Features The cabin sits on relatively flat land overlooking the Harding River and Bradfield Canal. The surrounding rainforest is primarily Sitka spruce and western hemlock with scattered cedar. Muskeg is also common in the area. Brown and black bears, harbor seals and bald eagles are often spotted around the cabin ( bear safety information ). A lucky few may spot gray whales swimming in the nearby waters. The upper end of Bradfield Canal is a spring and fall stop for migratory waterfowl.

21.1 km away

BERG BAY CABIN

Overview Berg Bay Cabin's location on saltwater and close to the freshwater and tideflats of Aarons Creek provides for a variety of recreational activities, including fishing, crabbing, hunting, paddling and hiking. Its secluded location within Alaska's Inside Passage makes it an ideal retreat for those in search of a back country experience, while being only 22 miles by boat from the town of Wrangell. The site can be accessed by float plane or boat, depending on conditions. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities. Recreation Hikers have access to two trails. The 0.4-mile boardwalked Aaron Creek Trail extends from Berg Bay to Berg Creek and provides access to the grassflats. Berg Creek Trail is an unmaintained 4-mile trail that leads from the mouth of Berg Creek to Berg Basin. Aaron and Oerns Creeks offer opportunities to fish for pink salmon from mid-July to mid-August, silver and chum salmon from August to September, and steelhead in April and May. Crabbing is possible in Berg Bay and in saltwater in front of Aaron Creek tidal flats. Hunting is also available in the area during designated seasons. The tideflats are a popular waterfowl hunting area. Guests can bring canoes or kayaks to explore around Berg Bay. The entrance to Berg Bay is shallow and may dry out at low tide, so local tide charts should be consulted before taking any boating excursion in the area. Facilities This 16-by-16 cabin (A-frame style) was built in 1965 and has two single bunks (one with a trundle bed) and a second-floor loft, to accommodate up to seven people. The cabin also has a table with benches, oil stove (No.1 oil required), a fire grill, broom, mooring float and outhouse toilet. The partially covered front porch has a wooden cooler box for food storage. Water and electricity are not provided. Water is available from a small stream next to the cabin, but guests should be sure to treat water before drinking or cooking with it ( water safety tips ). It is recommended that guests bring their own water supply. Heating oil is not supplied by the Forest Service. In addition to bringing a supply of #1 stove oil, guests should pack sleeping bags, sleeping pads, a cooking stove, lanterns or flashlights, cookware, plates, utensils, food, toilet paper, garbage bags, a fire extinguisher and matches, among other necessities. Guests are expected to pack out trash and clean the cabin before leaving ( click here for more cabin details ). Natural Features The cabin sits on a gentle slope overlooking Berg Bay, Blake Channel and the mountains beyond. The surrounding rainforest is primarily Sitka spruce and western hemlock with scattered cedar and muskeg. The nearby Aaron Creek tide flats have extensive grass sedges and wildflowers. This area is habitat for brown and black bears, moose, sea otters, grouse, ptarmigan and waterfowl (bear safety information). Mountain goats can sometimes be spotted on the surrounding ridges.