Swan Lake Cabin Petersburg

SWAN LAKE CABIN PETERSBURG in AK — photo 4

Swan Lake Cabin Petersburg

About this campsite

Overview

Swan Lake Cabin is located on mainland Alaska along the southeast shore of Swan Lake. It is available for reservation year-round and provides access to a variety of recreational activities, including hiking, fishing, hunting and viewing wildlife. The cabin also provides spectacular scenic views of the surrounding area.

The cabin can be accessed only by float plane or helicopter. The adjacent lake is normally frozen from November through early June, further limiting access. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety and must bring several of their own amenities.

Recreation

Favorable rock, ice and glacier climbing conditions are found throughout the area. The Cascade Creek Trail can be reached by boat from the cabin. Beginning at the west end of the lake, it leads to Falls Lake and a three-sided shelter about a mile away. The trail terminates at the Cascade Creek Cabin, 5 miles out, in Thomas Bay.

Fishing and boating are also popular activities. Two rowboats with oars are available at the cabin, however, life jackets are not provided and guests must supply their own. Guests may also wish to bring a small outboard motor. Anglers may find rainbow trout in the lake.

A sand bar for tent camping or picnicking is also available. Wildlife viewing and hunting are also popular pastimes. Hunting is available as per state or federal hunting regulations; click here for more information from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Facilities

The A-frame cabin was rebuilt in 2005-06 and has two wooden bunks and a sleeping loft to accommodate up to seven people. It is equipped with a table and benches and a clean-burning oil heater. An outhouse with pit toilets is provided.

Water for drinking, cooking and cleaning purposes is not provided at the cabin. Water taken from the lake and the nearby stream should be treated or boiled before consumption. Guests are encouraged to bring their own drinking water if possible.

Guests will need to bring their own sleeping bags and pads, cook stove and cooking gear, towels, food and clothing, fire starter and garbage bags, among other necessities. Guests are advised to bring enough kerosene or No. 1 heating oil for the oil heater. It burns at a rate of approximately one gallon per day. Oil is not supplied at the cabin.

Click here for more cabin details and maps.

Natural Features

The cabin is situated on the alpine Swan Lake, east of Thomas Bay, at an elevation of 1,524 feet. It is surrounded by the steep peaks of the Cosmos Range. Swan Lake offers some of the most spectacular scenery and photographic opportunities in the region.

The steep talus slopes are home to mountain goats, and rainbow trout are plentiful in the lake. Alpine wildflowers are abundant in the area. The region is also home to a variety of wildlife. Click here to learn more about bear safety.

Location

SWAN LAKE CABIN PETERSBURG•AK

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Weather Forecast

via Open-Meteo

MON🌦️

8° / 4°

💧 100%

TUE🌨️

8° / 4°

💧 100%

WED🌨️

9° / 3°

💧 98%

THU🌦️

7° / 4°

💧 98%

FRI🌦️

8° / 1°

💧 63%

Nearby Campsites

within 50km

6.7 km away

CASCADE CREEK CABIN

Overview Cascade Creek Cabin is located on the mainland in Thomas Bay, south of Cascade Creek and east of Spray Island. It offers access to a variety of recreational activities, including fishing, boating, hiking, hunting and viewing wildlife. The cabin can be accessed by either a float plane or boat from Petersburg. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities. Recreation The Cascade Creek Trail begins near the cabin and offers an array of hiking experiences. The trail is moderate for the first mile, then gains elevation and becomes more challenging. The trail provides access to waterfalls, a whitewater canyon, pristine lakes and alpine areas frequented by mountain goats. The trail connects to Falls Lake and Swan Lake, where rowboats with oars are available. Life jackets are not provided. During the summer months cruise ships also take advantage of the hiking opportunities and often anchor near or in front of Cascade Creek Cabin. This increases the amount of traffic in the bay and on the trail during those months. Facilities The hunter-style cabin has wooden bunks and can accommodate up to six people. It is equipped with a table, benches and an oil stove and wood stove for heat. An outhouse with a pit toilet is provided. Water for drinking, cooking and cleaning is not provided at the cabin. It is available from a small stream north of the cabin. Water taken from the stream should be treated or boiled before consumption. Guests are encouraged to bring their own drinking water if possible. Guests will need to bring their own sleeping bags and pads, cook stove and cooking gear, towels, food and clothing, fire starter and garbage bags, among other necessities. Guests are advised to bring enough kerosene or No. 1 heating oil for the oil heater. It burns at a rate of approximately one gallon per day. Oil is not supplied at the cabin. A broom, dustpan, axe and splitting maul are generally provided, but may be missing or damaged. Please report damaged items to the Petersburg Ranger District. Firewood is generally provided, but not guaranteed. Click here for more cabin details and maps. Natural Features The cabin is located at the edge of a second growth spruce-hemlock forest, along a gravel beach, near the mouth of Cascade Creek. The beach fringe in front of the cabin is flat. Forested slopes directly behind the cabin become steeper with elevation, eventually rising to Cosmos Peak, which is at 5,000 feet. A variety of wildlife make its home in the area, including deer, moose, mountain goats and black bears (learn about bear safety ).

11.3 km away

SPURT COVE CABIN

Overview The Spurt Cove Cabin is located on the mainland, in a small cove on the north side of Thomas Bay. It makes a good base camp for exploring Thomas Bay, a favorite destination among boaters and kayakers. The cabin provides its own scenic views and also provides access to a variety of recreational activities. The cabin is accessible by boat or float plane only. Recreation Halibut and king salmon fishing is available in the bay, while anglers may find trout in the beaver ponds behind the cabin. Orca whales and porpoises can also often be seen in the area. A moderately difficult 1.1-mile trail to Spurt Lake starts a quarter-mile northeast of the cabin. The trail is marked by red and white diamond stakes. A boat is necessary to access the trailhead. The Thomas Bay area offers numerous options for single and multiple-day trips to Baird, Muddy and Patterson glaciers, Scenery Cove and the Cosmos Mountain Range. Kayaking is popular in the protected waters of Thomas Bay. Facilities The hunter-style cabin has two wooden bunks that can accommodate up to four people. It is equipped with a table, benches, a clean-burning oil heater for heat and a wood stove that can be used for cooking purposes. An outhouse with a pit toilet is provided. Water for drinking, cooking and cleaning is not provided at the cabin. The nearest water source is a small stream near the cabin. Water taken from any outdoor source should be treated or boiled before consumption. Guests are encouraged to bring drinking water if possible. Guests will need to bring their own sleeping bags and pads, cook stove and cooking gear, towels, food and clothing, fire starter and garbage bags, among other necessities. Guests are advised to bring enough kerosene or No. 1 heating oil for the oil heater. It burns at a rate of approximately one gallon per day. Oil is not supplied at the cabin. A broom, dust pan, axe and splitting maul are generally available, but may be missing or damaged. Please report missing or damaged items to the Petersburg Ranger District. The cabin needs to be cleaned prior to leaving and all garbage and food must be carried out. Click here for more cabin details and maps. Natural Features The cabin is located in southeastern Alaska's Tongass National Forest, which is the largest national forest in the United States. The terrain surrounding the cabin is predominantly gently sloping with some steep bluffs. Spurt Cove is known for its interesting rock formations.

31.9 km away

RAVENS ROOST CABIN

Overview Ravens Roost Cabin is on the Alexander Archipelago in southeast Alaska. It sits at the top of a mountain in a very scenic area, providing views of surrounding terrain and access to a variety of recreational opportunities. Visitors enjoy cross country skiing and snowshoeing, as well as wildlife viewing and berry picking. The cabin can be accessed by helicopter or a 3-mile trail that starts at Sandy Beach in Petersburg. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities. Recreation The area is popular among snowmobile enthusiasts, cross-country skiers, telemark skiers and snowshoers. During summer months the surrounding muskegs bloom with several species of wildflowers and wild berries. A trail to the north of the cabin connects to Petersburg, while a winter ski trail is marked to the south linking to the Twin Creeks road. Facilities The cabin has wooden bunks on the main floor and a sleeping loft.. It is equipped with a covered deck, a table and benches, a propane heater and an outhouse with a pit toilet. The only fresh water available is from nearby adjacent pond or muskeg pools or melted snow. Water taken from any outdoor source should be treated or boiled before consumption. Guests are encouraged to bring drinking water if possible. Guests will need to bring their own sleeping bags and pads, cook stove and cooking gear, towels, food, clothing, and garbage bags, among other necessities. Click here for more cabin details and maps. Natural Features The cabin is located on Mitkof Island, on the mountain above Petersburg Airport, at an elevation of 1,745 feet. It is the only cabin accessible by trail from Petersburg. The cabin is 16'x20' with a covered deck and a loft. Terrain surrounding the cabin is flat muskeg and beyond that is steep mountain slopes. The cabin offers nice views of the Wrangell Narrows and Kupreanof Island to the west. A variety of wildlife can be seen in the area, including eagles, moose, deer, porcupines and black bears (learn about bear safety ).

34.1 km away

PETERSBURG LAKE CABIN

Overview THIS IS NOT THE PETERSON LAKE CABIN NEAR JUNEAU. Petersburg Lake Cabin offers a tranquil place to stay on the shores of a Wilderness lake in southeastern Alaska. It provides access to outstanding fishing opportunities, as well as hunting and wildlife viewing. This trail is in the process of being maintained, it is difficult to find at times and has many natural features such as large sections of beaver ponds and downed trees to navigate. If you intend on hiking in to this cabin please come prepared with map, compass, GPS and please know your route or discuss trail with Petersburg Ranger District prior to departure. The cabin is accessible by float plane or by a boat-trail combination, dependent on tides. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety and must bring several of their own amenities. Recreation The nearby creek offers outstanding steelhead, coho and sockeye fishing, while the lake boasts cutthroat trout and sockeye salmon. A rowboat and oars is available at the cabin, however, life jackets are not provided and guests should bring their own. Guests may also choose to bring a small outboard motor. Attention Hikers: Petersburg Lake Trail is in very poor condition. The middle section of the trail, around mile marker 4 to 9.5, is very muddy, wet and not well marked. If you plan on hiking that part of the trail make sure and bring a map and compass and know how to use those tools. Rubber boots with non-slip soles are recommended. Portions of the trail have rotting and broken boards to beware of. We recommend avoiding this section of the trail if possible. Hiking and hunting are popular activities. Hunting is available as per state or federal hunting regulations; click here for more information from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Facilities This pan-abode style cabin was constructed in 2003. It has two bunk beds with double space below and single above. The cabin is equipped with a table and benches and both a wood stove and oil stove for heat. Firewood is not guaranteed. Please bring your own kerosene for the oil stove. An outhouse with a basket/barrel system is provided. The only fresh water available is from the lake, creek or melted snow. Water taken from any outdoor source should be treated or boiled before consumption. Guests are encouraged to bring their own drinking water if possible. Guests will need to bring their own kerosene, sleeping bags and pads, lanterns and flashlights, cook stove and cooking gear, towels, food, clothing, fire starter and garbage bags, among other necessities. The cabin will need to be cleaned prior to leaving and all garbage and food needs to be carried out. Click here for more cabin details and maps. Natural Features The cabin is located on Kupreanof Island, 9 miles northwest of Petersburg, in the Petersburg Creek-Duncan Salt Chuck Wilderness. The Petersburg Creek Valley is a glacial valley with a broad, flat bottom and steep sides. The area surrounding the lake and creek is flat; otherwise the terrain is steep. The setting is pristine, old-growth spruce and hemlock forest with scattered muskeg. The area abounds with wildlife and wildflowers. The creek and lake are a haven for black bears and eagles, who feed on the spawning salmon there (learn about bear safety).

36.5 km away

PORTAGE BAY CABIN

Overview The Portage Bay Cabin is located on the eastern shore of Portage Bay on Kupreanof Island, due east of Stop Island. It provides access to scenic views as well as a variety of recreational opportunities. Visitors to the area enjoy fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing. It is accessible by boat or float plane only. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities. Recreation There is excellent halibut fishing in the mouth of Portage Bay. Coho, pink salmon, steelhead and trout fishing are available in the nearby Portage Creek. Hunting for black bears, waterfowl and grouse is also available as per state or federal hunting regulations; click here for more information from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. The primitive Portage Mountain Loop Trail connects the cabin with Petersburg Lake Cabin and Salt Chuck East Cabin through Goose Cove, south of the bay. The trail is especially primitive over to Petersburg Lake and is seldom used due to the level of difficulty. Sections of the trail are flooded by beaver ponds. Facilities The single-level, hunter-style cabin has four single wooden bunks and can accommodate up to six people. It is equipped with a table, benches and a clean-burning oil heater. An outhouse with a pit toilet is provided. Water for drinking, cooking and cleaning is not provided at the cabin. The nearest water source is a small creek 100 feet south of the cabin. Water taken from any outdoor source should be treated or boiled before consumption. Guests are encouraged to bring drinking water if possible. Guests will need to bring their own sleeping bags and pads, cook stove and cooking gear, towels, food, clothing, fire starter and garbage bags, among other necessities. Guests are advised to bring enough kerosene or No. 1 heating oil for the oil heater. It burns at a rate of approximately one gallon per day. Oil is not supplied at the cabin. Click here for more cabin details and maps. Natural Features The cabin was originally built as an administrative site for Forest Service timber layout crews, but was converted to a recreation cabin in 1987. It sits back from the rocky eastern shore of Portage Bay in southeastern Alaska. The surrounding terrain is hilly along the east and flat and rolling south and west of the bay. Portage Mountain rises 3,577 feet in the background.