Mcdonald Lake Cabin

Mcdonald Lake Cabin

About this campsite

Overview

McDonald Lake Cabin sits on Wolverine Island near the outlet of McDonald Lake 50 miles from Ketchikan, Alaska. The cabin is available year-round and makes an excellent base for experiencing this corner of Alaska with its many recreational options and abundant wildlife.

The cabin is remote and accessible only by boat or float plane, depending on conditions. Visitors arriving by boat must anchor at Yes Bay and walk the 1.5-mile McDonald Lake Trail to get to the cabin.

This primitive cabin has no electricity, indoor plumbing or cell phone coverage. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.

Recreation

Boating, hiking, fishing and hunting are popular activities at this cabin. The McDonald Lake Trail features a 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) 3-sided shelter.

A skiff with oars is provided for rowing around the lake, but visitors must provide their own life jackets. The skiff can use a short-shaft motor, which is not provided.

Steelhead and salmon runs occur up to Wolverine Creek. The lake offers resident trout and Dolly Varden. For information about fishing and hunting permits and seasons, visit the Alaska Department of Fish and Game website.

Facilities

The 12x14-ft. (pan-abode style) cabin accommodates 6 people with 2 double bunks and 2 single bunks. Other amenities include a table and benches, a cooking counter, a broom with dust pan, outhouse, splitting maul, and woodstove. Bring your own firewood as it cannot be guaranteed.

Drinking water is not available at the cabin. It is recommended that visitors bring their own water supply, but water is available from a small stream near the cabin and should be treated before drinking or cooking with it (water safety tips).

Visitors should bring sleeping bags, sleeping pads, a cooking stove and cooking gear, lanterns or flashlights, toilet paper, garbage bags, fire extinguisher and a fire
starter. Rain gear and boots are recommended. Visitors are expected to pack out all their trash, gear and food and clean the cabin before leaving (more cabin details).

Natural Features

The cabin is backed by old-growth cedar, Sitka spruce and Western hemlock rainforest. From the front deck, visitors can gaze out over the lake and its forested shoreline, as well as admire the surrounding mountain peaks.

Wildlife in the area includes Sitka black-tailed deer, black and brown bear, wolf, beaver, marten, mink and otter (bear safety and precautions). A variety of birds may be spotted in and around the lake.

Location

MCDONALD LAKE CABIN•AK

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Weather Forecast

via Open-Meteo

TUE🌦️

10° / 8°

💧 100%

WED🌦️

12° / 7°

💧 100%

THU🌦️

13° / 7°

💧 96%

FRI☁️

16° / 6°

💧 12%

SAT🌦️

14° / 8°

💧 51%

Nearby Campsites

within 50km

11.0 km away

BLIND PASS CABIN

Overview Blind Pass Cabin sits on the northwest shore of Hassler Island, on Blind Pass. This secluded retreat is open year-round and makes an ideal base camp for exploring the various bays and inlets in the northern Behm Canal area. The site can be accessed by float plane, boat or kayak, depending on conditions. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities. Recreation The area is noted for king salmon runs into the Unuk River, with other salmon species, halibut, red snapper, Dungeness crab and shrimp also in abundance. A freshwater lake with trout is located about a half-mile upstream from the cabin. There is no trail to the lake. Sea kayaking is a popular mode of transportation, and many kayakers use this cabin as a base for exploring Bell Island, Gedney Pass and Bell Arm. It is also possible to kayak to Bailey Bay and hike to the Lake Shelokum Hot Springs. Guests must supply their own equipment and should consult local tide tables before departing. Hunting is also possible in designated seasons with a permit. Facilities This 12-by-14 cabin ( pan-abode style ) has two single bunks and two double bunks, to sleep up to six people. It is also equipped with a table and benches, broom, tiny woood stove and an outhouse. A mooring float is available, but it is not for the exclusive use of cabin guests. Water and electricity are not provided. Firewood maybe avaliable but guest should consider brining some compressed log firewood to utilize in the Tiny Wood Stove. Water is available from a nearby creek, but guests should be sure to treat any water taken from a natural source prior to drinking or cooking with it ( water safety tips ). It is recommended that guests bring their own water supply. Other items to pack include 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 is tucked into a sheltered cove, surrounded by old-growth forest. Low tides reveal a long beach in front of the cabin, and there is an adjacent stream. Guests have views of Blind Pass and densely forested Black Island, which makes up the opposite shore. Wildlife in the area include Sitka black-tailed deer, black bears and wolves ( bear safety information ). A variety of waterfowl and marine mammals may be seen in Blind Pass.

17.2 km away

REFLECTION LAKE CABIN

Overview Reflection Lake Cabin is situated on the Cleveland Peninsula at the shore of Reflection Lake approximately 50 air miles from Ketchikan. The cabin is available year-round and makes an excellent base for experiencing this corner of Alaska with its recreation options, beautiful scenery and abundant wildlife. The cabin is remote and accessible only by float plane or boat, depending on conditions. Boats can be moored in Short Bay, and visitors can hike 2.3 miles to the cabin along the Reflection Lake Trail. This primitive cabin has no electricity, indoor plumbing or cell phone coverage. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities. Recreation Fishing, boating, hiking and hunting are popular options at this cabin. Steelhead and salmon runs occur in Short Creek. Resident trout and Dolly Varden are available in the lake. For information about fishing and hunting permits and seasons, visit the Alaska Department of Fish and Game website. A 14-foot aluminum skiff with oars is provided for rowing around the lake, but visitors must provide their own life jackets. The skiff can use a short-shaft motor, which is not provided. The 2.3-mile Reflection Lake Trail spans from Short Bay in northern Behm Canal to Reflection Lake Cabin. The bridge near Short Bay is out, so hikers must be prepared to ford the stream. This is only possible during low water. Facilities The 12x14-ft. ( pan-abode style ) log cabin accommodates 6 people with 2 single and 2 double bunks. Other amenities include a table and benches, a cooking counter, food storage, broom, splitting maul, and an outhouse. A wood stove is provided for heat. Bring your own firewood as it cannot be guaranteed. Drinking water is not available at the cabin. Visitors must bring their own water supply, but water is also available from a nearby creek and should be treated before drinking or cooking with it (water safety ). Visitors should also bring sleeping bags, sleeping pads, cooking gear, lanterns or flashlights, food, toilet paper, garbage bags, a fire extinguisher and fire starter. Rain gear and boots are recommended. Visitors are expected to pack out their trash, gear and food and clean the cabin before leaving (additional cabin details). Natural Features The cabin sits in heavily wooded area backed by hills. The area features numerous rolling muskegs, and the cabin offers stunning views of steep mountains with peaks as high as 5,000 feet and clinging ice fields. Wildlife includes Sitka black-tailed deer, black and brown bear, mountain goat, wolf, beaver, marten, mink and otter ( bear safety and precautions ). A variety of birds may be spotted in or near the lake.

17.3 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.

21.5 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.

25.4 km away

PLENTY CUTTHROAT CABIN

Overview Plenty Cutthroat Cabin is situated at the west end of Orchard Lake on Revillagigedo Island 35 air miles from Ketchikan. The cabin is available year-round and makes an excellent base for experiencing this corner of Alaska with its recreation options, beautiful scenery and abundant wildlife. The cabin is remote and accessible only by float plane or boat, depending on conditions. Visitors arriving by boat should expect to anchor in Klu Bay and hike 1 mile to the cabin from the Shrimp Bay trailhead. This primitive cabin has no electricity, indoor plumbing or cell phone coverage. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities. Recreation Fishing, hiking and boating are popular options at this cabin. Fishing includes cutthroat trout and kokanee salmon in Orchard Lake. For information about fishing permits and seasons, visit the Alaska Department of Fish and Game website. A 14-foot aluminum skiff with oars is provided for rowing around the lake, but visitors must provide their own life jackets. The skiff can use a short-shaft motor, which is not provided. Facilities The 12x12-ft. ( pan-abode style ) log cabin accommodates 6 people with 2 single and 2 double bunks. Other amenities include a table and benches, a cooking counter, food storage, broom and dustpan. A tiny wood stove is provided for heat. An outhouse is located near the cabin. Drinking water is not available at the cabin. Visitors must bring their own water supply, but water is also available from the lake and nearby creeks ( water safety ). Firewood cannot be guaranteed, bring your own firewood or biobricks and firewood gathering tools. Other items to bring include sleeping bags, sleeping pads, cooking gear, lanterns or flashlights, food, toilet paper, garbage bags, a fire extinguisher and fire starter. Rain gear and boots are recommended. Visitors are expected to pack out their trash, gear and food and clean the cabin before leaving ( additional cabin details ). Natural Features The cabin is tucked into a temperate rainforest of old-growth cedar, Sitka spruce and western hemlock with views of the lake and the forested mountain peaks on the other side. Visitors hiking the trail between Shrimp Bay and the cabin can access an overlook to view one of the twin waterfalls spilling out of Orchard Lake. The area supports populations of Sitka black-tailed deer, black bear, wolf, beaver, marten, mink and otter ( bear safety and precautions ). A variety of birds may be spotted in and around the lake.