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 ).

Karta River Cabin is accessible by float plane or boat from open ocean at high tide. Click here to check the tide report prior to arrival.

By boat the cabin is approximately ten miles from Hollis. A mooring buoy in the bay is available on first-come, first-served basis. Mooring of more than one vessel allowed if first party there agrees. Refer to USGS map Craig C-2.

By Plane the cabin is approximately 40 air miles from Ketchikan and 15 miles from Thorne Bay. This cabin is in a designated Wilderness area, and access by helicopter is illegal. Click here for information about reaching Forest Service Cabins.

Inclement weather conditions may cause an extension of your trip during any time of the year and winter access can be difficult due to snow and ice conditions. Visitors should bring extra supplies to last 2-5 days Please contact the Thorne Bay Ranger District at 907-828-3304 prior to arrival for more detailed information about safety precautions.