El Capitan Cabin
Newly constructed in 2024, El Cap Cabin offers a truly unique experience to visitors and locals alike. This waterfront, ABA compliant cabin, brags a scenic view of beautiful El Capitan Passage. El Cap Cabin is accessible by road and is located northwest of the small town of Whale Pass. It provides a remote, scenic setting for recreation and relaxation in the Tongass National Forest.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Cabins | 1 |
Amenities & rules
| Fees | Only one change per reservation for all Alaska cabins is allowed. Change is defined as a modification to the start or end date of the reservation; after one change has been made, if additional changes are desired, the customer must cancel the current reservation and re-book the new dates. |
El Cap Cabin is a 16x20 pan-abode style log cabin with a covered porch. It sleeps up to six people, however there is only one bunk bed. There are no mattresses. 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, broom, a large woodshed and maul. The cabin does not have running water or electricity. Visitors must bring their own food, water, Bio brick compressed logs for the woodstove, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, cook stove and fuel, fire starter, cooking gear/utensils, lantern or flashlights, toilet paper, first aid kit and garbage bags.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
El Capitan Cave can be reached by vehicle, boat, or plane. By road, follow Forest Service Road 20 to Forest Service Road 15 and take a left for about a mile (1.6 km) to the cave. Watch for signs. From both Thorne Bay and Craig is an estimated 3-hour drive.
| Nearest town | Thorne Bay, Alaska |
| Coordinates | 56.1612° N, 133.3194° W · Directions ↗ |
Explore
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miEl Capitan Cave Access Trail0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1 mi159800 Rd El Cap Peak1.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 3.3 mi2710000 Rd Twin Island 102.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 3.5 miBeaver Falls ↗0.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.6 miBeaver Falls Spur A ↗0.08 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.7 miBeaver Falls Spur B ↗0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
Natural features
The El Cap Campground is in an area of high geologic interest including the El Cap Cave. The surrounding forest boasts old growth species such as yellow cedar, red cedar, hemlock, and Sitka spruce. There is abundant wildlife viewing for both aquatic and terrestrial species including Sitka black tail deer, black bear, harbor seals, otters and many fish species. Prince of Wales Island has runs of every salmon species except chinook as well as populations of cutthroat trout and Dolly Varden.
Recreation
The El Cap Campground is nearby many opportunities Prince of Wales island has to offer. Salmon fishing is popular during the summer months as well as fall deer hunting, beach combing and other marine sports including paddle craft and sea kayaking. The nearby El Cap cave system offers guided tours during the summer season and is the longest mapped cave in Alaska at over two miles.
Nearby
The main nearby attraction is El Capitan Cave. El Capitan Cave is the longest mapped cave in Alaska. Cavers mapped over two miles of passage from the main entrance. The only way to see this magnificent cave is during the summer months, when visitors can take advantage of a no cost guided tour given by Forest Service employees. A locked gate guards the cave's entrance to protect against vandalism and possible damage from otherwise well-meaning individuals, as well as to keep inexperienced cavers safe from its hazards. The tour meets near the parking lot and outhouses and leads visitors on a somewhat strenuous hike up a long, steep trail to an elevation of 250 feet and a platform at the mouth of the cave. The tour then proceeds inside the cave for approximately 500 feet and includes information about cave (karst) geology and archeological discoveries. The tour lasts approximately 2 hours. Tour groups are limited in size to six people. Babies in packs or carriers are not allowed, nor are children under seven years of age.
Guidebooks for Alaska
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Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at El Capitan Cabin?
Sites at El Capitan Cabin are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at El Capitan Cabin?
Only one change per reservation for all Alaska cabins is allowed. Change is defined as a modification to the start or end date of the reservation; after one change has been made, if additional changes are desired, the customer must cancel the current reservation and re-book the new dates.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at El Capitan Cabin?
Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does El Capitan Cabin have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at El Capitan Cabin?
The El Cap Campground is nearby many opportunities Prince of Wales island has to offer. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to El Capitan Cabin?
Thorne Bay, Alaska. The main nearby attraction is El Capitan Cave.
Source: Getting there
What if El Capitan Cabin is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are El Capitan Campground (0.1 mi), Horseshoe Hole Campground (25.1 mi, first-come), and Staney Bridge Campground (25.6 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby