Softuk Bar Cabin
Softuk Bar Cabin offers recreation, relaxation and a unique lodging experience in the Chugach National Forest. Located 45 miles southeast of Cordova on the Gulf of Alaska, the remote site offers a scenic setting for hunting, birding, clamming, berry picking, beachcombing and wildlife viewing. Access to the cabin is by wheel plane on the beach at low tide only, typically a 25-minute flight from Cordova. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Cabins | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Surface | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| C15 | Gravel | 6 / – |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
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. |
The 12x14-ft rustic structure can sleep up to six people on wooden bunkbeds without mattresses. The cabin is furnished with a table, wood and oil stoves for heat, an axe, splitting maul, saw, a rainwater catchment barrel and an outdoor pit toilet. The cabin does not have running water or electricity. Visitors must bring their own food, water, #1 stove oil, cut firewood, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, cook stoves, matches, cooking gear/utensils, a lantern or flashlight, 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
Access to the cabin is by wheel plane only at low tide, typically a 25-minute flight from Cordova.
| Nearest town | Cordova, Alaska |
| Coordinates | 60.2042° N, 144.6406° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- The area is not well known for its fishing, but there is a small run of coho salmon in the lagoon behind the cabin.
Explore
Public land it sits in
Wrangell-Saint Elias Wilderness begins about 2 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 2 miWrangell-Saint Elias Wilderness ↗Wilderness · National Park Service · 9,432,000 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
Historic landmarks nearby
Natural features
Softuk Bar Cabin is adjacent to a long and wide sandy beach on the Gulf of Alaska, surrounded by alder and spruce forest. In the distance, glacier-capped peaks rise from the horizon on a clear day. Wildlife in the area abounds, including waterfowl, moose, Sitka black-tail deer, brown and black bear.
Recreation
The sandy beach adjacent to the cabin is a good stretch for beachcombing in the springtime, after winter storms wash up Japanese fishing floats, shells, bottles and other wave-swept treasures. Digging for razor clams and picking wild strawberries are also pastimes at the site. Hunters can take advantage of a long hunting season in the surrounding national forest. Bear season occurs during spring and fall, while deer season begins in late summer and lasts through late fall.
Nearby
For history buffs, the old townsite of Katalla is about 4 miles east of the cabin. This was the first place oil was drilled in Alaska, with the first production well drilled in 1902. There aren't many relics left from the oil drilling days and no original buildings are standing. Most of the townsite and drilling areas are on private land. Hiking toward Katalla is also scenic, however Cape Martin is difficult to cross at high tide, so check local tide tables before setting out.
Guidebooks for Alaska
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Softuk Bar Cabin?
Sites at Softuk Bar 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 Softuk Bar 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 Softuk Bar Cabin?
Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Softuk Bar Cabin have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Softuk Bar Cabin?
The sandy beach adjacent to the cabin is a good stretch for beachcombing in the springtime, after winter storms wash up Japanese fishing floats, shells, bottles and other wave-swept treasures. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Softuk Bar Cabin?
Cordova, Alaska. For history buffs, the old townsite of Katalla is about 4 miles east of the cabin.
Source: Getting there
What if Softuk Bar Cabin is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Childs Glacier Recreation Area And Campground (32.1 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby