Swan Lake Cabin Petersburg
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.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Cabins | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Shade | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| P16 | Full | 7 / – |
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 | Reservations can be made the day of arrival or up to 180 days in advance and are restricted to a maximum stay of 7 consecutive nights per party for any one reservation between May 1 and September 30, and 10 consecutive days from Oct. 1 through April 30. |
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 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.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
The cabin is accessible only by float plane or helicopter, 18 miles from Petersburg. Refer to USGS topographic map Sumdum A3. Sumdum A2 may also be useful. Maps are available online or by calling the Petersburg Ranger District at (907) 772-3871.
| Nearest town | Petersburg, Alaska |
| Coordinates | 57.0306° N, 132.6919° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Water for drinking, cooking and cleaning purposes is not provided at the cabin.
- Oil is not supplied at the cabin.
Explore
Trails nearby
- 1.8 miCascade Creek Trail4.1 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.
Public land it sits in
Stikine-LeConte Wilderness begins about 10.1 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 10.1 miStikine-LeConte Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 436,084 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
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.
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.
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 Swan Lake Cabin Petersburg?
Sites at Swan Lake Cabin Petersburg 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 Swan Lake Cabin Petersburg?
Reservations can be made the day of arrival or up to 180 days in advance and are restricted to a maximum stay of 7 consecutive nights per party for any one reservation between May 1 and September 30, and 10 consecutive days from Oct. 1 through April 30.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Swan Lake Cabin Petersburg?
Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Swan Lake Cabin Petersburg have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Swan Lake Cabin Petersburg?
Favorable rock, ice and glacier climbing conditions are found throughout the area. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Swan Lake Cabin Petersburg?
Petersburg, Alaska.
Source: Getting there
What if Swan Lake Cabin Petersburg is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Ohmer Creek Campground (31.4 mi, first-come), Lower Salamander Creek Campground (50.8 mi, first-come), and Yunshookuh Loop Campground (51.7 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby