Goulding Lake Cabin
Goulding Lake Cabin is located on the northwest shore of Otter Lake on the western edge of Chichagof Island, 60 miles northwest of Sitka, Alaska. The cabin, an A-frame with a sleeping loft, is available from late May through October and makes an excellent base to explore nearby lakes and high alpine meadows. This is a remote cabin that can be accessed only by floatplane, weather permitting. The flight is 50 minutes from Sitka or Juneau. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring their own amenities. There is no boat provided at the lake. Cabin guests may want to bring a packraft or other type of inflatable watercraft to explore the area.
More like this: reservable in Alaska
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | People / vehicles |
|---|---|
| S02 | 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 A-frame cabin measures 16 by 16-ft. and accommodates six people. Its sleeping loft (with no bunks) is reached by climbing a vertical ladder. One double-size plywood bunkbed is located on the lower level. A table with benches, a cooking counter, cupboard, wood stove for heat, axe or splitting maul, a broom, an outdoor screened cooler box and an outhouse toilet are provided. The cabin does not include mattresses or cooking gear. Visitors should bring sleeping bags and pads, a cooking stove, pots, pans, plates, utensils, food, toilet paper, a lantern, garbage bags, a fire extinguisher, fire starter, rain gear, rubber boots and personal flotation devices (PFDs). Water is available from a nearby stream and from the lake but must be treated before using. It's recommended that visitors bring their own water.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Accessible late May through October. Otter Lake, one of four lakes in the Goulding Lakes System, is located about 60 miles northwest of Sitka on the western edge of Chichagof Island. Access is by floatplane only, about a 50-minute flight from Sitka or Juneau.
| Nearest town | Sitka, Alaska |
| Coordinates | 57.8154° N, 136.1618° W · Directions ↗ |
Explore
Trails nearby
- 2.1 miGoulding1.4 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 4.9 miDidrickson0.1 mi trail · hiking, horse
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
This campground sits inside West Chichagof-Yakobi Wilderness.
- inWest Chichagof-Yakobi Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 271,348 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 area offers wilderness solitude and beauty. Goulding Lake Cabin is located in a flat, lightly wooded area on the northwest shore of Otter Lake, on the western edge of Chichagof Island within the West Chichagof-Yakobi Wilderness Area. The surrounding terrain varies from open muskegs to densely forested steep slopes. A topographic map of the area is a must for exploration of nearby lakes and high alpine meadows. Brown bear frequent the area.
Recreation
Visitors enjoy exploring Otter Lake and Goulding Lake to the east. The two lakes are connected. To aid exploring area waters, visitors should bring a pack raft or other type of inflatable boat. Fishing is possible but slow in the area. Cutthroat trout can be caught below the falls and in the lower lake west of the cabin all year. Dolly Varden fishing is year round, while steelhead and coho are seasonal. Photography opportunities abound. For information about fishing permits and seasons, visit the Alaska Department of Fish and Game website.
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 Goulding Lake Cabin?
Sites at Goulding Lake 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 Goulding Lake 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 Goulding Lake Cabin?
Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Goulding Lake Cabin have?
1 site, including 1 standard site without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Goulding Lake Cabin?
Visitors enjoy exploring Otter Lake and Goulding Lake to the east. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Goulding Lake Cabin?
Sitka, Alaska.
Source: Getting there
What if Goulding Lake Cabin is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are White Sulphur Springs Cabin (6.7 mi), Moser Island Cabin (18.2 mi), and Suloia Lake Cabin (31.8 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby