Baranof Lake Cabin
Baranof Lake Cabin sits on the shores of greenish-blue Baranof Lake on the southwestern edge of Baranof Lake, 20 air miles east of Sitka, Alaska. The cabin is generally available June through October, and makes an excellent base for experiencing this corner of Alaska. This is a remote site. The cabin can be accessed by a 25-minute floatplane trip, weather permitting. In poor weather and low clouds, flying time can double, as flights must go the northern route around Baranof Island. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring their own amenities.
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 |
|---|---|
| S11 | 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 12'x14' wood Pan Abode-style cabin accommodates up to six people with two double and two single plywood bunks. Amenities include a wood stove for heat, a table with benches, cooking counter, cupboard, broom, an axe or splitting maul and an outhouse toilet. The cabin does not include mattresses or cooking utensils. Visitors should bring sleeping bags and pads, a cooking stove, pots, pans, plates, utensils, food, toilet paper, garbage bags, a lantern, fire extinguisher, fire starter and personal flotation devices (PFDs). Rain gear and boots are recommended. Water is available from the lake or a nearby inlet stream but must be treated before using. It's recommended that visitors bring their own water. A small but heavy square-bowed skiff with oars is provided. Each person in the skiff should wear a Coast Guard approved personal flotation device (PFD). Be sure the plug is in before launching the boat. Tie the skiff well up on the shore and pull the plug before leaving so the boat does not fill with rain water.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Accessible June through October. Located 20 air miles from Sitka on the east side of Baranof Island, west of Warm Springs Bay. Access by floatplane from Sitka, 25 minutes in clear weather.
| Nearest town | Sitka, Alaska |
| Coordinates | 57.0683° N, 134.8974° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- A long-shaft 2-10 hp outboard motor enhances use of the skiff, but is not provided.
Explore
Video
Hot Springs at Baranof Warm Springs Bay
Public land it sits in
South Baranof Wilderness begins about 11.6 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 11.6 miSouth Baranof Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 315,820 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
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Natural features
Baranof Lake is a glacier-fed lake surrounded by a spruce and hemlock forest, with mountain ridges rising to 3,000 feet on either side. The lake is nearly 3 miles long and half a mile wide, and sits at an elevation of 145 feet. The cabin has a small, sandy beach and is located near the mouth of the Baranof River. The sound of rushing water prevails as the Baranof River enters the lake in view of the cabin. A beautiful waterfall cascades over steep slopes across the lake. Brown bear frequent the area.
Recreation
Recreation options include wilderness-like solitude, photography and fishing. Cutthroat trout, Dolly Varden and rainbow trout runs occur from late July to late August, especially near inlet streams. Dense vegetation along the shoreline makes fishing and hiking along the shore impossible.
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 Baranof Lake Cabin?
Sites at Baranof 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 Baranof 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 Baranof Lake Cabin?
Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Baranof Lake Cabin have?
1 site, including 1 standard site without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Baranof Lake Cabin?
Recreation options include wilderness-like solitude, photography and fishing. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Baranof Lake Cabin?
Sitka, Alaska.
Source: Getting there
What if Baranof Lake Cabin is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Salmon Lake Cabin Sitka (12 mi), Starrigavan Campground And Day Use (18.2 mi), and Samsing Cove Cabin (18.2 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby