U.S. Forest Service · Tongass National Forest · Sitka, AK

Avoss Lake Cabin

Avoss Lake Cabin is situated 35 air miles southeast of Sitka, Alaska, within the South Baranof Wilderness Area of the Tongass National Forest. The rustic A-frame cabin makes an excellent base for a remote backcountry experience that includes photography and hunting. The cabin is accessed via a 30-minute float plane trip from Sitka, weather permitting. Visitors cannot access the cabin by helicopter, as it is located in a designated wilderness area. From the lake shore, visitors must walk along a narrow, 150-foot trail through a lightly wooded area to reach the cabin. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.

More like this: reservable in Alaska

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Avoss LakeAVOSS LAKE CABIN6AVOSS LAKE CABIN5AVOSS LAKE CABIN3
Photos courtesy of USFS, AVOSS LAKE CABIN · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups1
This site is booked as a single unit on Recreation.gov. The booking page shows which dates are open and how far ahead they release. How the booking window works

Site guide

1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SitePeople / vehicles
S138 / –

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

FeesOnly 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 feet. It contains a sleeping loft that is reached by climbing a vertical ladder. The cabin's lower level is furnished with one double plywood bunk and one single plywood bunk (no mattresses), a table and chairs, a cooking counter and a broom. An outhouse toilet is provided. Visitors must bring their own supply of #1 diesel oil (10 gallons for a 3-day stay, more or less depending on the time of year). Transport oil in an FAA-approved container or jerry can in a non-tip box. Visitors must also 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 and boots. Water is available from the lake or nearby inlet stream, but must be treated before being used. It is recommended visitors bring their own supply of water. Learn about water safety. A small but heavy, square-bowed skiff (rowboat) with oars is provided.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Avoss Lake Cabin30°40°50°60°January: 27.97 inches of precipitation, 28.0 inches of snowFebruary: 18.93 inches of precipitation, 19.7 inches of snowMarch: 18.11 inches of precipitation, 20.1 inches of snowApril: 14.65 inches of precipitation, 1.7 inches of snowMay: 12.23 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 7.85 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 10.37 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 16.74 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 25.72 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 31.61 inches of precipitation, 0.4 inches of snowNovember: 29.39 inches of precipitation, 10.3 inches of snowDecember: 32.15 inches of precipitation, 21.6 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 34.4°F averageFebruary: 35.1°F averageMarch: 36.3°F averageApril: 41.2°F averageMay: 47.3°F averageJune: 52.4°F averageJuly: 55.8°F averageAugust: 55.9°F averageSeptember: 51.7°F averageOctober: 45.0°F averageNovember: 38.7°F averageDecember: 35.6°F average0 in10 in20 in30 in40 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Little Port Walter, 25 miles from the campground at 14 feet, station USC00505519 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 246 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 102 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

Accessible early June through October. Located 35 air miles southeast of Sitka, east of Whale Bay, within South Baranof Wilderness Area. Access by floatplane takes 35 minutes from Sitka. This cabin is in a designated wilderness area; access by helicopter is illegal.

Nearest townSitka, Alaska
Coordinates56.7038° N, 134.9269° W · Directions ↗

Good to know

  • The cabin is equipped with an oil stove for heat, but oil is not provided.
  • A long-shaft outboard motor in the 2-10 hp range is highly recommended for use with the skiff, but is not provided.

Explore

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside South Baranof Wilderness.

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.

Natural features

The area offers wilderness solitude and beauty. The cabin sits just off the northern shore of Avoss Lake at an elevation of 800 feet at the edge of a muskeg near an inlet stream to Avoss Lake. The lake is about 1.5 miles long and nearly half a mile wide. The cabin is five miles northeast of Whale Bay on the south central portion of Baranof Island. Many streams and small channels flow through the surrounding area. Wildflowers bloom in abundance during spring and summer. Brown bear frequent the area.

Recreation

Photography and hunting are favorite activities at Avoss Lake. From July to September, anglers may catch Dolly Varden and rainbow trout, although the fishing is slow. Deer and mountain goat hunting is possible in season. This area is remote, rugged and surrounded by steep, mountainous terrain. Plan hunting trips accordingly.

Guidebooks for Alaska

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Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Avoss Lake Cabin?

Sites at Avoss 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 Avoss 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 Avoss Lake Cabin?

Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Avoss Lake Cabin have?

1 site, including 1 standard site without power.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Avoss Lake Cabin?

Photography and hunting are favorite activities at Avoss Lake. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Avoss Lake Cabin?

Sitka, Alaska.

Source: Getting there

What if Avoss Lake Cabin is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Davidof Lake Cabin (6.6 mi), Plotnikof Lake Cabin (8.3 mi), and Sevenfathom Bay Cabin (15.3 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby