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

Samsing Cove Cabin

Samsing Cove Cabin is located 5.5 miles south of Sitka, Alaska off Sitka Sound on Baranof Island. The log cabin was built in 1991 by crews from S&S General Contractors of Sitka and many local businesses, individuals and volunteers. Roger and Judy Sudnikovich, owners of S&S General Contractors, donated the cabin, which replaced a log cabin built in 1941 by the Forest Service and the U.S. Navy for enlisted personnel and the public. This is a remote site. The cabin is generally available year-round, weather permitting, and can be accessed by boat only, a 20-minute ride from Sitka. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring their own amenities.

Reservable · Recreation.gov1 site

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Photos courtesy of USFS, Samsing Cove 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
S1615 / –

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.

This two-story log cabin measures 24 by 30-ft and sleeps up to 15 people. There are two separate open sleeping lofts, reached by a single stairway. Each loft contains a double plywood bunk and lots of floor space. Downstairs, the sleeping accommodations include two sets of single bunks over double bunks. The cabin includes an oil stove for heat, two large tables with benches and cooking counters with open shelving above one counter. An outhouse toilet is close to the cabin. A mooring buoy is available for boat anchorage on a first-come, first-served basis. The cabin reservation does not include exclusive use of the buoy. Good anchorage is also available without using the mooring buoy. Mooring buoys are configured using a 4200-lb concrete block with 90 feet of 7/8th-inch stud link chain. Mariners are responsible for determining how suitable an anchoring system is for the size of their craft. The cabin does not include heating oil, mattresses or cooking utensils. Visitors should bring sleeping bags and pads, a cooking stove, pots, pans, plates, utensils, food, toilet paper, a lantern, garbage bags, a fire extinguisher and fire starter. Rain gear and boots are recommended.

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

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Samsing Cove Cabin30°40°50°60°January: 8.22 inches of precipitationFebruary: 5.93 inches of precipitationMarch: 5.60 inches of precipitationApril: 4.31 inches of precipitationMay: 3.81 inches of precipitationJune: 2.92 inches of precipitationJuly: 4.62 inches of precipitationAugust: 7.25 inches of precipitationSeptember: 11.69 inches of precipitationOctober: 11.78 inches of precipitationNovember: 9.91 inches of precipitationDecember: 8.43 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 36.5°F averageFebruary: 36.7°F averageMarch: 37.5°F averageApril: 42.6°F averageMay: 48.1°F averageJune: 53.0°F averageJuly: 56.5°F averageAugust: 57.3°F averageSeptember: 53.2°F averageOctober: 46.4°F averageNovember: 40.0°F averageDecember: 37.5°F average0 in5 in10 in15 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Sitka Airport, 5 miles from the campground at 14 feet, station USW00025333 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 84 inches a year.

Getting there

Accessible year round, weather permitting. Located 5.5 miles south of Sitka, on the shore of Samsing Cove off Sitka Sound. Access is by boat only, and takes about 20 minutes from Sitka. For geographic features surrounding the cabin, refer to USGS topographic maps Port Alexander D-5 and D-4.

Nearest townSitka, Alaska
Coordinates56.9806° N, 135.3527° W · Directions ↗

Explore

Worth a stop

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 3.4 mi
    Kizhuchia Creek Road
    1.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more

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

On Wilderness Atlas →

South Baranof Wilderness begins about 11.7 miles away, and it is the closest of these.

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 cabin sits within a small cove off Sitka Sound on a short, gently rising slope amid a rocky shoreline, surrounded by a hemlock and spruce forest. At low tide, a small gravel beach unfolds, offering beachcombing possibilities. At high tide, the small cove is a protected place for novice kayakers. On clear days, the mountain peaks above Sitka are visible through the trees and islands to the north. The Sitka Sound area is home to an abundance of wildlife and sea life. Visitors may spot orca whales and humpback whales, puffins, sea otters and sea lions. Brown bear frequent the area.

Recreation

Recreational opportunities at Samsing Cove Cabin include saltwater fishing, kayaking (visitors must provide their own kayaks), photography, wildlife viewing and beachcombing.

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 Samsing Cove Cabin?

Sites at Samsing Cove 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 Samsing Cove 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 Samsing Cove Cabin?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Samsing Cove Cabin have?

1 site, including 1 standard site without power.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is the nearest town to Samsing Cove Cabin?

Sitka, Alaska.

Source: Getting there

What if Samsing Cove Cabin is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Kanga Bay Cabin (7 mi), Salmon Lake Cabin Sitka (7.8 mi), and Starrigavan Campground And Day Use (10.5 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby