Sweet Water Lake Cabin
Sweet water Lake Cabin offers visitors recreation, relaxation and a unique lodging experience on Prince of Wales Island in southeastern Alaska. The remote site provides a scenic setting for fishing, hunting, boating and wildlife viewing, all within the vicinity of the cabin. The site can be accessed by vehicle and a 1/2 mile boat paddle, float plane, or canoeing. Visitors 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 | People / vehicles |
|---|---|
| T14 | 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 cabin is a 12 x 14 foot primitive, pre-cut cedar log cabin ( pan-abode style ) furnished with wooden bunkbeds (without mattresses) that sleep up to six guests. The cabin is equipped with a table, benches, a wood stove for heat and an outside toilet. Other amenities include a cooking counter, shelving, cupboards, an axe, splitting maul, fire extinguisher and a broom. Firewood may be available, but the supply cannot be guaranteed. Visitors are asked to be conservative with wood and use their cook stoves for cooking. The cabin does not have running water or electricity. Visitors must bring their own food, water, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, cook stove, stove-wood, fire starter, cooking gear/utensils, light source (lantern), toilet paper, first aid kit and garbage bags. Water is available from the lake, but must be filtered, boiled or chemically treated before drinking. Visitors are welcome to use the aluminum skiff with oars available at the cabin, and may choose to bring a long shaft motor. Visitors are responsible for bringing and using their own personal floatation devices.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Sweet water Lake Cabin is accessible by either vehicle, 200 foot trail and a short boat trip, or by float plane. The cabin is located 10 road miles from Coffman Cove. From Ketchikan, take Forest Service Road 20 to Forest Road 3030 approximately 2 hours from Hollis. Guests will then hike a 200 foot trail to a boat, provided by the Forest Service.
| Nearest town | Ketchikan/Thorne Bay, Alaska |
| Coordinates | 55.9522° N, 132.9386° W · Directions ↗ |
Explore
Trails nearby
- 0.4 miSweetwater Lake Trail0.09 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.1 miHatchery Creek Trail0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.7 mi3030630 Road1.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 3 mi2360400 Road1.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
- 3 miHonker Divide Canoe Route ↗31.4 mi trail · paddle
- 3.2 miFish City1.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 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.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
Natural features
The cabin sits on a large gravelly beach on the eastern shore of Sweet water Lake in the Tongass National Forest. The shoreline is surrounded by a temperate rainforest of old-growth spruce, hemlock and cedar. Wildlife in the area abounds, including a variety of waterfowl, mink, otter, beaver, bald eagles, Sitka black-tailed deer and black bears. Seals are often seen in the lake as well. Learn more about bear safety in the Tongass National Forest.
Recreation
Anglers will find good fishing for rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, Dolly Varden, as well as coho, sockeye, and pink salmon in Sweet water Lake. Bird watchers are also drawn to the area because of its wide array of waterfowl. Hunters can take advantage of the hunting season in the surrounding national forest. Bear season occurs during spring and fall, while deer season begins in late summer and lasts through the late fall. Visitors might enjoy a day of scenic boating on Sweet water Lake or Barnes Lake, although navigating the Gold and Galligan Lagoon to get to Barnes Lake can be very dangerous. Guests should always use caution and be aware that navigation of the lagoon should only occur during high, slack tide.
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 Sweet Water Lake Cabin?
Sites at Sweet Water 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 Sweet Water 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 Sweet Water Lake Cabin?
Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Sweet Water Lake Cabin have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Sweet Water Lake Cabin?
Anglers will find good fishing for rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, Dolly Varden, as well as coho, sockeye, and pink salmon in Sweet water Lake. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Sweet Water Lake Cabin?
Ketchikan/Thorne Bay, Alaska.
Source: Getting there
What if Sweet Water Lake Cabin is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Horseshoe Hole Campground (12.1 mi, first-come), Staney Bridge Campground (12.3 mi, first-come), and Eagles Nest Campground (18.9 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby