Cabin rental · U.S. Forest Service · Tongass National Forest · Wrangell, AK

Shakes Slough 2 Cabin

Shakes Slough 2 Cabin makes an excellent basecamp for exploring the Stikine River. It is located at the confluence of the Stikine River and Shakes Slough and within a few hundred feet of neighboring Shakes Slough 1 Cabin. These cabins offer spectacular views of the surrounding Stikine-LeConte Wilderness. The site can be accessed by float plane or shallow draft boat, depending on conditions. A tide of at least 14 feet is required to navigate the Stikine River tide flats. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Woman sitting on porch of Shakes Slough 2 Cabin with grass in front and trees in backgroundOuthouse interior of Shakes Slough 2 CabinShakes Slough 2 interior showing wood bunk, table stove and vertical ladder to loftShakes Slough 2 Cabin exterior of AFrame cabin with greenery surrounding it
Photos courtesy of USFS · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Cabins1
This cabin 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.

SiteShadePeople / vehicles
W02Full7 / –

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

FeesReservations can be made the day of arrival or up to 180 days in advance of cabin arrival. Cabin reservations are restricted to a maximum stay of 7 consecutive nights per party for any one reservation between May 1 and September 30, and 10 consecutive days from Oct. 1 through April 30.

The 16-by-16 cabin (A-frame style) was built in 1963 and has two single bunks (one with a trundle bed) and a sleeping loft, to accommodate up to seven people. It is also equipped with a table with benches, an oil space heater (No.1 oil only), broom and an outhouse. The partially covered front porch has a bear-proof locker for food storage. Water and electricity are not provided, and there are no natural drinking water sources near the cabin. Guests must bring their own drinking water. In addition to bringing a supply of No.1 stove oil, guests should pack sleeping bags, sleeping pads, a cooking stove, lanterns or flashlights, cookware, plates, utensils, food, toilet paper, garbage bags, a fire extinguisher and matches, among other necessities.

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

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Shakes Slough 2 Cabin30°40°50°60°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 32.5°F averageFebruary: 34.3°F averageMarch: 37.3°F averageApril: 43.4°F averageMay: 50.8°F averageJune: 55.3°F averageJuly: 58.0°F averageAugust: 57.5°F averageSeptember: 52.7°F averageOctober: 45.2°F averageNovember: 37.8°F averageDecember: 33.9°F averageTemp °F
The line is the average temperature at Wrangell AP, 20 miles from the campground at 56 feet, station USC00509919 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020.

Getting there

The Shakes Slough Cabins are located in the Stikine-LeConte Wilderness on the north shore of the Stikine River at the Shakes Slough entrance. From Wrangell, the cabins are 20 miles by float plane or 25 miles by shallow draft boat. Low river levels and tides affect access to the cabin ( Stikine River level at Shakes Gage ).

Nearest townWrangell, Alaska
Coordinates56.7153° N, 132.1050° W · Directions ↗

Good to know

  • Heating oil is not supplied by the Forest Service.

Charges and cancellations

A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation. Late cancellations are subject to additional fees.

Explore

  • 3.2 mi
    Shakes Hot Springs Trail
    0.3 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

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Stikine-LeConte 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 cabin is tucked into a stand of spruce trees, set back from the bank of the Stikine River. It overlooks Shakes Slough and offers spectacular views of Popof Glacier, Mount Basargin and other nearby peaks. The vegetation in front of the cabin is primarily ferns and salmonberry, with willow and alder along the slough. The surrounding rainforest consists of Sitka spruce and western hemlock, with cottonwood on the valley bottom. Brown and black bears roam the area, and moose are sometimes seen among the willow thickets ( bear safety information ). Mountain goats can occasionally be spotted in the surrounding mountains. The Stikine River tide flats are a major stopover point in the spring and fall for migratory shorebirds and waterfowl.

Recreation

This area of the Stikine River offers plenty of places to explore by boat. Shakes Lake and Glacier are three miles north of the cabin and offer excellent opportunities to view wildlife and scenery. The Chief Shakes Hot Springs are approximately four miles upstream, and can be accessed by boat from Hot Springs Slough, which is off the Ketili Slough. A 0.3-mile trail leads from Hot Springs Slough to the Chief Shakes Hot Springs. Cutthroat trout and Dolly Varden are in the river from June to October, but a boat is needed to reach the trout streams. River levels and tide charts should be checked before any boating activity. Hunting is also available in the area during designated seasons.

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 Shakes Slough 2 Cabin?

Sites at Shakes Slough 2 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 Shakes Slough 2 Cabin?

Reservations can be made the day of arrival or up to 180 days in advance of cabin arrival. Cabin reservations are restricted to a maximum stay of 7 consecutive nights per party for any one reservation between May 1 and September 30, and 10 consecutive days from Oct. 1 through April 30.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Shakes Slough 2 Cabin?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Shakes Slough 2 Cabin?

A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation.

Source: Charges and cancellations

How many sites does Shakes Slough 2 Cabin have?

1 site, including 1 cabin.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Shakes Slough 2 Cabin?

This area of the Stikine River offers plenty of places to explore by boat. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Shakes Slough 2 Cabin?

Wrangell, Alaska.

Source: Getting there

What if Shakes Slough 2 Cabin is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Lower Salamander Creek Campground (25.6 mi, first-come), Ohmer Creek Campground (25.9 mi, first-come), and Upper Salamander Creek Campsite (27.8 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby