Virginia Lake Cabin
Virginia Lake Cabin is a short floatplane ride from Wrangell, Alaska, making it a popular destination for a remote getaway on a scenic lake. It is located 10 miles east of Wrangell on the mainland above Eastern Passage. The area around Virginia Lake provides opportunities for fishing, hunting, paddling and hiking. The site can be accessed by float plane, depending on conditions, or by portaging and paddling watercraft. 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 | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W13 | Full | 8 / – | Yes | Yes |
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 | 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. |
| Accessibility | Site W13 is listed accessible |
The original (pan-abode style) cabin was built in 1965 and is 12-by-14, but it was modified in the mid 1990's to make it wheelchair accessible and add a 10-by-8 addition. It features a wheelchair-friendly deck that wraps around two sides of the cabin and a walkway between the cabin and the outhouse. The cabin sleeps eight people with three single bunks and two double bunks with trundles. It also has a table and benches, broom, both a wood stove and oil stove (No. 1 oil required) for heat, and a campfire ring. Water and electricity are not provided. Water is available from a stream behind the cabin, but guests should be sure to treat water before drinking or cooking with it ( water safety tips ). It is recommended that visitors bring their own water supply. Cooking facilities are not available.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
The cabin is on the east end of Virginia Lake, about 10 miles east of Wrangell. The lake is on the mainland (elevation 105 feet) above Eastern Passage. The cabin is accessible by float plane. Virginia Lake is usually ice-free May to October.
| Nearest town | Wrangell, Alaska |
| Coordinates | 56.4822° N, 132.1431° W · Directions ↗ |
Explore
Trails nearby
- 2.3 miMill Creek Trail0.8 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.
Public land it sits in
Stikine-LeConte Wilderness begins about 6.1 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 6.1 miStikine-LeConte Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 436,084 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
On the National Register nearby
- Chief Shakes Historic SiteBuilding · Wrangell · 9.1 mi
- Saint Philip's Episcopal ChurchBuilding · Wrangell · 9.1 mi
- Judith Ann (Riverboat)Structure · Wrangell · 13.5 mi
Natural features
The cabin sits on relatively flat land with some large meadows near Porterfield Creek, which is about a quarter-mile away. The surrounding rainforest is primarily Sitka spruce and western hemlock with some cedar. Steep mountains surround portions of the lake. A sandy beach is located in front of the cabin. This area is home to brown and black bears ( bear safety information ). Moose also make their home here.
Recreation
Anglers can fish for cutthroat trout and Dolly Varden from May to October and sockeye salmon in August and September. A 14' skiff with oars is provided at the cabin, but visitors must supply their own flotation devices and ensure that the skiff is secured before leaving. Hunting is possible in the area with the proper permits. The.9-mile Mill Creek Trail can be accessed by cabin users by paddling across the lake to the outlet. Trail users can see evidence of past mining and an old sawmill, and can access fishing opportunities in Mill Creek. Alternate access to the cabin from the saltwater at Eastern Passage is by portaging watercraft over this trail. There is no developed trail from the end of Mill Creek Trail at the Virginia Lake outlet to the cabin.
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 Virginia Lake Cabin?
Sites at Virginia 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 Virginia Lake 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 Virginia Lake Cabin?
Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Virginia Lake Cabin have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Virginia Lake Cabin?
Site W13 is listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Virginia Lake Cabin?
Anglers can fish for cutthroat trout and Dolly Varden from May to October and sockeye salmon in August and September. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Virginia Lake Cabin?
Wrangell, Alaska.
Source: Getting there
What if Virginia Lake Cabin is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Lower Salamander Creek Campground (9.4 mi, first-come), Upper Salamander Creek Campsite (12.2 mi, first-come), and Yunshookuh Loop Campground (14.1 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby