Anan Bay Cabin
Anan Bay Cabin is popular for wildlife viewing due to its location near Anan Wildlife Observatory, where bears and bald eagles come to fish for salmon in the adjacent creek. The setting in Anan Bay also provides access to saltwater fishing, viewing marine mammals and paddling. The cabin is located about 27 miles southeast of the town of Wrangell, Alaska, and can be accessed by float plane or boat, depending on conditions. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| W20 | Full | 7 / – |
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. |
Anan Bay Cabin was originally built in 1964, but a new cabin was constructed in the spring of 2012 using Alaska yellow cedar from the Tongass National Forest. That cabin was destroyed by a fallen tree in 2023. A new cabin was built in 2024. This 16' x 20' cabin with loft was constructed from Western Red Cedar, 2 single bunks, table, benches, oil heater (#1 stove oil only), and outhouse toilet. Bedding, cooking utensils, stove oil not provided. A 40' mooring float is located in front of the cabin in the bay, but is open to use by the general public as well as cabin users. Vessel limit on the float is a maximum of 30 feet long, with a 30" draft. Water and electricity are not provided. Visitors should bring their own supply of water. From June 15th to September 15th visitors are not allowed off trail by order of the Forest Supervisor. Additionally, no dogs are allowed. No food is allowed outside of the cabin and the trailhead from June 15th to September 15th. During permit season of July 5th to August 25th no one is allowed past the trailhead before 8am or after 6pm. Four permits for the observatory are reserved each day for purchase at the trailhead specifically for cabin users.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
This cabin is on the mainland at Anan Bay, across Ernest Sound from the southeast corner of Wrangell Island. The site is 27 miles by air from Wrangell, and is accessible by boat and float plane. There is a 30-foot mooring float anchored in the bay for use by the general public as well as cabin users.
| Nearest town | Wrangell, Alaska |
| Coordinates | 56.1867° N, 131.8864° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- If more than 4 permits per day are needed, or if permits are needed for the day of departure, they should be purchased in advance through Recreation.gov.
Explore
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miAnan Creek Trail1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
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
South Etolin Wilderness begins about 13.8 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 13.8 miSouth Etolin Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 82,593 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
Natural features
The cabin sits on a gentle slope leading down to the beach, overlooking Anan Bay. The surrounding rainforest is primarily Sitka spruce and western hemlock with some scattered cedar. The slopes around the cabin are gentle to moderate. The nearby lagoon is an intertidal area that often goes dry during low tide. The area provides excellent opportunities to view black and brown bears, harbor seals, bald eagles and various gulls ( bear safety information ). The high number of salmon in nearby Anan Creek allows visitors the opportunity to view their seasonal spawning in the months of July and August.
Recreation
The 1-mile Anan Creek Trail leads from the cabin to the Anan Wildlife Observatory. During peak viewing season, the months of July and August, Forest Service interpreters are on-site to provide current information on bear safety, trail conditions and bear activity. During peak season no one is allowed past the trailhead before 8am or after 6pm. There is a high possibility of encountering bears on this trail during this time. Fishing is only permitted from the shore at the trailhead between June 15th and September 15th, due to bear activity. No one is allowed off the trail from June 15th to September 15th by order of the Forest Supervisor. Steelhead is available in April and May, and cutthroat trout, Dolly Varden and pink salmon in July and August. There are opportunities to fish for salmon and halibut in the surrounding saltwater. There are no outdoor fires allowed at this cabin due to bear activity.
Nearby
Anan Wildlife Observatory. During permit season, July 5th - August 25th four permits are reserved each day at the trailhead specifically for cabin users. These permits must be purchased on-site at the trailhead using a credit card.
Guidebooks for Alaska
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Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Anan Bay Cabin?
Sites at Anan Bay 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 Anan Bay 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 Anan Bay Cabin?
Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Anan Bay Cabin have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Anan Bay Cabin?
The 1-mile Anan Creek Trail leads from the cabin to the Anan Wildlife Observatory. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Anan Bay Cabin?
Wrangell, Alaska. Anan Wildlife Observatory.
Source: Getting there
What if Anan Bay Cabin is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Upper Salamander Creek Campsite (10.6 mi, first-come), Thoms Creek Crossing Campsite (10.6 mi, first-come), and Lower Salamander Creek Campground (16.2 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby