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

Starrigavan Creek Cabin

Starrigavan Creek Cabin is a drive-up, high-use, seasonally accessible log cabin within the Starrigavan Recreation Area. The cabin was constructed in 2008 from young Sitka spruce trees harvested around Starrigavan Creek to improve wildlife and fish habitat. The cabin is an experiment in the longevity of young spruce logs for construction purposes, making it the first young-growth cabin and also the first cabin within a recreation area in the Tongass National Forest. Access to Sitka is only by ferry or airplane. The cabin is a two-minute drive from the Alaska Marine Highway Sitka Ferry Terminal or a 7-mile drive from downtown Sitka or the airport.

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
STARRIGAVAN CREEK CABIN1STARRIGAVAN CREEK CABIN8STARRIGAVAN CREEK CABIN66STARRIGAVAN CREEK CABIN7
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.

SiteFits, ftSurfaceShadeWater / sewerWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFiresAccessible
CABIN35GravelFullNo / NoRiverfront8 / 4YesYes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

Max vehicle length15 ft
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
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.
AccessibilitySite CABIN is listed accessible

The popular cabin is equipped with beds for six adults, but can accommodate a maximum of eight people if younger children are involved. The cabin is available solely for overnight camping. See restrictions on maximum number of persons below. The main level of the cabin has one single bunk over an accessible bunk, a table with benches, a wood stove for heat, a cooking counter, a broom and dustpan. A stairway leads to the upstairs sleeping loft, which offers two double-size bunks, a table, two chairs and a lamp table. The cabin does not have electricity or indoor plumbing. A bench overlooks Starrigavan Creek. A picnic table and a combination campfire ring/grill with log benches are provided outside. A vault toilet is located 200 feet from the cabin; artesian well water is 300 feet from the cabin. Parking space is provided for up to four standard vehicles. Visitors must bring sleeping bags and pads, garbage bags, matches, fire starter, a tablecloth to protect cedar tabletop, a cooking stove, pots, pans, food and coolers, eating and cooking utensils, lanterns and flashlights (candles are discouraged). This is a locked cabin that requires visitors to pre-arrange access.

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

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Starrigavan Creek Cabin30°40°50°60°January: 9.58 inches of precipitationFebruary: 6.48 inches of precipitationMarch: 6.43 inches of precipitationApril: 5.01 inches of precipitationMay: 4.05 inches of precipitationJune: 3.63 inches of precipitationJuly: 5.53 inches of precipitationAugust: 9.61 inches of precipitationSeptember: 13.78 inches of precipitationOctober: 14.79 inches of precipitationNovember: 12.14 inches of precipitationDecember: 11.03 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 33.1°F averageFebruary: 34.2°F averageMarch: 35.8°F averageApril: 41.3°F averageMay: 46.7°F averageJune: 51.6°F averageJuly: 55.1°F averageAugust: 55.7°F averageSeptember: 51.4°F averageOctober: 44.0°F averageNovember: 37.1°F averageDecember: 34.1°F average0 in5 in10 in15 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Sitka 1 NE, 5 miles from the campground at 78 feet, station USW00025379 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 102 inches a year.

Getting there

Located 7 miles northeast of Sitka at the end of Halibut Point Road, about 3/4 mile from the local Alaska Marine Highway ferry terminal. There are no roads to Sitka. Access is via the Alaska Marine Highway or Alaska Airlines. Upon exiting the Ferry Terminal parking lot, turn left.

Nearest townSitka, Alaska
Coordinates57.1296° N, 135.3626° W · Directions ↗

Explore

Worth a stop

  • 0.1 mi
    Estuary Life ↗
    0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.5 mi
    Mosquito Cove ↗
    0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.5 mi
    Mosquito Cove Spur A
    under 0.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.7 mi
    Starrigavan Valley Mainline
    2.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 0.9 mi
    Starrigavan Valley Spur A
    0.05 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 1.2 mi
    Starrigavan Valley Loop C
    0.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more

Trailheads within three miles

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Natural features

The cabin is situated next to Starrigavan Creek and is surrounded by a temperate rainforest of hemlock and spruce trees with salmonberry bushes, low shrubs and mosses covering the forest floor. The cabin occupies an old campsite and is located within the major camping loop of Starrigavan Recreation Area. Starrigavan Recreation Area houses a diverse range of forest, estuary and marine habitats. Depending on the season, visitors may view brown bear, spawning coho and pink salmon, common merganser, bald eagle, great blue heron, bufflehead, kingfisher, river otter or Sitka black-tailed deer. Brown bear frequent the area.

Recreation

Starrigavan offers saltwater and freshwater fishing opportunities. Visitors also enjoy kayaking, photography, hiking and birding. Hiking options include the Estuary Life Trail, Forest and Muskeg Trail, Mosquito Cove Trail and numerous intertwining paths and roadways within the recreation area. For information about fishing permits and seasons, visit the Alaska Department of Fish and Game website.

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 Starrigavan Creek Cabin?

Sites at Starrigavan Creek 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 Starrigavan Creek 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 Starrigavan Creek Cabin?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Starrigavan Creek Cabin have?

1 site, including 1 cabin.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Starrigavan Creek Cabin?

The longest site here provides 15 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Are pets allowed at Starrigavan Creek Cabin?

Yes, pets are allowed at Starrigavan Creek Cabin. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Starrigavan Creek Cabin?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there accessible sites at Starrigavan Creek Cabin?

Site CABIN 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 Starrigavan Creek Cabin?

Starrigavan offers saltwater and freshwater fishing opportunities. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Starrigavan Creek Cabin?

Sitka, Alaska.

Source: Getting there

What if Starrigavan Creek Cabin is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Starrigavan Campground And Day Use (0.3 mi), Brents Beach Cabin (7.7 mi), and Allan Point Cabin (7.9 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby