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

Starrigavan Campground And Day Use

Starrigavan Campsites lie within Starrigavan Recreation Area about seven miles north of Sitka. Visitors enjoy hiking, photography, wildlife viewing, picnicking, fishing and kayaking. Access to Sitka is by boat or airplane. The campsites are a two-minute drive from the Alaska Marine Highway Sitka Ferry Terminal or a seven-mile drive from downtown Sitka or the airport.

Reservable · Recreation.gov41 sites38 ft maxNo hookupsPets okFires ok

More like this: reservable in Alaska · pets allowed in Alaska · group sites in Alaska

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
STARRIGAVAN CAMPSITESSTARRIGAVAN CAMPSITESSTARRIGAVAN CAMPSITESSTARRIGAVAN CAMPSITES
Photos courtesy of USFS · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups18
Walk-in10
picnic4
Tent-only4
Shelters2
Group tent areas2
Host/management1
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 38 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

40 sites in 4 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadeWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFiresAccessible
027HBACKWalk-inGravelFull4 / –Yes
028HBACKWalk-inGravelFull6 / –Yes
029HBACKWalk-inGravelFull6 / –Yes
030HBACKWalk-inGravelFull6 / –Yes
031HBACKWalk-inGravelFull4 / –Yes
032HBACKWalk-inGravelFull4 / –Yes
039BAYSWalk-inGravelFull6 / 1Yes
040BAYSWalk-inGravelFull6 / 1Yes
041BAYSWalk-inGravelFull6 / 1Yes
33BAYS (DAY USE ONLY)PicnicGravelPartial8 / –YesYes

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 1:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length38 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
AccessibilitySites 027H, 028H, 029H, 030H and 36 more are listed accessible

This primitive camping area is fully accessible and offers a variety of accommodations, including group tent sites, individual campsites (both drive in, one is pull through, and hike-in) and Starrigavan Creek Cabin. Several sites overlook Starrigavan Bay; others are close to Starrigavan Creek. Maximum RV length accommodated is 38 feet. Two small group tent sites accommodate up to 20 people, offering twice the amount of tent space and vehicle parking as individual campsites. They also have covered cooking shelters with two picnic tables, a large grill and a fire ring with two log benches. Picnic tables, campfire rings, gravel tent pads and gravel parking spurs are furnished at the individual sites. Vault toilets, drinking water, bear-proof food lockers and seasonal trash collection are provided. Firewood is provided for a small fee. A dump station is located in Sitka, seven miles away.

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

Season & status

ForestTongass National Forest
FeesVariable fees: May 1 through September 15 campsite fees $12-$16, September 15-April 30 campsite fees $12; group site fee $30; rental cabin $75 a night.

Tongass National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Starrigavan Campground And Day Use30°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

Starrigavan Recreation Area is located 7 miles northeast of Sitka at the end of Halibut Point Road and 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
Coordinates57.1328° N, 135.3664° W · Directions ↗

Explore

Video

Starrigavan Campground - Alaska

Worth a stop

The State of Alaska's Old Sitka State Historic Site is nearby. Visitors can take half or full-day kayak trips to Katlian Bay and Siginaka Islands.

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • under 0.1 mi
    Estuary Life ↗
    0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.2 mi
    Mosquito Cove ↗
    0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.3 mi
    Mosquito Cove Spur A
    under 0.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.9 mi
    Starrigavan Valley Mainline
    2.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 1.1 mi
    Starrigavan Valley Spur A
    0.05 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 1.4 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 campsites are situated within a typical temperate rainforest of hemlock and spruce trees with salmonberry bushes, low shrubs and mosses covering the forest floor. The Starrigavan Recreation Area is home to a diverse range of forest, estuary and marine habitats. Depending on the season, visitors might spot brown bear, spawning coho (silver) and pink (humpy) salmon, common merganser, bufflehead, bald eagle, great blue heron, kingfisher, river otter or Sitka black-tailed deer.

Recreation

Hiking, picnicking and wildlife viewing are popular pursuits at Starrigavan. Visitors also enjoy fishing in saltwater and freshwater areas. Many bird and wildlife viewing opportunities exist. Hiking options include the Estuary Life Boardwalk Trail, Forest and Muskeg Trail, the Mosquito Cove Trail and numerous intertwining path and roadways of the recreation area. For information about fishing permits and seasons, visit the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

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 Campground And Day Use?

Sites at Starrigavan Campground And Day Use 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 Campground And Day Use?

Variable fees: May 1 through September 15 campsite fees $12-$16, September 15-April 30 campsite fees $12; group site fee $30; rental cabin $75 a night.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Starrigavan Campground And Day Use?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Starrigavan Campground And Day Use have?

41 sites, including 18 standard sites without power, 10 walk-in sites, 4 picnic, and 4 tent-only sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Starrigavan Campground And Day Use?

The longest site here provides 38 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 there showers or a dump station at Starrigavan Campground And Day Use?

A dump station is located in Sitka, seven miles away.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Starrigavan Campground And Day Use?

Yes, pets are allowed at Starrigavan Campground And Day Use. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Starrigavan Campground And Day Use?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there accessible sites at Starrigavan Campground And Day Use?

Sites 027H, 028H, 029H, and 030H are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 40 sites in all. 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 Campground And Day Use?

Hiking, picnicking and wildlife viewing are popular pursuits at Starrigavan. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Starrigavan Campground And Day Use?

Sitka, Alaska. The State of Alaska's Old Sitka State Historic Site is nearby.

Source: Getting there

What if Starrigavan Campground And Day Use is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Brents Beach Cabin (7.5 mi), Allan Point Cabin (7.7 mi), and Freds Creek Cabin (10.1 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby