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

Kennel Creek Cabin

Kennel Creek Cabin is located near Kennel Creek along the south shore of Freshwater Bay, on the northeast side of Chichagof Island. It offers visitors excellent opportunities for recreation and viewing scenery and wildlife. This is a primitive cabin with no electricity, indoor plumbing or cell phone coverage. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring their own amenities. The cabin is generally available year-round, depending on weather, and makes an excellent base for experiencing this corner of Alaska. The cabin may be inaccessible via road for many months of the year.

Cabin rentalReservable · Recreation.gov1 sitePets okFires ok
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
KENNEL CREEK CABIN (AK)3KENNEL CREEK CABIN (AK)1KENNEL CREEK CABIN (AK)2KENNEL CREEK CABIN (AK)33
Photos courtesy of KENNEL CREEK CABIN (AK) · 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, ftSurfaceWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFiresAccessibleRating
01400GravelOceanfront8 / 4YesYesPreferred

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

PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
AccessibilitySite 01 is listed accessible

The 16 X 22-ft. milled cedar log cabin has a sleeping loft, balcony and deck. The cabin accommodates up to 8 people. There is one single over double bunk on the main floor and a full sleeping loft. Inside, the cabin features a food preparation counter, a sturdy wood table with 4 benches and a wood stove for heat. Outside there is a large picnic table, fire ring, vault toilet and firewood shelter. The first level of the cabin, the main deck, and vault toilet and picnic table are all accessible facilities for visitors with disabilities. Cabin users must provide their own firewood. Other suggested items to bring are: water for drinking, cooking and cleaning; mattresses; cooking gear; sleeping bags; lanterns or flashlights; food; toilet paper; garbage bags; and fire starter. Rain gear and boots are also recommended. No dumpsters are available, so visitors are expected to pack out trash and clean the cabin before leaving.

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

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Kennel Creek Cabin30°40°50°60°January: 6.75 inches of precipitation, 25.0 inches of snowFebruary: 5.02 inches of precipitation, 12.3 inches of snowMarch: 4.43 inches of precipitation, 20.0 inches of snowApril: 3.13 inches of precipitation, 1.7 inches of snowMay: 2.51 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 2.67 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 3.30 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 4.86 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 7.26 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 9.19 inches of precipitation, 0.6 inches of snowNovember: 8.81 inches of precipitation, 13.4 inches of snowDecember: 7.86 inches of precipitation, 17.0 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 30.6°F averageFebruary: 31.7°F averageMarch: 34.1°F averageApril: 41.0°F averageMay: 48.6°F averageJune: 54.6°F averageJuly: 57.8°F averageAugust: 57.4°F averageSeptember: 51.3°F averageOctober: 42.9°F averageNovember: 35.0°F averageDecember: 31.9°F average0 in5 in10 in15 in20 in25 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Hoonah, 17 miles from the campground at 130 feet, station USC00503695 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 66 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 90 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

Kennel Creek Cabin is located approximately 19 air miles southeast of the City of Hoonah, Alaska on the south shore of Freshwater Bay. Access is by vehicle, float plane, or boat. Total distance by gravel road is approximately 27 miles. By road travel south from Hoonah past the airport.

Nearest townHoonah, Alaska
Coordinates57.9003° N, 135.1576° W · Directions ↗

Good to know

  • Firewood is not provided; however, a small woodshed nearby allows visitors to store and keep firewood dry for use at the cabin.

Explore

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 2 mi
    Kennel Creek
    0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 2.6 mi
    Bear Paw Lake
    0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 2.9 mi
    Kennel Creek C
    1.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 3.7 mi
    Pavlof Marsh
    0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 3.7 mi
    Kennel Creek D
    0.9 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

On Wilderness Atlas →

Kootznoowoo Wilderness begins about 12.6 miles away, and it is the closest of these.

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 rests on the south shoreline of Freshwater Bay. Views from the cabin’s balcony and deck overlook the bay and surrounding snow peaked mountains. The cabin is backed by dense evergreen forest. Kennel Creek, an anadromous fish stream flows into Freshwater Bay about 200 yards away. This area offers abundant wildlife, including whales, brown bear, deer, shorebirds and a variety of small mammals. Please learn about bear safety and precautions.

Recreation

The cabin has good access to hunting and both freshwater and saltwater fishing areas. A gravel beach in front of the cabin is suitable for landing and launching small boats. Tide tables should be consulted prior to any boating excursion. There is also a boat ramp and dock facility nearby.

Nearby

The Bear Paw Lake Trail system is located approximately 4 miles northwest of the cabin on National Forest System road 8508.

Guidebooks for Alaska

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Kennel Creek Cabin?

Sites at Kennel Creek Cabin are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Kennel Creek Cabin?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Kennel Creek Cabin have?

1 site, including 1 cabin.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Kennel Creek Cabin?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Kennel Creek Cabin?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there accessible sites at Kennel Creek Cabin?

Site 01 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 Kennel Creek Cabin?

The cabin has good access to hunting and both freshwater and saltwater fishing areas. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Kennel Creek Cabin?

Hoonah, Alaska. The Bear Paw Lake Trail system is located approximately 4 miles northwest of the cabin on National Forest System road 8508.

Source: Getting there

What if Kennel Creek Cabin is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Kook Lake Cabin (17.1 mi), Moser Island Cabin (24.7 mi), and Sitkoh Lake (East) Cabin (27 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby