Eagles Nest Campground
Campground · Alaska · 12 bookable sites ·
Managed by the USDA Forest Service
Tongass National Forest (NF) · Open Access
- 12
- Bookable sites
- 99 ft
- Max rig length
- up to 12
- People per site
- 624 ft
- Elevation
Overview
Eagles Nest Campground is located on Prince of Wales Island in a temperate rainforest surrounded by muskeg and Balls Lake. Visitors enjoy viewing wildlife, hiking, fishing, canoeing and kayaking.This campground is situated on Prince of Wales Island, the third largest island in the U.S., on the shores of Balls Lake, eighteen miles west of Thorne Bay.
Recreation
An interpretive trail parallels the lake for approximately 1,800 feet, offering scenic views of the Thorne Mountains and surrounding foothills. Canoeing, kayaking and fishing are popular activities at Balls Lake. A canoe ramp is located on the lakeshore. Sockeye salmon, wildflowers and industrious beavers are common sights in and around the lake.The 2.5-mile Balls Lake Trail lets visitors hike around the lake, where swans, kingfisher and ducks are often seen, along with an array of riparian areas.
Facilities
The campground offers single and double-family sites. Picnic tables and campfire rings are provided, as are vault toilets.Natural Features
The campground is situated near Control Creek and Balls Lake, within the Tongass National Forest, which covers nearly 17 million acres in southeast Alaska and is the largest forest in the national forest system.The Tongass surrounds the Inside Passage, the network of waterways that buffers the jagged Alaskan Coast and a cluster of coastal islands. The Tongass offers visitors a chance to view wildlife, including eagles, bears and spawning salmon. Expansive vistas of fjords, glaciers and mountain peaks abound. Much of the forest is a temperate rainforest.
Nearby Attractions
A number of hiking trails and recreation sites are in the area.The facts
- 12 bookable sites
- Vehicles up to 99 ft
- Up to 12 people per site
- Loops: EAGL
Site types
- 10 Standard Nonelectric
- 2 Tent Only Nonelectric
12 campsites at Eagles Nest Campground
Check-in 1:00 PM · Check-out 12:00 PM
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | EAGL | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 99 ft | 6 | |
| 002 | EAGL | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 6 | |
| 003 | EAGL | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 6 | |
| 004 | EAGL | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 40 ft | 6 | |
| 005 | EAGL | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 99 ft | 6 | |
| 006 | EAGL | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 40 ft | 6 | |
| 007 | EAGL | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 40 ft | 6 | |
| 008 | EAGL | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 40 ft | 6 | |
| 009 | EAGL | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 99 ft | 6 | |
| 010 | EAGL | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 99 ft | 6 | |
| 011 | EAGL | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 40 ft | 12 | |
| 012 | EAGL | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 40 ft | 12 |
Getting there
From Ketchikan, take the Alaska Marine Ferry to Hollis on Prince of Wales Island. From Hollis, take State Highway 924 to Klawock. From Klawock, take State Highway 929 to Control Lake Junction 18 miles and turn right. Continue on State Highway 929 for 2 miles. Campground is on the left.
55.68333, -132.85000 · 55°40'60.0"N 132°50'60.0"W
Typical weather
Typically 64°F in Aug, down to 40°F in Jan.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 40 | 41 | 44 | 51 | 57 | 61 | 63 | 64 | 60 | 52 | 44 | 40 |
| Low °F | 31 | 30 | 31 | 35 | 41 | 46 | 51 | 51 | 47 | 40 | 34 | 31 |
| Precip in | 8.7 | 6.3 | 6.8 | 5.5 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 4.3 | 6.8 | 10.7 | 12.3 | 10.2 | 10.1 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 11.3 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Eagles Nest Campground
- Can you reserve a site at Eagles Nest Campground?
- Yes, Eagles Nest Campground is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Eagles Nest Campground have?
- 12 sites.
- What is the maximum RV length at Eagles Nest Campground?
- 99 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
Camping near Eagles Nest Campground
- Control Lake Cabin 0.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Black Bear Lake Cabin (Tongass National Forest, AK) 9.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Salmon Lake Cabin Thorne Bay 10 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Honker Lake Cabin 10.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Karta Lake Cabin 12.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Karta River Cabin 13.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Harris River Campground 14.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Eagles Nest Campground 1.6 mi · Campground
- Lake No. 3 Campground 10.6 mi · Campground
- One Duck Shelter Site 11.1 mi · Campground
- Staney Bridge Campground 13.6 mi · Campground
- Horseshoe Hole Campground 14.2 mi · Campground
Contact
- Book Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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