Can you reserve a site at Karta River Cabin?

Yes, Karta River Cabin is reservable through Recreation.gov.

Karta River Cabin, Alaska — 1 site, fees and cancellation alerts

Overview

Karta River Cabin offers visitors recreation, relaxation and a unique lodging experience on Prince of Wales Island in southeastern Alaska. The remote site offers a scenic setting for fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing, all within the vicinity of the cabin.

The site can be accessed by float plane or boat. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.

Recreation

Anglers will find the surrounding snow-capped peaks and forested shoreline to be quite scenic while fishing for rainbow and cutthroat trout, Dolly Varden and four species of salmon. Visitors should contact the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for fishing regulations as catch and release orders may be in effect.

During sockeye salmon season, people gather at mouth of river to subsistence fish, often processing and smoking the fish on site.

The 5-mile Karta River Trail follows the Karta River up from Karta Bay to Salmon Lake, allowing excellent access to the river for steelhead, sockeye and coho salmon runs. The trail provides access to Karta River, Karta Lake, and Salmon Lake cabins.

Facilities

The cabin is a 12 x 14 foot primitive, pre-cut cedar log cabin (pan-abode style) furnished with wooden bunkbeds (without mattresses) that sleep up to five people. The cabin is equipped with a table, benches, a wood stove for heat, and an outside toilet. Other amenities include a cooking counter, shelves, cupboard space, and a broom.

The cabin does not have running water or electricity. Guests must bring their own food, water, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, cook stove, stove fuel , fire starter, cooking gear/utensils, light source (lantern), toilet paper, first aid kit and garbage bags. Firewood may be provided but it is not guaranteed.

Water is available from the river, but must be filtered, boiled or chemically treated before drinking.

Click here for more cabin details.

Natural Features

The cabin sits on a bluff above the Karta River mouth surrounded by gentle slopes of second growth spruce and hemlock. It is located in theKarta River Wilderness area, best known for large salmon runs and the scenic quality of the large river drainage system.

Wildlife fills the area, including wolves, black bears, Sitka black-tailed deer, beavers, otters, minks, martens, and weasels. Trumpeter swans and various other waterfowl are commonly seen in the area. (Learn more about bear safety).

The facts

1 bookable site
Up to 6 people per site
Loops: AREA KARTA RIVER CABIN

Site types

1 Cabin Nonelectric

Book on Recreation.gov

1 campsite at Karta River Cabin

Check-in 12:00 PM · Check-out 12:00 PM

Site	Loop	Type	Entry	Surface	Max rig	People
T06	AREA KARTA RIVER CABIN	Cabin Nonelectric	—	—	—	6

Getting there

Karta River Cabin is accessible by float plane or boat from open ocean at high tide. Click here to check the tide report prior to arrival.

By boat the cabin is approximately ten miles from Hollis. A mooring buoy in the bay is available on first-come, first-served basis. Mooring of more than one vessel allowed if first party there agrees. Refer to USGS map Craig C-2.

By Plane the cabin is approximately 40 air miles from Ketchikan and 15 miles from Thorne Bay. This cabin is in a designated Wilderness area, and access by helicopter is illegal. Click here for information about reaching Forest Service Cabins.

Inclement weather conditions may cause an extension of your trip during any time of the year and winter access can be difficult due to snow and ice conditions. Visitors should bring extra supplies to last 2-5 days Please contact the Thorne Bay Ranger District at 907-828-3304 prior to arrival for more detailed information about safety precautions.

55.56056, -132.57611 · 55°33'38.0"N 132°34'34.0"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 66°F in Jul, down to 38°F in Dec.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	38	40	43	50	57	63	66	65	59	51	42	38
Low °F	28	28	30	34	40	46	51	50	45	38	32	30
Precip in	8.2	5.5	6.3	5.1	3.5	4.1	5.3	7.0	8.6	12.1	10.5	9.1

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 9.3 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Fees and stay limits

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.

From Recreation.gov, which is not always current. The operator's own page is the authority on what you will be charged.

Common questions about Karta River Cabin

Can you reserve a site at Karta River Cabin?: Yes, Karta River Cabin is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does Karta River Cabin have?: 1 site.

Also listed by

Karta River Cabin also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Karta River Cabin's operator.

USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026

$55/night peak season May 1 – September 30 $35/night non-peak season October 1 – April 30

USDA Forest Service's own page

Camping near Karta River Cabin

Karta Lake Cabin 1.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
Salmon Lake Cabin Thorne Bay 3.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
Black Bear Lake Cabin (Tongass National Forest, AK) 11 mi · Campground · we watch it
Harris River Campground 12.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
Eagles Nest Campground 13.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
Polk Camp 14.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
Control Lake Cabin 14.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
Twelvemile Cabin 14.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
Trollers Cove Cabin 20.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
Lake No. 3 Campground 6.4 mi · Campground
Eagles Nest Campground 14.7 mi · Campground
Josephine Lake Cabin 18.6 mi · Campground

Contact

Book Recreation.gov

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.

Karta River Cabin