Can you reserve a site at Paulson Bay Cabin?

Yes, Paulson Bay Cabin is reservable through Recreation.gov.

Are pets allowed at Paulson Bay Cabin?

Yes, pets are allowed at Paulson Bay Cabin.

Are campfires allowed at Paulson Bay Cabin?

Campfires are allowed at Paulson Bay Cabin. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Paulson Bay Cabin, Alaska — 1 site, fees and cancellation alerts

Overview

Paulson Bay Cabin offers a secluded getaway for relaxation and recreation in the beautiful Prince William Sound. The cabin is open year-round and makes a great base for sea kayaking, fishing, shrimping and sightseeing.

This remote site can be accessed by float plane or by boat, depending on conditions. The cabin sits on a bluff and can be reached by some steps leading up from the beach. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities including sleeping pads, sleeping bags, cook stove, toilet paper, pots and utensils as well as some form of water purification.

Recreation

Hiking in the area is fairly easy because there is relatively little brush to inhibit movement. A three-quarter mile route leads north from the cabin to the creek.

Guests can bring kayaks for exploring the coastline and the bay. Local tide reports should be consulted before any kayaking trip, and kayakers should watch out for the numerous submerged rock ledges in the area.

Fishing is good for chum and pink salmon, usually from late July through August. Guests can also catch shrimp and bottom fish. Hunting for bear and waterfowl is available in season with the proper permits.

Facilities

The 12 x 14 foot cabin sleeps six and comes equipped with wooden bunks, a table with benches, and an oil drip (Kerosene) stove for heat, fire extinguisher, broom and an outhouse with composting toilet. It is the responsibility of cabin users to supply kerosene fuel for the duration of their stay. With moderate use, the stove burns about 1 gallon/ day.

A new Composting Toilet has recently been built. The toilet has a seperating toilet seat which redirects urine into a leach field. The outhouse has been converted to a composting toilet and requires the user to add a small amount of peat (1/2 cup) after use. There is a metal bin for users to burn their toilet paper, please burn tp.

Water and electricity are not available. Guests must bring their own supply of drinking water or treat water from nearby natural sources.
Items such as a cook stove, cooking gear, flashlights or lanterns, bedding, sleeping pads, trash bags and toilet paper and heating fuel (kerosene) are not provided.

Guests are expected to pack out trash and clean the cabin before leaving.

Natural Features

Paulson Bay Cabin is situated at the head of Paulson Bay, on the west side of Cochrane Bay in Prince William Sound. The terrain is rolling and transitions into rugged mountains. The cabin is set in an open wooded area with muskeg nearby and offers a spectacular view of Port Wells and College Fiord with Harvard Glacier in the background.

Black bears, Sitka black-tailed deer and bald eagles make their home here (learn about bear safety). Prince William Sound supports abundant sea life, including waterfowl, sea otters, orcas, Dall's porpoises, harbor seals and sea lions.

Contact Info

This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (907) 783-3242.

The facts

1 bookable site
Up to 6 people per site
Loops: AREA PAULSON BAY CABIN

Site types

1 Cabin Nonelectric

Amenities

Campfires allowed
Fire pits
Shade
Pets allowed
Water hookups — not available

Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, sewer hookups, picnic tables, grills.

Book on Recreation.gov

1 campsite at Paulson Bay Cabin

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

Site	Loop	Type	Entry	Surface	Water	Max rig	People
G06	AREA PAULSON BAY CABIN	Cabin Nonelectric	—	Gravel	Oceanfront	—	6	🐾

Getting there

This Cabin is not accessible via the road system. To access the cabin by float plane: it is 40 minutes from Anchorage and 60 minutes from Cordova. By boat, the trip is 18 miles from Whittier. Boats are not provided by the Forest Service.

Note: the Bay is not obvious because the mouth is partially obscured by five small islands. Beware of submerged rock ledges between islands and off coastal points.

Check local tide tables ahead of time to determine the best arrival and departure times.

60.69194, -148.40083 · 60°41'31.0"N 148°24'3.0"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 63°F in Jul, down to 33°F in Jan.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	33	33	36	44	53	61	63	62	54	44	37	34
Low °F	24	25	27	33	41	47	51	51	45	36	29	25
Precip in	18.8	16.1	13.7	14.7	14.9	9.2	11.2	16.5	22.5	21.1	18.8	19.8

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

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 Paulson Bay Cabin

Can you reserve a site at Paulson Bay Cabin?: Yes, Paulson Bay Cabin is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does Paulson Bay Cabin have?: 1 site.
Are pets allowed at Paulson Bay Cabin?: Yes, pets are allowed at Paulson Bay Cabin.
Does Paulson Bay Cabin have hookups?: No hookups are recorded here.
Are campfires allowed at Paulson Bay Cabin?: Campfires are allowed at Paulson Bay Cabin. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Also listed by

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

USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026

Per night prices range from $50-75 depending on season. Cabin fees are based on non-peak/peak season. Seasons vary by cabin. A non-refundable service fee will be added to each reservation by Recreation.gov

USDA Forest Service's own page

Camping near Paulson Bay Cabin

Shrode Lake Cabin 3.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
Goose Bay Cabin 6.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
Pigot Bay Cabin 10.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
Williwaw Campground 17.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
Black Bear Campground 17.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
Spencer Bench Cabin 20.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
Harrison Lagoon Cabin 21.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop Group Campground 21.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
Begich, Boggs Visitor Center 16.2 mi · Facility
Black Bear Campground 17.8 mi · Campground
Spencer Whistle Stop 22 mi · Facility
Chugach National Forest N Entry Sign 27.1 mi · Facility

Contact

Phone 907-783-3242
Book Recreation.gov

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

Paulson Bay Cabin