Can you reserve a site at Virginia Lake Cabin?

Yes, Virginia Lake Cabin is reservable through Recreation.gov.

Virginia Lake Cabin, Alaska — 1 site, fees and cancellation alerts

Overview

Virginia Lake Cabin is a short floatplane ride from Wrangell, Alaska, making it a popular destination for a remote getaway on a scenic lake. It is located 10 miles east of Wrangell on the mainland above Eastern Passage. The area around Virginia Lake provides opportunities for fishing, hunting, paddling and hiking. The site can be accessed by float plane, depending on conditions, or by portaging and paddling watercraft. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety and must bring several of their own amenities.

Recreation

Anglers can fish for cutthroat trout and Dolly Varden from May to October and sockeye salmon in August and September. A 14' skiff with oars is provided at the cabin, but visitors must supply their own flotation devices and ensure that the skiff is secured before leaving. Hunting is possible in the area with the proper permits. The .9-mile Mill Creek Trail can be accessed by cabin users by paddling across the lake to the outlet. Trail users can see evidence of past mining and an old sawmill, and can access fishing opportunities in Mill Creek. Alternate access to the cabin from the saltwater at Eastern Passage is by portaging watercraft over this trail. There is no developed trail from the end of Mill Creek Trail at the Virginia Lake outlet to the cabin.

Facilities

The original (pan-abode style) cabin was built in 1965 and is 12-by-14, but it was modified in the mid 1990's to make it wheelchair accessible and add a 10-by-8 addition. It features a wheelchair-friendly deck that wraps around two sides of the cabin and a walkway between the cabin and the outhouse. The cabin sleeps eight people with three single bunks and two double bunks with trundles. It also has a table and benches, broom, both a wood stove and oil stove (No. 1 oil required) for heat, and a campfire ring. Note: the cabin is only wheelchair accessible when the seasonal floatplane dock is in the lake; contact the Wrangell Ranger District at 907-874-2323 to check on the status of the dock.

Water and electricity are not provided. Water is available from a stream behind the cabin, but guests should be sure to treat water before drinking or cooking with it ( water safety tips ). It is recommended that visitors bring their own water supply. Cooking facilities are not available. Visitors should provide their own firewood or #1 stove oil, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, a cooking stove, lanterns or flashlights, cookware, plates, utensils, food, toilet paper, garbage bags, a fire extinguisher and fire starter. Visitors are expected to pack out trash and clean the cabin before leaving ( click here for more cabin details).

Natural Features

The cabin sits on relatively flat land with some large meadows near Porterfield Creek, which is about a quarter-mile away. The surrounding rainforest is primarily Sitka spruce and western hemlock with some cedar. Steep mountains surround portions of the lake. A sandy beach is located in front of the cabin. This area is home to brown and black bears ( bear safety information ). Moose also make their home here.

The facts

1 bookable site
1 accessible site
Up to 8 people per site
Loops: AREA VIRGINIA LAKE CABIN

Site types

1 Cabin Nonelectric

Amenities

Fire pits
Shade

Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups, campfires allowed, picnic tables, grills, pets allowed.

Book on Recreation.gov

1 campsite at Virginia Lake Cabin

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

Accessible only

Site	Loop	Type	Entry	Surface	Max rig	People
W13	AREA VIRGINIA LAKE CABIN	Cabin Nonelectric	—	—	—	8	♿

Getting there

The cabin is on the east end of Virginia Lake, about 10 miles east of Wrangell. The lake is on the mainland (elevation 105 feet) above Eastern Passage. The cabin is accessible by float plane. Virginia Lake is usually ice-free May to October. In fall, winter and early spring, the cabin may be inaccessible due to frozen lake surface (float planes cannot land). Please contact the Wrangell Ranger District at (907) 874-2323 for information prior to making reservations during these periods.

56.48222, -132.14306 · 56°28'56.0"N 132°8'35.0"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 64°F in Jul, down to 36°F in Jan.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	36	39	42	50	58	61	64	63	58	49	41	37
Low °F	29	30	32	37	44	49	52	52	48	41	35	31
Precip in	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

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

Reservations can be made the day of arrival or up to 180 days in advance of cabin arrival. Cabin reservations are restricted to a maximum stay of 7 consecutive nights per party for any one reservation between May 1 and September 30, and 10 consecutive days from Oct. 1 through April 30. There are no discounts for Alaska cabin rentals with Golden Age and Golden Passports. 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 Virginia Lake Cabin

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

Also listed by

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

USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026

$45/night peak season May 1 – September 30 $45/night non-peak season October 1 – April 30

USDA Forest Service's own page

Camping near Virginia Lake Cabin

Berg Bay Cabin 9.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
Garnet Ledge Cabin 10.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
Middle Ridge Cabin 12 mi · Campground · we watch it
Mount Rynda Cabin 13.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
Sergief Island Cabin 13.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
Koknuk Cabin 13.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
North Wrangell Pond Shelter 6.1 mi · Campground
North Wrangell High Country Shelter 7.5 mi · Campground
Shoemaker Bay Overlook Shelter 8.1 mi · Campground
Lower Salamander Creek Campground 9.4 mi · Campground
Upper Salamander Creek Campsite 12.2 mi · Campground
Yunshookuh Loop Campground 14.1 mi · Campground

Contact

Book Recreation.gov

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

Virginia Lake Cabin