Karta River Cabin

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.

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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).