Entry Cove State Park

Pigot Bay Cabin is tucked away in a secluded and picturesque area of Prince William Sound. It is open year-round, offering an ideal base for exploration, recreation and relaxation.   

The area can be accessed by float plane or boat, depending on conditions. The cabin is reached via a staircase from the beach. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.

Recreation

The topography is very rugged, which limits hiking in the area. Visitors can bring kayaks to explore the bay along the coast of Port Wells, but should consult the local tide reports in advance for their safety.   

Fishing is fair for pink salmon in late July and early August in freshwater streams and the saltwater of the bay. Saltwater fishing is possible for halibut and red snapper (rockfish) near Pigot Bay and the western shore of Esther Island.   

Pigot Bay also offers some good shrimping spots. Digging for butter clams is possible on the few gravel beaches at the head of the bay. Hunting for deer and bear is allowed in designated seasons with the proper permits. Blueberries and raspberries are also available for picking in season.

Facilities

The 16 x 16 foot A-frame cabin has a main floor and a loft. It sleeps six and comes equipped with wooden bunks, a table with benches, an oil drip (Kerosene) stove, fire extinguisher and a broom. Cabin users must supply their own karosene fuel for the stove. Typically 1 gallon/ day is sufficent.   

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.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The gravel area in front of the cabin has a small campfire ring.   

Water and electricity are not available. Visitors must bring their own supply of drinking water, especially since natural sources may be difficult to access. Any water from natural sources should be treated before drinking.   

Items such as a cook stove, cooking gear, flashlights or lanterns, bedding, sleeping pads, trash bags, toilet paper and Kerosene are not provided.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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

Natural Features

Pigot Bay Cabin is located on a tall bluff overlooking Pigot Bay. The bay is mostly steep-sided, but has a wide, shallow outwash valley at its head. The cabin sits at the edge of a dense evergreen forest, offering views over the bay to the mountains and glaciers beyond.   

Black bears, bald eagles and waterfowl (mainly geese at the head of the bay) are common visitors to the area (learn about bear safety). Mountain goats are sometimes seen on the surrounding cliffs. Prince William Sound supports such species as Dall's and harbor porpoises, harbor seals, sea otters and sea lions. A lucky few may even spot a pod of orcas or a humpback whale.

ADA Access: N



Pigot Bay Cabin

Decision Point Dispersed Camping

Note: Goose Bay Cabin remains closed due to damage sustained from heavy snow loading. For more information, please contact the Glacier Ranger District at (907) 783-3242. Goose Bay Cabin is a great place for recreation, relaxation and sightseeing on Prince William Sound. This is a prime spot for winter recreationists, but a variety of activities are offered throughout the year for backcountry enthusiasts. This remote site can be accessed by a 45-minute float plane trip from Anchorage or a boat ride from Whittier, depending on conditions. In mid-November, the bay freezes over, making transportation to the cabin a challenge. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.

Recreation

The area around Goose Bay offers year-round recreational opportunities. Hiking and kayaking are popular summer pastimes.   

The terrain on Culross Island attracts backcountry and cross-country skiers in winter and early spring, as well as snowshoers. A ski or snowshoe adventure to the high point on Culross Island offers spectacular views of Prince William Sound and the jagged, glaciated peaks of the Chugach Range.   

The cabin makes a good base for fishing and shrimping expeditions in Culross Passage. Deer hunting can be good here in the fall.

Facilities

The 12x14 foot cabin sleeps six and comes equipped with wooden bunks, a table, benches, a propane stove for heat and an outside pit toilet.   

The facility does meet accessibility standards, but the ramp leading to the cabin from the water is only wheelchair-accessible during high tide. At low tide, guests may have to walk through some mud to get to the ramp from the water. Propane may be available onsite during the summer season only (June-August).   

No electricity or water is available. Guests need to bring their own supply of drinking water, as well as propane between October and mid-May. The propane stove has the same hookup as a standard gas barbecue grill.   

Items such as a cook stove, lanterns or flashlights, bedding, sleeping pads, cooking gear, garbage bags and toilet paper are not provided. All trash must be packed out, and guests are expected to clean the cabin before departure.

Natural Features

Goose Bay is at the head of a narrow waterway on the east side of Culross Passage. The cabin is tucked into a small lagoon on the east side of Goose Bay on the western shore of Culross Island. Fragile muskeg, tall grasses and evergreen trees surround the cabin. Views from the front porch reveal a small waterfall and the gentle, evergreen-forested slopes across the bay.   

Visitors to the area may see bald eagles soaring overhead or catch a glimpse of a brown bear (learn about bear safety). Lucky guests may spot orcas or Dall's porpoises frolicking in the waters of Prince William Sound on the approach to Goose Bay.

ADA Access: N



Goose Bay Cabin

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.

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.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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.&nbsp;

Water and electricity are not available. Guests must bring their own supply of drinking water.   
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.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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.

ADA Access: N



Paulson Bay Cabin

Shrode Lake Cabin is open year-round, offering the opportunity to enjoy both summer and winter recreation in beautiful Prince William Sound. The cabin is in a secluded location that provides a true backcountry experience.   

The site can be accessed by float plane or boat, depending on conditions. Those arriving by boat have two choices.   
 The Long Bay trailhead is only accessible at very high tides and small shore-going boats (Kayak, packraft or Dinghy).   
 It's about a 1 mile hike from salt water to the Cabin from the Long Bay trailhead. If accessing the Shrode Lake Cabin from the Three Fingers trailhead, larger boats can motor into the middle (of the three) finger and will see a trailhead sign at the head of the Bay. It's ~2 mile hike from Trailhead to the Cabin and requires a river crossing just before arriving to the Cabin. A third option (from the Three Fingers Trailhead) is to utilize the .5 mile Portage trail (between Salt Water and Shrode Lake) to carry a canoe, kayak or packraft. Then you'll have a ~2 mile paddle along the North shore of Shrode Lake to the cabin. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements, safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.

Recreation

Hike on the one-mile trail to Long Bay or hike to Jack Lake (no designated trail), which is a half-mile from the cabin. Three Fingers Cove to the west of Shrode Lake can be accessed via a one and a two mile primitive trail that may require some route-finding skills. Note: This trail requires a substantial river crossing (Shrode River) before arriving at the Cabin. Depending on the water level Shrode River can be fordable in knee high rubber boots or completley unpassable (without a packraft or similar).   

Anglers can fish for sockeye salmon in mid-July, a relatively small run that passes through quickly. Abundant pink salmon are available from mid-July to mid-August, and silver salmon in late August. Fishing takes place in Long Bay (saltwater), the lagoon between saltwater and Shrode Lake, and the stream that drains Shrode Lake. Dolly Varden trout are available in Shrode Lake.   

Guests can use the small rowboat and oars provided by the Forest Service at Shrode Lake, but should bring their own personal floatation device. It is important to consult tide tables before boating in order to properly navigate the lagoon and avoid the numerous rock hazards in the area (local tide tables).  

In season deer and bear hunting is possible in designated areas with a permit. The terrain and amount of snowfall makes for excellent cross-country and backcountry skiing in the spring months.

Facilities

The cabin is a 16 x 16 foot A-frame with a main floor and a sleeping loft. It accommodates up to six people and comes equipped with wooden bunks, an oil drip (kerosene) heater, a table, benches, broom, fire extinguisher and an outhouse with a pit toilet.   

Water, electricity and fuel for the heater are not provided. Freshwater is available around the cabin, but it should be treated before drinking.   

Visitors are responsible for bringing their own drinking water, kerosene for heater (typically a gallon/ day is sufficent), a cook stove, flashlights or lanterns, bedding, mattresses, toilet paper, garbage bags, cookware, dishes and utensils.

Visitors are responsible for packing out all trash and cleaning the cabin after use.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Natural Features

Shrode Cabin is situated on the northeastern shore of Shrode Lake, a freshwater lake near Long Bay, which is just off Culross Passage in Prince William Sound. Shrode Lake is separated from the saltwater Long Bay by a lagoon.   

The cabin is located in an open grassy and muskeg area with evergreen forest nearby. The front of the cabin overlooks the lake and surrounding mountains.   

Black bears, Sitka black-tailed deer, waterfowl and bald eagles make their home here (learn about bear safety).

ADA Access: N



Shrode Lake Cabin

Whitter Parking and Camping

Camp on the deck of a ferry. Covered solariums located on the upper decks of each vessel are popular sleeping areas and for those traveling with small tents, they are allowed on the upper decks.



Alaska Marine Highway

Harrison Lagoon Cabin is open for year-round enjoyment, offering a variety of recreational opportunities on land and water. The cabin's remote location makes an ideal base for exploring the natural beauty of Prince William Sound.   

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

Recreation

Guests who have kayaks can use them for exploring the coast or crossing the lagoon, which offers more hiking possibilities than the area around the cabin. It is possible to walk the lagoon at low tide, but tide tables should be consulted to time the return hike at low tide as well.  

It is also possible to access the Granite Mine Trail via a ~1mile beach walk South from the Cabin along Port Wells to the Granite Mine Trailhead. Again tide tables should be consulted and timed appropriately to avoid being stuck and unable to return to the Cabin in a given tide cycle.  

Hunting for black bear and waterfowl is allowed with the proper permits in designated areas in-season. Fishing is fair for pink salmon in August, either in Lagoon Creek (inland from Harrison Lagoon) or in saltwater. Shrimping is also possible.   

Berry pickers can harvest blueberries and salmonberries near the cabin when they are in season.

Facilities

The 16 x 20 foot cabin sleeps six and is equipped with wooden bunks, a table with benches, an oil drip (kerosene) stove for heat and an outhouse with pit toilet. Cabin users must supply thier own fuel for stove. Typically 1 gallon of kerosene/ day is sufficent.  

The cabin meets accessibility standards, with a boardwalk leading to the outhouse (there is a step from boardwalk into outhouse), more floor space and wider doors to accommodate wheelchairs. There is however a short but steep approach from the salt water to the boardwalk that will require assistance.  
&nbsp;

A new Composting Toilet has recently been built and sits higher then the old outhouse. Currently there is a step into the outhouse from the boardwalk, some assistance may be needed. 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 provided. Drinking water is accessible by kayak at Lagoon Creek or by walking south of the cabin along the shoreline at low tide, although water taken from natural sources should be treated before drinking.   

Items such as a cook stove, cooking gear, flashlights or lanterns, bedding, toilet paper, kerosene and garbage bags are not provided.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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

Natural Features

Harrison Lagoon is located on the west side of Port Wells in Prince William Sound. The cabin is tucked into a stand of conifer trees on a gravel spit that separates the lagoon and the Sound. One side faces Port Wells, and the other faces the lagoon. The lagoon itself is surrounded by rocky shoreline and dense evergreen forest, with views of distant snow-capped mountains.   

Black bears, Sitka black-tailed deer and bald eagles make their home here (learn about bear safety). The lagoon and Port Wells support many seabirds. Dall's and harbor porpoises, harbor seals, sea otter and some sea lions frequent the area. Orcas and humpback whales may be seen in Port Wells.

ADA Access: N



Harrison Lagoon Cabin

Open year round, but some of the season is considered "off season"...During the off-season there is no water, no trash service, and no fees.  Please pack out all garbage. Outhouse/toilet facilities may be unavailable.

Reservations are made though Recreation.gov (1-877-444-6777) and recommended for summer camping. Fees are charged during the summer season. Reservations may be made up to180 days prior to your desired arrival date in the summer season (Memorial Day through Labor Day in September).

Williwaw is the the larger of the two campgrounds in Portage Valley. Located about 1 mile from the popular Begich, Boggs Visitor Center.

60 sites. Can accomodate RV's. Restroom facilities and hand pump water is provided. $18 (single)/$28 (double). A non-refundable service fee will be added to each reservation by Recreation.gov

Williwaw Campground, an idyllic area, sits beside Williwaw Creek near the town of Girdwood, Alaska. The campground boasts prime fishing, hiking and wildlife watching all within the Portage Valley.   

Next to the campground is the Williwaw Salmon Viewing Area, a top-notch spot for salmon viewing. In August, visitors can see these fish spawning in impressive numbers through the translucent waters.   

The area is a great place to view numerous glaciated valleys and the Portage Glacier. Over the past 80 years, the glacier calved large icebergs into Portage Lake, located just east of the campground.

Recreation

Wildlife viewing includes moose, brown and black bears, mountain goats, lynx, bald eagles and wolves.   

 The Williwaw Nature Trail can be reached from the campground. It heads to the Williwaw Fish Viewing Platform, passes under the highway bridge and follows Williwaw Creek to a series of ponds.   

 The trail then connects to the Trail of Blue Ice, which accesses the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center. The Trail of Blue Ice is also popular among mountain bikers.

Facilities

Drinking water from hand pumps, vault toilets, picnic tables and a parking area are provided at Williwaw Campground. Campsites are nicely separated, but no electric hookups are available.

Natural Features

The campground sits in the Portage Valley of the eastern Kenai Peninsula in the Chugach National Forest. The Forest, spanning 5,361,803 acres is comprised of arid tundra wilderness, jagged mountains, deep fjords and glacier-fed rivers that surround the Prince William Sound.

Nearby Attractions

Consider visiting the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Portage Glacier, the town of Whittier and Byron Glacier.

ADA Access: N



Williwaw Campground

 Black Bear Campground is open. Beginning May 18, 2019 fees will be charged and services available.

During the off-season there is no water, no trash service, and no fees.&nbsp; Please pack out all garbage. Outhouse/toilet facilities may be unavailable.

A small loop campground with 12 sites suitable for vehicle camping (RV's not recommended)&nbsp;and tents.

12 sites. Vault toilet, hand driven water pump, dumpster, picnic tables, fire rings, bear lockers. &nbsp;Not included: &nbsp;running water, electricity, dump station, or wood. $14/night



Black Bear Campground

State

**Campground Review:**

  

Technically, this area is not a managed or maintained camping area, and like most remote beaches in Alaska it's first come, first served but you're not likely to have much competition. This spot is located in beautiful Prince William Sound, approximately an hour boat ride from Whittier, Alaska. We set up camp where the beach meets the wooded area  As always, it is up to campers to keep the areas free of garbage and pack in/pack out everything. Don't forget to bring along a little shovel to, ahem, bury your personal business and TP. Remember that the tide differential can be huge, so don't let your boat get stranded while exploring the area. 

  

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**Product Review:**

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I am occasionally provided with products to test. We recently tested the Midland EX210VP E+Ready Bundle and ML500 LED Lantern with two of the harshest critics around– our 3 and 7 year olds.

  

**EX210VP E+Ready Bundle** – The items in this bundle are a pair of **X-Talker T31 walkie talkies and the ER210 emergency weather alert crank radio**. The **walkie talkies** were slightly smaller than others we’ve owned in the past, but they ended up being perfect for our kiddos and felt comfortable in the adults’ hands. The compact size means they fit perfectly in backpacks and jacket pockets, and can also attach via plastic clips. Often my husband will take one of the kids for a canoe ride and exploration in a nearby bay or cove and I’ll stay to beachcomb or hike with the other child, so it’s nice to have an option for keeping in touch while we’re separated, especially since we’ve encountered black bears and other wildlife in the past. Cell service is practically nonexistent in many parts of Alaska so we can’t always rely on our phones. 

  

I was most excited about the **crank radio** and it didn’t disappoint! First of all, it’s not heavy and pretty compact - about the size of a little camcorder. My kids loved the flashlight aspect and fought over whose turn it was to hold it. My husband loved the fact that it’s a NOAA weather band radio and he was able to easily access the sea forecast(does that weird computer voice creep anyone else out?) It took a bit of cranking before we could begin charging up a cell phone through the USB cord, but I’m happy as long as we have that capability. And if the battery or crank fail, you still have the option of running the device via solar power. 

  

**ML500 LED Lantern** – The light output on this is great, although we really didn’t need it since southcentral Alaska is currently seeing 21 hours of functional daylight. My daughter dropped the device on the some jagged beach rocks at low tide and the lantern still worked perfectly, even if the exterior plastic saw a few scuffs. The metal loop is perfect for hanging from the top of the tent. A wide base means it’s stable in a boat, camper, or on the picnic table. And yay for warranties, this is for one year. We didn’t need to run the lantern for long periods of time, but Midland says it’s good for 65/19 hours of illumination at low/high settings, respectively. Cons: This is very minor, but I do wish the lantern had come stocked with the three D batteries required to power the device. I realize Midland most likely went this route to lower the total cost of the light- a set of just two D batteries at our local store runs about $11. 

  

Overall I’d highly recommend all of these products from Midland. Our items were all color coordinated (red and black) which is kind of nice. We frequently camp with our young children on remote islands and areas only reachable by boat, so it appeals to my mom sensibilities to have gear that is reliable and can be used in a safety/communication capacity as well as for fun.

Entry Cove State Park

About This Campground

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2021 Explorer Giveaway

Ranger Review: Midland USA Camping Bundle at Entry Cove State Park, AK

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