Best Cabin Camping near Ketchikan, AK
The Ketchikan area features several cabin accommodations, most requiring advance reservations. Deer Mountain Shelter offers a rustic hiking experience with a small loft for sleeping and a built-in table area, accessible via a challenging 3-mile uphill trail. Settler's Cove State Recreation Site provides cabin accommodations with electric hookups, picnic tables, and water connections. Most cabins have wood stoves for heating during colder months. The Patching Lake Cabin, Southeast Heckman Cabin, and Jordan Lake Cabin provide more remote experiences. "The cabin is big, cozy, and affordable. There are big rocky outcroppings that you can explore, hang hammocks, and watch the waves come in."
Rustic forest service cabins dominate the options around Ketchikan, with amenities varying significantly between locations. Fish Creek Cabin is boat-access only, while others like Heckman Lake Cabin and Phocena Bay Cabin allow drive-up access. Most cabins require reservations through recreation.gov or the Alaska State Parks system. Pet policies differ by location, with Settler's Cove allowing pets while many Forest Service cabins prohibit them. According to visitor feedback, "Your view is a majestic saltwater inlet with mountains as the backdrop. A gradual, wheelchair-accessible gravel path leads to a roomy, light cabin, done in local cedar."
Visitors should come prepared with their own bedding, food, cooking equipment, and water filtration systems for most cabins. Only Settler's Cove cabins offer water hookups, while the majority have no running water, electricity, or bathroom facilities beyond an outhouse. Firewood is not provided at any of the listed cabins, so campers should either bring their own or be prepared to gather it. Supplies can be purchased in Ketchikan before heading to more remote cabins. A review noted that Twelvemile Cabin has "counter space and wood stove. Views are breathtaking! Outdoor fire ring and bench is a bonus!"
