Searching for a tent campsite near Tongass National Forest? The Dyrt can help you find the best tent campsites for your next trip. Each tent site offers quick access to one or more of Tongass National Forest, Alaska's most popular destinations.
The Portage Bay Cabin is located on the eastern shore of Portage Bay on Kupreanof Island, due east of Stop Island. It provides access to scenic views as well as a variety of recreational opportunities. Visitors to the area enjoy fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing. It is accessible by boat or float plane only. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.
There is excellent halibut fishing in the mouth of Portage Bay. Coho, pink salmon, steelhead and trout fishing are available in the nearby Portage Creek. Hunting for black bears, waterfowl and grouse is also available as per state or federal hunting regulations; click here for more information from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. The primitive Portage Mountain Loop Trail connects the cabin with Petersburg Lake Cabin and Salt Chuck East Cabin through Goose Cove, south of the bay. The trail is especially primitive over to Petersburg Lake and is seldom used due to the level of difficulty. Sections of the trail are flooded by beaver ponds.
The cabin was originally built as an administrative site for Forest Service timber layout crews, but was converted to a recreation cabin in 1987. It sits back from the rocky eastern shore of Portage Bay in southeastern Alaska. The surrounding terrain is hilly along the east and flat and rolling south and west of the bay. Portage Mountain rises 3,577 feet in the background.
$25 - $40 / night
The Ohmer Creek Campground is on a minimal maintenance schedule due to budget constraints. Please pack in/pack out your trash and use restroom facilities at neighboring Forest Service recreation areas if a waste containment system is not available on your camping unit. ACTIVITIES Camping: Occupancy of this Forest Service campground is by permit on site ($6 per night per party) from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Picnicking: Campground is available for day use picnicking in addition to overnight camping.
The Twin Creek Shelter is a three-sided Adirondack-style shelter located just off the Twin Creek Road. The surrounding area is forest and muskeg. ACTIVITIES Hiking: The shelter is the starting point for the Upper Twin and Twin Ridge Ski Trails and the Twin-Frenchy Snowmobile Trail. Picnicking: The shelter has a table and benches for day use picnicking with views of the forest and muskeg. Winter Sports: The Twin Creek Shelter is the starting point for the Twin-Frenchy Snowmobile Trail, the Twin Ridge Ski Trail, and the Upper Twin Ski Trail. Contact the Petersburg Ranger District office for more information and a description of these trails. Fire Lookouts/cabins Overnight: The Twin Creek Shelter is a three-sided Adirondack-style shelter located just off the Twin Creek Road. The surrounding area is forest and muskeg. Use of the shelter is free and first come, first served.
Harvey Lake Cabin is open year-round and sits on a beautiful, off-coast freshwater lake and provides access to great boating, fishing and wildlife viewing opportunities. The cabin is accessible by boat or float plane. Visitors arriving by boat must hike a half-mile from saltwater to get to the cabin. It is 18 miles from Petersburg by air and 21 miles by boat. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.
The Harvey Lake Trail is an easy half-mile trek leading from saltwater to Harvey Lake, following Harvey Creek. The trailhead can be difficult to locate. It is east of a small islet and south of the private cabins. Look for the red and white trailhead marker on the beach, then walk northward to an opening on the right through woods. The land north of the trailhead is private. Please respect the rights of property owners. The cabin is located near a picnic site with a sandy beach and swimming area. Boating and fishing are also popular activities enjoyed by visitors to the area. A rowboat with oars is available at the cabin; however, life jackets are not provided. Visitors may wish to bring a small outboard motor. Anglers might see cutthroat trout in the lake and coho salmon near the mouth of Harvey Creek in early fall. Hunting in the surrounding hills is also popular among visitors. Be aware of wildlife in the area and learn about bear safety.
The cabin is located on Woewodski Island near Duncan Canal. It is situated at the west end of Harvey Lake at an elevation of 100 feet. The surrounding terrain is forested hills. Woewodski Island has a long history of mining, with remnants of mines and current exploratory activities located throughout the area. A variety of wildlife makes its home in the area, including grouse, black bears, deer, moose and waterfowl. Visitors are asked to be considerate of the state's abundant biology and practice wildlife etiquette.
$25 - $35 / night
The Gut Island Cabins provide a basecamp for exploring the Stikine River tideflats. The tideflats provide for a different experience from the usual rainforest setting of Southeast Alaska and offer opportunities for paddling, wildlife watching and hunting. Gut Island 1 Cabin was built in 1982 and is the newest of two cabins on-site, which are a few hundred feet apart and connected by a trail. The cabin is 12 miles from Wrangell, Alaska, or 7 miles from the boat ramp on the south end of Mitkof Island. The site can be accessed by a shallow draft boat or a float plane, depending on conditions. Boats need a tide of at least 15 feet and float planes require at least 17 feet in order to access the cabin. A short walk is required from the anchorage point to the cabin. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.
The waters around the cabin are ideal for exploring by kayak or canoe during high tide. The Forest Service does not provide boats, and guests must also bring their own personal flotation devices. Tide tables should be consulted before any boating excursion in the area, as certain water levels are required to reach the cabin. This cabin is also in a prime location for waterfowl hunting in the fall.
The cabins are located in the Stikine-LeConte Wilderness, tucked into spruce and hemlock trees on a low rock outcropping between the Stikine River tide flats and the forest. The surrounding terrain is relatively flat with grass and shrubs growing on the tide flats. Wildflowers are prominent in May and June. Brown and black bear, moose, waterfowl, shorebirds, eagles, hawks and owls can be seen in this area ( bear safety information ). The Stikine River tideflats are a major stopover spot for during spring and fall bird migrations.
$40 / night
Scout
Primitive, but adequate.
Ranger
This is such a beautiful spot! If your brave and the water is high, jumping off the bridge is extremely fun here!
I have a friend that grew up at the hatchery just on the other side - what a blessed spot to grow up.
Always a fun spot for a day picnic
Ranger
the saying “out the road” is commonly used when living the island life.
thankfully ohmer creek isn’t too far out the road and has a lot to offer!
the campsites were well maintained! towards the end there are some that have direct trails to the creek as well.
there are also newly upgraded hiking trails that go through the woods and marsh and loop back around.
the trail is easy enough for small children and makes for a fun event!!
GuideThis place was great. We were able to kayak and hike up to a glacier very very close to the campground. The spaces are ample enough to have more than one tent but we rented 2 spaces just to be safe. A moose and her calves even walked through the site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Tongass National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Tongass National Forest is Portage Bay Cabin with a 5-star rating from 2 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Tongass National Forest?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 tent camping locations near Tongass National Forest, with real photos and reviews from campers.
