US Forest Service
Cabin Transportation
Camping... Doin' it Alaska Style

Forest Service Cabin Checklist
Price List for Flights to Forest Service Cabins

Cabin Camping Southeastern Style

The US Forest Service cabins of Southeast Alaska offer some of the finest opportunities available to experience the true outdoor wilderness of Alaska. Whether you arrive in Ketchikan by ferry or commercial airline, you will be flown, via floatplane, deep into the heart of the Tongass National Forest to "your" lake and dropped off at your cabin door. The lakes are surrounded by majestic mountains covered with towering spruce and hemlock trees.

Choosing a cabin can be confusing at best as there are 150 to choose from and the USFS often does not give much information. So if you are stuck, or looking for suggestions give us a call. The US Forest Service cabins central reservations number is toll free 1-877-444-6777.

Forest Service cabins are approximately 12'x12' of cedar logs made by Pan Abode and come equipped with an axe, saw, maul, broom, mop & bucket. Two sets of wooden bunks sleep up to 6 close friends, two singles on top and two doubles on the bottom bunks. There is a wood stove for heating. Firewood is cut in rounds by the Forest Service but you must split your own firewood & kindling. Some of the cabins are equipped with oil stoves. For these cabins you must bring #1 Diesel oil with you from Ketchikan. We will provide the containers for you to transport the heating oil. A 14' aluminum skiff with oars comes with the cabin to help you enjoy the scenic grandeur and fishing of your wilderness lake. Some of the lakes also have trails for hiking.

Southeast Alaskan lakes and streams offer the finest fishing to be found anywhere: Cutthroat & Rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, Arctic Grayling and Kokanee (land locked Salmon). Salmon of some type abound in virtually every stream from mid to late summer. Fishing gear is often a matter of personal choice, but most local fisherman use 6 to 8 pound test line. If you have a favorite lure, or fly, bring it to test in Alaska's lakes and streams.

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Cabin Checklist

Because you will be flying to a cabin accessible only by floatplane, we have put together this checklist to help you pack for your stay. Keep in mind while you are packing that you should bring only necessities. Extra gear and bulky items will overload the aircraft and you will end up having to repack at the dock or charter an additional flight to carry any excess items. You are allowed a total weight of 700 pounds for the Cessna 185 and 1,200 pounds for the DeHavilland Beaver. This includes the weight of all passengers and gear and even the clothes you have on! Normally however, the tendency is to fill the planes volume limit before this weight limit is reached. Please pack your gear in small sized units or bring extra stuff sacks for repacking at the dock, as this helps in loading the plane properly.

Printable Checklist of Recommended Items to bring

You will need to bring the following items or these can also be rented here in Ketchikan as a complete kit:

• Portable camp stove
• Fuel for stove
• Coffee pot
• Pot with lid, a skillet and sauce pan for heating water
• Cooking utensils and silverware-spatula, large spoons, can opener, sharp knife, fillet knife, forks & spoons.
• Towels, dish towels, pot holders, scrubber
• Dishes-bowls, plates & cups
• Soap-dish soap, bar soap

These items can also be rented and are highly recommended:

• Lantern-propane or kerosene
• Air mattress or foam pad
• First aid kit
• Life jackets or flotation devices
• Fishing pole & gear
• Outboard motor - comes with gas, instructions, spare parts & tool kit.

If you choose to rent any of the items listed above you can visit Alaska Wilderness Outfitting or call at (907) 225-7335 to make reservations. The rented items will be here waiting for you on your departure for the cabin.

Additional items you will need that are NOT available for rent:

• Sleeping bag
• Raingear & rubber boots (you will not be sorry to have these along)
• Clothes- Extra change in case you get wet
• Camera and plenty of film!
• Insect Repellant
• Lighter or Matches
• Aluminum foil and plastic wrap
• Paper towels & toilet paper
• Candles, flashlight and extra batteries
• Firestarter- ie. Newspaper
• Spices-salt, pepper, sugar, cream, ketchup, mustard
• Garbage bags & ziplock bags
• Food & Drink

Food - An extra day of food is recommended in case you are weathered in. Your food should be in plastic bags (ziplocks) to keep the moisture out. Bagging your food also reduces the bulkiness of boxes. Food and drink items that can be mixed with water conserve weight and space (for example powdered milk instead of fresh or dried food like pasta and rice). Choose goods packaged in aluminum or plastic instead of glass. Those guys who show up with 5 cases of beer in glass bottles end up paying big $$ to get their beer out to the lake! Finally you can leave any unneeded gear or unusable wilderness items (hair dyers, cell phones) with me until you return from your cabin.

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COST TO SPECIFIC U.S. FOREST SERVICE CABINS
(prices quoted are round-trip fares for the airplane)

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Island Wings Air Service P.O. Box 7432 Ketchikan, Alaska 99901 Local (907) 225-2444 Toll-free (888) 854-2444 michelle@islandwings.com

Many photos courtesy of Chip Porter, Alaskan Photographer & Fisherman.
Unauthorized use of any image on this web site is prohibited.
Prices on this website subject to change without notice.