CASTLE RIVER CABIN

About CASTLE RIVER CABIN

Overview Castle River Cabin is located on Kupreanof Island on the coastal waters of southeastern Alaska. It offers access to a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities, as well as a secluded place to enjoy its beautiful surroundings. The cabin is accessible only by boat or float plane from Petersburg or Wrangell, and tides impact access. During low tides, a 2-mile hike is necessary to reach the cabin. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities. Recreation The Castle River Trail leads a half-mile downstream to the Castle Flats Cabin, and a half-mile upstream to a rowboat and oars. Wildlife can be seen along the trail. Waterfowl, grouse, moose, deer and bear hunting is also available in designated seasons as per state or federal hunting regulations; click here for more information from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Visitors also enjoy fishing for steelhead trout from April to May, trout from May to October, and coho salmon in mid-August through mid-September. Boating is a popular way to explore the area, but a 16-foot tide is required to cross the tide flats in front of the cabin (local tide tables). Life jackets are not available; visitors must bring their own. Visitors may also choose to bring a small outboard motor for the rowboat.Facilities The modified A-frame cabin has an extended roof and an upright wall to form a bump-out. It has two double bunks and a sleeping loft to accommodate a total of seven people. The cabin is also equipped with a table, benches, a wood stove and an outhouse with a pit toilet. Firewood is generally available, but is not guaranteed. Firewood is for heating the cabin only, not for outdoor campfires. A broom, dust pan, axe and splitting maul are generally available, but may be missing or damaged. Drinking water is not available at the cabin. Water is available in the nearby river or streams, but it must be treated or boiled prior to consumption. It is r

How to Get There

From Petersburg, it is 16 miles by float plane or 30 miles by boat. A 16-foot tide is required for direct boat or float plane access to the cabin. At lower tides, there is up to a 2-mile hike across the sometimes muddy tide flat to get to the cabin. Another option for access is to boat or fly to the Castle Flats Cabin (a 15-foot tide is required for float plane, or a 13-foot tide for boat access there) and hike the easy 0.5-mile trek to the cabin. The Castle River Cabin can be found on USGS topographic map Petersburg C-4. Maps are available online or by calling the Petersburg Ranger District at (907) 772-3871.

What to Pack for Your Stay

Tuned to the live forecast for this park.

Plan Your Visit to CASTLE RIVER CABIN

Heading to CASTLE RIVER CABIN? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)