Harris River

Summary

Harris River Campground is located on Prince of Wales Island in the Tongass National Forest, offering accessible campsites and a boardwalk trail through a muskeg habitat. Visitors enjoy hiking, fishing and viewing abundant wildlife, including eagles, bears and spawning salmon, within the temperate rainforest and expansive vistas of fjords, glaciers and mountain peaks. Nearby is the One Duck Trail, offering a challenging hike and spectacular views.

Overview

Harris River Campground is located on Prince of Wales Island on a paved highway just 10 miles from the Hollis Ferry Terminal and 20 miles from the Craig/Klawock area. Visitors enjoy hiking, fishing and viewing abundant wildlife.

Recreation

Hiking, fishing and wildlife viewing are popular activities. The Harris River Trail and the Twentymile Spur Trail both pass along the Harris River. The latter ends at a set of beaver ponds.

A short boardwalk trail dissects the campground to offer campers a close-up view of a muskeg habitat without getting their feet wet. A bridge and short path across the Harris River connect the campground to the Harris River Picnic Area.

About two miles east of the campground is the Harris River Interpretive Trail, which provides information about recent river restoration work and habitat management experiments.

Facilities

The campground offers accessible campsites, each equipped with a picnic table and campfire ring. Accessible pit toilets and trash collection are provided. No hookups are available.

Natural Features

The campground is situated along the Harris River, a short drive from hiking trails and fishing outposts, within the Tongass National Forest, which covers nearly 17 million acres in southeast Alaska and is the largest forest in the national forest system.

The Tongass surrounds the Inside Passage, the network of waterways that buffers the jagged Alaskan Coast and a cluster of coastal islands. The Tongass offers visitors a chance to view wildlife, including eagles, bears and spawning salmon. Expansive vistas of fjords, glaciers and mountain peaks abound. Much of the forest is a temperate rain forest.

Nearby Attractions

The One Duck Trail was originally constructed by the Youth Conservation Corps in the mid-1980's. The trail offers a challenging hike and spectacular views of the Harris River watershed award those who complete it.

Prince of Wales Island offers boat rentals, fishing supplies and other conveniences a short drive away.