Unorganized Borough / Prince of Wales-Hyder

Karta River Cabin

Open — Open year-round for reservations through Recreation.gov. Rates are $35 per night from October 1 through April 30 and $55 per night from May 1 through September 30. Same-day reservations available. Winter access can be difficult due to snow and ice conditions.

About

Karta River Cabin offers a remote wilderness experience on Prince of Wales Island in southeastern Alaska. This primitive 12x14 foot pan-abode cedar log cabin sits on a bluff overlooking the mouth of Karta River, surrounded by second growth spruce and hemlock forest in the Karta River Wilderness area. The cabin is furnished with wooden bunkbeds that sleep up to five people, a table, benches, a wood stove for heat, cooking counter, shelves, and an outside pit toilet. The location is renowned for its exceptional fishing opportunities. Anglers can catch rainbow and cutthroat trout, Dolly Varden, and four species of salmon including sockeye, coho, and steelhead. During sockeye salmon season, the area becomes a gathering spot for subsistence fishing. The 5-mile Karta River Trail begins near the cabin and follows the river upstream to Salmon Lake, providing excellent access to fishing spots and connections to other cabins in the area. Wildlife viewing is abundant, with opportunities to see wolves, black bears, Sitka black-tailed deer, beavers, otters, minks, martens, weasels, trumpeter swans, and various waterfowl. Access is exclusively by float plane from Ketchikan (40 air miles) or Thorne Bay (15 miles), or by boat from Hollis (10 miles by water). Arriving at high tide is strongly recommended. Visitors must be self-sufficient, bringing sleeping bags, cooking equipment, fuel, food, water treatment supplies, and all other necessities. Weather conditions can be unpredictable, and visitors should prepare for extended stays with 2-5 days of extra supplies.

Directions

Accessible only by float plane or boat. By float plane: 40 air miles from Ketchikan or 15 miles from Thorne Bay. By boat: approximately 10 miles from Hollis. Best to arrive at high tide. A mooring buoy is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Helicopter access is prohibited in this designated Wilderness area. Refer to USGS map Craig C-2.

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