Kunk Lake Shelter

Open — Open year-round on a first-come, first-served basis. No advance reservations.

About

Kunk Lake Shelter is a remote three-sided Adirondack-style shelter situated on the northeast side of Kunk Lake on Etolin Island in the Tongass National Forest. Located at the end of the Kunk Lake Trail, approximately 13 miles south of Wrangell, this primitive shelter provides basic protection from the elements in a wilderness setting surrounded by old-growth forest. The shelter includes a woodshed stocked with firewood and a 14-foot skiff with oars for lake access, making it popular with anglers and wilderness enthusiasts. An outhouse is provided on-site. Campers must bring their own bedding, cooking utensils, and personal flotation devices. Water is available from Kunk Lake or Kunk Creek but must be treated before drinking. Access requires hiking the Kunk Lake Trail, which follows Kunk Creek through old-growth forest with approximately one-quarter of the trail on boardwalk. The trailhead is marked by large red and white diamond-shaped signs at the forest edge at saltwater near Kunk Creek. This lightly-used site offers solitude and opportunities for fishing, wildlife viewing, and backcountry camping in Southeast Alaska's temperate rainforest.

Directions

Located on Etolin Island, 13 miles south of Wrangell. Access via the Kunk Lake Trail, which begins at saltwater at Kunk Creek. Requires boat or floatplane transport to the trailhead.

Nearby Campgrounds