Mt Edgecumbe Midway Shelter

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

About

Mt Edgecumbe Midway Shelter is a remote three-sided Adirondack-style shelter located in the Tongass National Forest on Kruzof Island, approximately 14 miles west of Sitka. The shelter sits about 4 miles up the Mt. Edgecumbe Trail at an elevation of roughly 700 to 1,000 feet, accessible via a spur trail. Built to provide shelter for hikers and backpackers climbing Mt. Edgecumbe, the structure features a wood stove for heating and plywood bunks for sleeping. Access to the shelter requires a 30-40 minute boat ride across Sitka Sound to the trailhead near Fred's Creek Cabin, followed by a moderately strenuous hike through alternating sections of Sitka spruce forest and muskeg. The Mt. Edgecumbe Trail, originally constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, gradually rises westward before reaching the shelter spur. The shelter is available year-round on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservation system. A pit toilet is available on site, but there is no potable water, so hikers must bring their own or treat water from natural sources. Usage is generally light. The shelter serves as a popular waypoint for those attempting the full 7-mile ascent of Mt. Edgecumbe, an inactive volcano visible from Sitka.

Directions

Located on southeastern side of Kruzof Island 14 miles west of Sitka. Access requires a 30-minute boat ride from Sitka across Sitka Sound to the trailhead near Fred's Creek Cabin, followed by a 4-mile hike up the Mt. Edgecumbe Trail. The shelter is accessed via a spur trail on the left.

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