Ketchikan Gateway / Tongass National Forest

Patching Lake Cabin

Open — Open year-round for reservations. Access is by floatplane only. In fall, winter and early spring, the cabin may be inaccessible due to frozen lake surface preventing floatplane landings. Contact the Ketchikan-Misty Fjords Ranger District at +1 (907) 225-2148 for current access conditions during winter months.

About

Patching Lake Cabin sits on the north end of Patching Lake near the inlet of the Naha River, about 20 miles north of Ketchikan in the Tongass National Forest. This rustic 12' x 14' Pan-Abode log cabin was constructed in 1975 and provides a beautiful location where the Naha River flows from Chamberlain Lake into Patching Lake. The cabin is surrounded by old-growth cedar, Sitka spruce and western hemlock rainforest. The cabin features two single bunks and two double bunks, a wood stove, cooking counter and table, shelves and cupboard space, and basic tools. A 14-foot aluminum skiff with oars is provided for rowing around the lake. The skiff can accommodate a short shaft motor, but visitors must provide their own motor and life jackets. Resident cutthroat trout are available in both Patching and Chamberlain Lakes, though there is no trail to Chamberlain Lake from the cabin. This is a truly primitive experience with no electricity, indoor plumbing, potable water, or cell phone coverage. Visitors must bring their own water, firewood (it cannot be guaranteed), and all supplies. Wildlife in the area includes Sitka black-tailed deer, black bear, beaver, wolf, geese and trumpeter swans. The cabin is remote and accessible only by floatplane.

Directions

Located approximately 20 miles north of Ketchikan on the north end of Patching Lake near the inlet of the Naha River. Access is by floatplane only. Refer to USGS Ketchikan C-5.

Nearby Campgrounds