Sawmill Creek Picnic Shelter
Closed — Closed for the winter season. Blue Lake Road is only accessible by vehicles from May 15 to November 1. The campground remains accessible year-round by foot, cross-country skis, or bikes.
Regional Order No. 10-01 - Marijuana - Simple Possession
Pursuant to 36 CFR 261.50(a), the following acts are prohibited on the Tongass and Chugach National Forests: Possessing, storing or transporting parts of a cannabis plant, whether growing or not; the seeds thereof; the resin extracted from any part of such plant; including and not limited to proc
Regional Order No. 10-00-00-04-01 - Occupancy and Use - Alcohol
TONGASS and CHUGACH NATIONAL FORESTS Regional Office Juneau, Alaska Order No. 10-00-00-04-01REGIONAL ORDEROccupancy and Use
Regional Order No. R-10-96-01 - Forest Development Roads and Trails
R-10 SUPPLEMENT 7700-96-1 7730EFFECTIVE 5/17/96 Page 10 of 117731.14 - EXHIBIT 01ORDER NO. R-10-96-01FOREST DEVELOPMENT ROADS AND TRAILSALASKA REGION
Special Weather Statement issued February 8 at 1:57PM AKST by NWS Juneau AK
After a series of shortwaves that brought rain and gusty winds over the past few days, a stronger front will approach southeast Alaska from the west on Tuesday. South to southeast winds will increase through the day Tuesday. Confidence is increasing for windy conditions with strong gusts Tuesday night into Wednesday morning as the front pushes west to east across southeast Alaska. Gales with storm force gusts will be possible ahead and along the frontal passage, especially along north-south oriented channels and along the coastal waters. A period of moderate to heavy rainfall will be possible with the frontal passage, but with the progressive nature of the front, flooding is not expected at this time. Another gale to potentially storm force low will quickly lift northeast into the Gulf and looks to push across southeast Alaska sometime later Wednesday into Thursday, bringing another round of strong gusty winds and moderate to heavy rainfall. Further details on the high wind and flooding potential for this system will be honed in on in the coming days. Looking further ahead, a cooling trend is favored to commence in the wake of these passing systems by late work week into the weekend. Snow levels will begin to lower and a colder outflow wind pattern could set up by late weekend. This could result in a return of snow for some coastal communities, especially across northern southeast Alaska. Further details on the pattern change and snow potential will be honed as the weekend approaches.
About
Sawmill Creek Picnic Shelter is situated within the USDA Forest Service Sawmill Creek Campground, a recently renovated recreational facility located 1.5 miles up Blue Lake Road in the Tongass National Forest near Sitka. The shelter is available for advance reservations through Recreation.gov; otherwise, it operates on a free, first-come, first-served basis. Reserved dates are posted at the shelter when applicable. The campground facility includes picnic tables, fire rings, garbage bins, and vault toilets. Visitors should bring their own potable water or treat water collected from Sawmill Creek, as no potable water is available on site. Bear-proof lockers are provided for food storage, as brown bears can be present at any time. Pallet burning is not allowed, and firewood is not available for purchase. The site is located in a temperate rainforest environment along Sawmill Creek, offering views of surrounding mountains. The Beaver Lake/Herring Cove Trail is accessible from the campground, and fishing opportunities are available in Sawmill Creek. Blue Lake Road is graveled, and the area provides hiking, picnicking, and bird and wildlife viewing opportunities year-round for those willing to walk, ski, or bike during winter months.
Directions
Located on Baranof Island 7 miles southeast of Sitka. From downtown Sitka, follow Sawmill Creek Road 5.2 miles to Blue Lake Road. Turn left on graveled Blue Lake Road and continue 1.5 miles to Sawmill Creek Campground sign, then turn right to enter the campground.
Nearby Campgrounds
Location
Amenities
| Water | No |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | Yes |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $25 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| LAURENT.DEVICHE@USDA.GOV | |
| Phone | +1 (907) 747-6671 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
Useful Links
| View on Recreation.gov |
Availability
Photos
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