Settler's Cove State Recreation Site

Open — Open year-round with reservations available. No winter road maintenance on the access road; the road may be icy or snow-packed during winter months. Water is available seasonally from a hand pump.

About

Located at milepost 18 of North Tongass Highway, Settler's Cove State Recreation Site encompasses 275 acres of pristine Southeast Alaska temperate rainforest along Clover Passage. The campground offers 13 primitive campsites suitable for RVs up to 35 feet, a popular public use cabin located at campsite 10, and two reservable picnic shelters. The recreation site features Red Cedar, Western Hemlock, and Sitka Spruce throughout the property. A distinguishing feature of Settler's Cove is its sandy beach, rare for the Ketchikan area. The Hollow Cedar Beach Access Trail provides ADA access with assistance to the beach picnic shelter from both the campground and day use parking area. The Lunch Falls Loop Trail offers a one-mile circuit through forest and over Lunch Creek to the beach, while the Lunch Creek Trail continues for 3.5 miles, eventually connecting to US Forest Service property and the Emery Tobin Lakes trail system. The site provides excellent opportunities for kayaking in Clover Passage, shore fishing, and wildlife viewing including pink salmon in Lunch Creek during August. The campground has a 7-night camping limit and features vault toilets, seasonal hand-pump water, and ADA-accessible facilities. Reservations are available through ReserveAmerica. Note that there is no winter road maintenance on the Settlers Cove Road, and the entrance gate is locked at night with closure hours changing seasonally.

Directions

From Ketchikan Airport, ferry across and turn left on North Tongass Highway. The recreation site is located at milepost 18 of North Tongass Highway at the end of the maintained road.

Nearby Campgrounds