Tanis Mesa Cabin

About

Tanis Mesa Cabin is a newly constructed 15x17-foot red cedar panabode-style cabin tucked between Tanis Mesa and the Brabazon Mountain Range in the Tongass National Forest. Completed in August 2024, the cabin sits on mostly flat terrain surrounded by blueberry bushes, with interspersed stands of cottonwood, alder, and willow nearby. Tanis Mesa rises about 500 feet above the cabin to the southwest, while the peaks of the Brabazon Range reach over 3,000 feet to the northeast. The cabin sleeps four on single wooden bunks and includes a table with benches, a Nordic oil stove for heat, fire ring, redwood picnic table, and an outside pit toilet. A 12x12-foot A-frame meat shed provides storage for game or gear. The deck features both steps and a ramp. Visitors must bring their own #1 stove oil or kerosene for heating, drinking water, sleeping bags, cooking stove and gear, and all supplies. All trash must be packed out. Tanis Lake lies two miles north via a moderate hike, with dense brush on the final quarter mile. Hikers are rewarded with views of Fassett Glacier calving into the lake. The area supports moose, brown bear, black bear, and mountain goats, making it popular for hunting. Mt. Fairweather is visible to the southeast on clear days.

Directions

Located 50 miles southeast of Yakutat between Tanis Mesa and the Brabazon Mountain Range. Access is by wheeled plane only via an 1,800-foot airstrip at the cabin. A 300-foot trail connects the airstrip to the cabin. Helicopter access may be possible depending on weather and ground conditions.