USDA Forest Service · Alaska
Polk Camp
USDA Forest Service · Alaska, United States
- Sites
- 1
- Hookups
- 1 no hookups
- Season
- Year-round
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- Yes
- Elevation
- 30 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- AT&T weak · T-Mobile none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- POLK CAMP (NFSR 2140200) · pit run shot rock · suitable for passenger cars
- Lake
- Tongass National Forest
- Nearest town
- CRAIG
- Address
- Polk Camp, CRAIG, Alaska, 99921
- Phone
- (907) 826-3271
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Polk Camp is a three bedroom cabin located in Polk Inlet on Prince of Wales Island in southeastern Alaska. The site offers recreation, relaxation and a unique lodging experience in the Tongass National Forest.
Polk Camp once served as a remote administration camp for the Craig Ranger District and is now a recreation cabin with limited amenities. The cabin is accessible by vehicle, boat or floatplane.
Although the site is not as remote as others in the area, visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.
Recreation
Anglers will find that Dog Salmon Creek, which flows into the inlet, has an excellent run of coho, chum, sockeye and pink salmon, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout and Dolly Varden. Crabbing, beachcombing and wildlife viewing are popular in the area as well.
Dog Salmon Fish Pass is noted as a popular bear viewing site in August. A system of roads for off-road enthusiasts is also in the vicinity.
Hunters can take advantage of the long hunting seasons in the surrounding national forest. Bear season occurs during spring and fall, while deer season begins in late summer and lasts through late fall.
Polk Inlet also has a rich logging history. Log landings and log transfer facilities can be found on the nearby shoreline, but are not visible from the cabin.
Facilities
The Polk Camp has a large kitchen with a fully functional propane stove and oven, a sink (NO RUNNING WATER), and plenty of counter and cupboard space. There are three bedrooms with two moveable beds in each room. Running water is currently inavailable. Please bring your own water. There is a large gathering room, a great deck and exquisite views. Polk Camp is a wonderful spot for a family reunion, a wedding or a weekend with your friends.
Natural Features
The cabin is nestled in a canopy of young Sitka spruce and western hemlock. There are plenty of places to explore in the Polk Inlet area, including an estuary just south of the cabin, where wildlife is abundant, including sandhill cranes, eagles, wolves, black bears, Sitka black-tailed deer and a variety of migratory birds.
Nearby Attractions
Nearby attractions include: Dog Salmon Wildlife Viewing Area; Polk Inlet Road system; Polk Inlet all-terrain vehicle roads (trails); hunting; fishing; crabbing; wildlife viewing.
Fees
Peak Season = May 1- November 30 = $75.00 per night
Non Peak Season = December 1-April 30 = $45.00 per night
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 41° | 34° | -4° | 48° | 9 of 11 |
| February | 41° | 31° | 12° | 49° | 10 of 11 |
| March | 43° | 32° | 22° | 60° | 10 of 11 |
| April | 48° | 36° | 27° | 64° | 7 of 11 |
| May | 56° | 43° | 36° | 78° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 60° | 48° | 41° | 79° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 63° | 53° | 45° | 79° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 64° | 54° | 43° | 86° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 61° | 49° | 42° | 71° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 51° | 43° | 28° | 65° | 1 of 10 |
| November | 44° | 36° | 28° | 52° | 7 of 10 |
| December | 40° | 33° | 19° | 51° | 9 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Josephine Lake Cabin · USDA Forest Service · 8 mi · 1 sites
- Twelvemile Cabin · USDA Forest Service · 8 mi · 1 sites
- Trollers Cove Cabin · USDA Forest Service · 13 mi · 1 sites
- Karta River Cabin · USDA Forest Service · 14 mi · 1 sites
- Karta Lake Cabin · USDA Forest Service · 15 mi · 1 sites
All public campgrounds in Alaska · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.