USDA Forest Service · Alaska
Black Bear Lake Cabin (Tongass National Forest, AK)
USDA Forest Service · Alaska, United States
- Sites
- 1
- Hookups
- 1 no hookups
- Season
- Year-round
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 1,801 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Tongass National Forest
- Nearest town
- CRAIG
- Address
- P.O. BOX 500, CRAIG, AK, 99921
- Activities
- Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Hunting, Wildlife Viewing
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Black Bear Lake Cabin offers recreation, relaxation and a unique lodging experience on Prince of Wales Island in southeastern Alaska. The remote site offers a scenic, mountainous setting for fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing.
Access to the cabin is by floatplane only. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.
Recreation
Anglers will find fair fishing on a resident population of rainbow trout. Boating or kayaking on the lake offers a peaceful setting for viewing wildlife in the area.
Hunters can take advantage of the long hunting season in the surrounding national forest. Bear season occurs during spring and fall, while deer season begins in late summer and lasts through the late fall.
Facilities
The 12x12-ft primitive, pre-cut cedar, pan-abode style log cabin sleeps up to six people on wooden bunkbeds without mattresses. The cabin is equipped with a table, benches, a wood stove for heat and an outside toilet. Other amenities include a cooking counter, shelves, cupboard space and a broom.
The cabin does not have running water or electricity. Visitors must bring their own food, water, Bio brick compressed logs for the woodstove, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, cook stove and fuel, fire starter, cooking gear/utensils, lantern or flashlights, toilet paper, first aid kit and garbage bags. Water is available from the lake, but must be treated before being used.
An aluminum skiff with oars available for use, however visitors are responsible for bringing and using their own personal floatation devices. Click here for more cabin details.
Natural Features
The cabin is situated at an elevation of 1,700 feet, 20 yards from the shoreline of Black Bear Lake, a cold, clear lake surrounded by snow-capped peaks reaching elevations of 4,000 feet. The terrain is rugged with a mixture of old-growth forest and alpine vegetation. The high mountains and alpine terrain is quite stunning, showcasing a display of wildflowers in mid-summer.
Wildlife in the area is abundant, including Sitka black-tailed deer and black bears.
A hydroelectric project was constructed at the north end of the lake in 1995. The project now provides power to several communities on the island. The lake level varies, but is still a popular destination.
Fees
Only one change per reservation for all Alaska cabins is allowed. Change is defined as a modification to the
start or end date of the reservation; after one change has been made, if additional changes are desired, the
customer must cancel the current reservation and re-book the new dates.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 35° | 28° | -9° | 45° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 35° | 25° | 5° | 43° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 36° | 25° | 14° | 56° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 41° | 28° | 17° | 56° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 50° | 36° | 29° | 76° | 7 of 11 |
| June | 53° | 41° | 33° | 72° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 56° | 46° | 38° | 72° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 58° | 48° | 35° | 79° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 55° | 42° | 35° | 65° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 45° | 36° | 24° | 60° | 7 of 10 |
| November | 38° | 29° | 20° | 46° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 34° | 26° | 10° | 45° | 10 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
- Harris River Campground · USDA Forest Service · 5 mi · 14 sites
- Salmon Lake Cabin Thorne Bay · USDA Forest Service · 8 mi · 1 sites
- Karta Lake Cabin · USDA Forest Service · 10 mi · 1 sites
- Control Lake Cabin · USDA Forest Service · 11 mi · 1 sites
- Karta River Cabin · USDA Forest Service · 11 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.