Port Chalmers Cabin
A 12 x 14-foot rustic cabin.
Sleeps 6, table, wood stove, oil stove, splitting maul, saw, rainwater catchment barrel, and outhouse.
No running water, electricity, mattress or bedding, cooking utensils, cut firewood or stove oil.
At a Glance
Reservations: | Cabin reservations can be made up to 180 days in advance by calling 1-877-444-6777 (518-885-3639 overseas) or visiting www.recreation.gov. Cabin reservations (check-in & check out time) are from noon to noon. |
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Fees: | Per night prices range from $50-75 (2018 prices) depending on season. Cabin fees are based on non-peak/peak season. Seasons vary by cabin. A non-refundable service fee will be added to each reservation by Recreation.gov |
Closest Towns: | Cordova, Seward |
Water: | rainwater barrel |
Restroom: | outhouse |
Information Center: |
Cordova Ranger District |
General Information
Directions:Cabin is on southern end of Port Chalmers on the NW side of Montague Island. Access is by floatplane (40 minutes from Cordova, 60 minutes from Seward) or boat (65 miles from Cordova, 70 miles from Whittier, 100 miles from Seward).
Best access at high tide. Click here for local tide information. (Click Predictions for Port Chalmers on Montague Island in Prince William Sound.) Winter access may be difficult due to pan ice in bay.
General Notes:
Inclement weather conditions may cause an extension of your trip during any time of the year and winter access can be difficult due to snow and ice conditions. Bring extra supplies to last 2-5 days. Bring initial supply of water. Boil surface water 5 minutes before drinking. Bringing a personal cooking stove is recommended. Remember to pack out your trash. You can contact a U.S. Forest Service office to receive more detailed information on safety precautions.
Activities
Cabin Rentals
Occupancy of Forest Service cabins is by permit only ($35 per night per party). Reservations may be made up to 180 days in advance by calling (877)444-6777 toll free, (518)885-3639 for overseas or via internet at www.recreation.gov.
Reservation required?: | Y |
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Permit required?: | Y |
River and Stream Fishing
Pink Salmon
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Chum Salmon
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Dolly Varden
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Coho Salmon
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Mid July - Mid August
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August
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Mid July - Mid August
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August - Mid September
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Pink, chum, and coho salmon fishing can all be good at the right times and tides. At high tide, schools of coho salmon will nose around the bay and lagoons near the cabin while they’re searching for their spawning stream. Being in the ocean, these fish are still in their peak condition before the spawning run, so the action can be pretty intense while it lasts. At low tide the coho move to other areas. Some pink salmon spawn in the tiny creeks around the cabin, so they tend to stick around.
The main spawning stream in the area is Chalmers River, about a mile to the north across the inlet. One of the highlights is that there’s a good run of chum salmon. Chums are often overlooked as a game fish, but a good sized chum can be 15 lbs and will make long freight-train runs in the open ocean. Literally thousands of pink salmon spawn in the Chalmers River, and coho can be fished in the channels at the mouth or in some of the bigger pools upstream.
You might want to bring an inflatable boat and a small motor to fish for halibut and rockfish. One guy talks about catching a 100-lb halibut in the bay not too far from the cabin, but he doesn’t say exactly where. There are rockfish around the kelp beds and on the rocky bottom areas in the open ocean outside the bay.
Big Game Hunting
Wildlife includes brown bear, Sitka black-tailed deer and waterfowl.
Permit required?: | Y |
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Difficulty Level: | More Difficult |