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Big Shaheen Cabin
This is a rectangular log cabin built in 1936 by the CCC. Two sleeping rooms are divided from the oil stove and cooking area. The cabin has sleeping space for 4 to 8 people. The cabin sits on level ground with a large beach. Facilities include 2 double wooden bunks, 2single upper bunks, maul, oil stove(uses #1 stove oil, NOT provided), axe, table and bench, wood, cooking counter, broom, skiff with oars. Water is available from the lake. Treat all water before using. Bring your own personal flotation devices, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, cooking stove, lantern, pots, pans, plates, utensils, food, toilet paper, garbage bags, fire extinguisher, and fire starter. Please follow the oil stove directions carefully. Cabin users may also choose to bring a small outboard motor (less than 10 horsepower due to wilderness regulations). You are in brown bear country. This is 1 of 3 cabins on Hasselborg Lake (the other two are Hasselborg Creek and Little Shaheen). The lake is very popular and has a lot of float plane traffic. Little Shaheen cabin is close by, connected by a 100 yard (91 m) trail. Four trails are accessible by boat. The lake is 7 miles (11 km) long and part of the Cross Admiralty Canoe route.
At a Glance
| Reservations: | A non-refundable service fee will be added to each reservation by Recreation.gov |
|---|---|
| Fees: | $55/night peak season May 1 – September 30 $45/night non-peak season October 1 – April 30 |
| Permit Info: | Yes |
| Usage: | Light |
| Closest Towns: | Juneau |
| Water: | Non-Potable Water |
| Restroom: | Pit |
| Operated By: | Forest Service |
General Information
Directions: Located in the center of Admiralty Island, midway on the eastern shore of Hasselborg Lake. Floatplane and canoe/portage access. One-way flight time from Juneau is 40 minutes. By canoe and portage it is approximately 10 miles to Mole Harbor. This cabin is in a designated Wilderness area, and access by helicopter is illegal. Suggested USGS topo maps: Sitka C-1, C-2.Activities
Cabin Rentals
Occupancy of Forest Service cabins is by permit only. Reservations may be made up to 180 days in advance by calling 1-877-444-6777 (518-885-3639 overseas) or via internet at www.recreation.gov. Reservations are restricted to a maximum stay of 7 consecutive nights per party for any one reservation May 1 - September 30 and a maximum stay of 10 consecutive nights per party October 1 - April 30.
| Reservation Info | This site can be reserved by calling Toll Free 1-877-444-6777 (International 518-885-3639 or TDD 877-833-6777) or on-line at www.recreation.gov |
| Size Restrictions | Max no of people - 6 |
Lake and Pond Fishing
Hasselborg Lake is ice free by early May through mid November for fishing with a skiff/oars nearby the cabin. Cabin users may also choose to bring a small outboard motor (less than 10 horsepower due to wilderness regulations).| Special Designations | For fishing information, contact the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. |
| Fishing Mode | skiff, shoreline, hip and chest waders |
| Fish Species | Cutthroat , Dolly Varden, Kokanee |
| Water Temperature | Ice covered for five months and fed by snowmelt and cold rain runoff, this lake remains cold |
| Fishing Method | Lures: artificial lures - shiny spoons and spinners, and flies |
| Water/Flow Level | Lake level will rise abruptly and cover shoreline beach during periods of heavy rainfall |
Big Game Hunting
Lake access to Mckinney Lake Trail, Hasselborg Creek Trail, Lake Guerin Trail and miles of lake shoreline. For hunting information, contact the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.| Species | Brown Bear, Sitka Blacktail Deer |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy to Difficult |
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Small Game Hunting
Lake access to Mckinney Lake Trail, Hasselborg Creek Trail, Lake Guerin Trail and miles of lake shoreline. For hunting information, contact the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.| Species | Marten, Red Squirrel, River Otter, Beaver ,Mink |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy to Difficult |
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Game Bird/Waterfowl
Lake access to Mckinney Lake Trail, Hasselborg Creek Trail, Lake Guerin Trail and miles of lake shoreline. For hunting information, contact the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
| Species | Grouse, Canada geese, scoters, long-tailed duck, Barrow's goldeneye, harlequin, and buffleheads along with mallards, scaups, and mergansers. |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy to Difficult |
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Viewing Wildlife
Admiralty Island's combination of varied ecotypes, pristine habitat, and healthy wildlife populations provide extraordinary wildlife viewing from Hasselborg Lake shoreline, Mckinney Lake Trail, Hasselborg Creek Trail and Lake Guerin Trail.| Species | Brown bear, Sitka blacktail deer, numerous bird species, mink, marten, river otter, beaver, red squirrel, western toad, rough skinned newt are among the list of creatures inhabiting the area. |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy to Intermediate |
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Viewing Plants
Admiralty Island's varied pristine ecotypes provide extraordinary plant viewing from Hasselborg Lake shoreline, Mckinney Lake Trail, Hasselborg Creek Trail and Lake Guerin Trail.| Species | Admiralty Island comprises one of the greatest remaining blocks of productive old-growth temperate rain forest in the world. Alpine, tidal marsh and muskeg meadows are some of the other plant communities. The temperate rainforest primarily consist of western and mountain hemlock, Sitka spruce, alder, yellow cedar and shore pine. Forest understory consists primarily of blueberry, huckleberry, salmonberry, thimbleberry, fern, mosses ,devils club, false azalea, mushrooms and dwarf dogwood. |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy to Intermediate |
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Viewing Scenery
Boating - Motorized
skiff with oars located by Little Shaheen cabin| Type of Craft | lake skiff |
| Motor Type | Cabin users may also choose to bring a small outboard motor (less than 10 horsepower due to wilderness regulations). |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
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Boating - Non-Motorized
skiff with oars located on Hasselborg Lake gravel beach near cabin| Difficulty Level: | Easy to Intermediate |
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Swimming
Hasselborg Lake is ice covered for five months, snowmelt and cold rain keeps it full during the spring and summer so the water temperature is never considered warm. Late July through August the surface water near the shoreline can warm enough that on a sunny afternoon a swim is possible.| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
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