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A saltwater cabin located 15 miles from the City of Hoonah, Alaska in the protected waters of Port Frederick. It is a rustic 15'x17' milled log style cabin built on the shore of Eight Fathom Bight with a beach access trail and a mooring buoy. It is only accessible by float plane or boat. The cabin can accommodate 8 people and is equipped with wooden bunks, table, benches and a full sleeping loft. The beach access trail, first level floor, outside deck, and an outside toilet are ADA accessible. It does not have mattresses or cooking utensils. Cabin users should bring sleeping bags, pads, cook stoves, cooking gear, and food. Users are required to pack out all that they pack in. The cabin is heated with an oil stove. Users must provide #1 heating oil or kerosene only. The cabin is in a primitive setting with no electricity, plumbing, or phone. There is no cell phone coverage. Hoonah is the nearest full service community and is accessible by scheduled air taxi service, boat, barge, and the Alaska Marine Highway System. Port Frederick and Eight Fathom Bight offer excellent opportunities for viewing scenery and wildlife including: whales, brown bear, deer, shore birds, and a variety of small mammals. The cabin has good access to hunting, freshwater fishing, and saltwater fishing areas. Commercial use of this cabin is not allowed.
At a Glance
Reservations:
A non-refundable service fee will be added to each reservation by Recreation.gov
Fees:
$60/night peak season May 1 – September 30
$45/night non-peak season October 1 – April 30
Usage:
Light
Closest Towns:
Hoonah
Water:
No
Restroom:
No
Operated By:
Forest Service
General Information
Directions: Eight Fathom Cabin is located 15 miles south west of the City of Hoonah, Alaska on the north shore of Eight Fathom Bight at the head of Port Frederick. Access is by float plane or boat only. It is a 45-minute boat ride from Hoonah and approximately a 30-minute flight from Juneau, AK. Flight time from Hoonah is less than 10-minutes. The cabin is at the south end of the isolated Eight Fathom Forest road system and within 1/2 mile from the Eight Fathom Marine Access Facility (MAF) float dock. This road system is not connected to the Hoonah Road System and the dock is only accessible by float plane or boat. There is a marine mooring buoy directly in front of the cabin and a fine gravel beach suitable for landing and launching small boats. The buoy is visible from the cabin at all times. Once ashore, the cabin is accessed via a short 125 ft barrier free trail.
Refer to USGS topographic map: Juneau A-6, AK; Juneau A-5, AK; and Sitka D-6 AK.
Chichagof Island and Tongass National Forest Maps are available at the Hoonah Ranger District office.
From the cabin mountain bikers can ride almost 20 miles on the Eight Fathom road system including the mainline road # 8580 and several spur roads. This road segment is isolated from the main Hoonah National Forest System and full size passenger vehicles are rarely seen. Mountain bikers will experience loose gravel single lane logging roads with occasional OHV traffic. The riding distance from the cabin to Neka Hot Tub is approximately 10 miles.
Difficulty Level:
Easy to Intermediate
Cabin Rentals
Occupancy of Forest Service cabins is by permit only The person holding the reservation must be at least 18 years of age, and must be a member of party using the cabin. There are NO discounts for Golden Age or Golden Access Passports for Alaska cabin rentals. Reservations are restricted to a maximum stay of 7 consecutive nights per party for any one reservation May 1-Sept 30 and a maximum stay of 10 consecutive nights per party Oct 1- April 30. This cabin is heated by an oil burning stove. Users must provide #1 Heating Oil or Kerosene only.
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 http://www.recreation.gov/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=72772&topTabIndex=CampingSpot
Size Restrictions
8
Salt Water Fishing
Saltwater fishing opportunities available in season for a variety of species including salmon, halibut, rockfish, trout, char, cod, bait fish, and shellfish. Refer to http://www.adfg.alaska.gov species, permits and regulations.
River and Stream Fishing
Freshwater fishing opportunities available in season for a variety of species including salmon, trout, and Dolly Varden. Refer to http://www.adfg.alaska.gov species, permits and regulations.
Big Game Hunting
Big game hunting in season possible from this cabin. Refer to http://www.adfg.alaska.gov for species, permits and regulations.
Difficulty Level:
Easy to Difficult
Small Game Hunting
Small game in Alaska (at this location) includes grouse and ptarmigan. Small game can provide excellent hunting opportunities, especially in years when these species are abundant. Populations of grouse tend to fluctuate on an eight to 10-year cycle, and over the past 40 years, the peaks have come in the latter part of each decade. Small game hunting in season is possible from this cabin. Refer to http://www.adfg.alaska.gov for species, permits and regulations.
Species
Grouse, Ptarmigan
Difficulty Level:
Easy to Difficult
Trapping
Potential species for trapping in this area include: Red Squirrel, Beaver, River Otter, Marten, Mink, and Weasel.
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate
Viewing Plants
Explore an immense variety of flora and unique ecosystems of the Tongass National rain Forest
Viewing Scenery
OHV Road Riding
From the cabin, OHV users can ride almost 20 miles on the Eight Fathom road system including the mainline road # 8580 and several spur roads. This road segment is isolated from the main Hoonah National Forest System and full size passenger vehicles are rarely seen. OHV riders will experience loose gravel single lane logging roads with occasional other OHV traffic. The riding distance from the cabin to Neka Hot Tub is approximately 10 miles.
Difficulty Level:
Easy to Intermediate
Picnicking
No. of Sites
1
Fire Information
campfires allowed
No. of Accessible sites
1
Boating - Motorized
Small craft boating opportunities at Eight Fathom Bight and the head of Port Frederick. A mooring buoy is available for cabin users. A Forest Service float dock is available for use near the cabin. Users may not block administrative or floatplane traffic at the float dock.
Difficulty Level:
Easy to Difficult
Boating - Non-Motorized
The cabin is an ideal destination for kayakers traveling between Hoonah and Tenakee Springs.
Difficulty Level:
Easy to Difficult
XC Skiing/Snowshoeing
From the cabin, cross country skiers and snowshoers can travel almost 20 miles of isolated logging roads on the Eight Fathom road system. This road segment is separated from the main Hoonah road system. The distance from the cabin to Neka Hot Springs tub is approximately 10 miles.
