Berners Bay Cabin

The cabin is a 13' x 14' Pan Abode style cabin with large deck located on a saltwater beach. One double bunk and three single bunks provide sleeping for 5. There is a table between the bunks and a counter at the front of the cabin. Cabin heat is provided by an oil stove (burns #1 stove oil, NOT supplied). Other items supplied include: food cupboard and shelves, broom and dustpan, cooler, shovel and bucket, rake, outhouse, and a mooring buoy. Water is available from a nearby stream. Treat all water before using. Cabin users should bring #1 stove oil, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, cooking stove, lantern, pots, pans, plates, utensils, food, toilet paper, garbage bags, fire extinguisher and fire starter. It's a good idea to bring your own water. Fuel consumption is approximately 1 gallon per day with the stove on low setting (sufficient for 8 hours of heating with an outside temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit).

At a Glance

Reservations:	A non-refundable service fee will be added to each reservation by Recreation.gov
Fees:	$45/night peak season May 1 – September 30 $45/night non-peak season October 1 – April 30 Refunds are not made if inclement weather conditions or other acts of nature beyond the Forest Service control cause the permittee to not use the shelter at the designated time.
Open Season:	01/01
Usage:	Heavy
Closest Towns:	Juneau, AK
Water:	No
Restroom:	Pit Toilet
Operated By:	Forest Service

General Information

Directions: Located 37 miles northwest of Juneau, the cabin is on the shore of Berners Bay, 8 miles north from the boat launch at Echo Cove at mile 40 Glacier Highway. Winter road maintenance is intermittent on the last 6 - 8 miles of Glacier Highway. Access is by boat and floatplane only. There is a mooring buoy about 200 feet from the high tide mark in front of the cabin. A dinghy or 450-foot shore tie rope is advised for anchoring to the buoy. The buoy anchor is awash at 0 foot low tides; tilt up your stern drive or outboard. (Only underwater obstructions near buoy are flat concrete anchor weights protruding 6 inches above sand and mud.) Consult local tide tables.

Recreation Map

Map showing recreational areas. Map Information

Activities

Sand Play

There is a small sandy beach in front of the cabin, about a couple hundred feet in length. Build sand castles at low tide and watch them get flooded out at high tide.

Tidepooling

Check the tide tables for minus tides (tides below the zero foot tide). Hike along the rocky beach with rubber boots as there may be some wet muddy areas also. Watch your traction on slippery kelp beds and other sea weeds. Sea life will usually get trapped in depressions in the rocks as the tide recedes. Look for limpets, small hermit crabs, sculpin, sea stars, jelly fish, and anemones.

Cabin Rentals

This site provides cabin camping on a salt water beach and is only accessible by boat or float plane.

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

Salt Water Fishing

All five species of salmon, and dolly Varden char can be caught in Berner's Bay. Refer to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for regulations.

Fish Species	king, coho, pink, sockeye, and chum salmon; dolly Varden char
Fishing Method	fly, bait, lures

Viewing Wildlife

Watch from the beach for humpback whales, killer whales, and Dahl's porpoises. In the spring, the herring and eulachon runs attract an abundance of wildlife that feed on the fish. Brown bears make this area their home also.

Viewing Scenery

Views from the cabin look out over Lions Head peak and across Lynn Canal to the Chilkat Mountains and St James Bay.

Difficulty Level:	Difficult

Boating - Motorized

This cabin is on a salt water beach. The most typical boat launch is at Echo Cove. The boat trip is through Berner's Bay. The wind in there can make the water quite rough at times and a reservation for the cabin may have to be sacrificed if the weather is bad. Check the local marine forecast before heading out to the cabin.

Trailer Parking	There is room for trailer parking at the Echo Cove launch area.
Class of rapids	No rapids on the salt water, but there will be white water in windy conditions.
Type of Craft	Boaters in small craft should be prepared to cancel their departure or return if the sea conditions are poor.
Motor Type	The motor should be adequately sized for the vessel to have sufficient power to deal with oncoming waves.
Fuel availability	The last fuel is at mile 12 or so, Echo Cove is at mile 41.
Difficulty Level:	Most Difficult