Tongass National Forest

Season of Use: "Open year round with vehicle access restrictions October 1-April 30; walk in 1/4 mile when ice or any amount of snow on the access road. Pre-arrange arrival time no less than 4 days prior to beginning time and date of cabin reservation by contacting the cabin manager at 907-747-4216 or via email to r10_sitka_rd@fs.fed.us This advance check in also provides opportunity to share split firewood needs, bear activity, cabin access and other pertinent cabin information to know or inquire about before you arrive at the cabin.

Low Impact and Leave no Trace restrictions apply: Overnight camping only; sleeps 6 persons comfortably.  Maximum cabin and site capacity allowed is 8 persons. Eight person count includes persons reserving the cabin as well includes any unplanned, uninvited short term visitors to the site. Maintaining the 8 person count is the responsibility of the person reserving the cabin. Maximum vehicles at any time at the cabin site or elsewhere are 3 vehicles. No tents, RV’s, motor homes, buses, pickup campers, travel trailers or the like allowed at this site which includes any vehicles of visitors. High use of this cabin site and the desire to maintain vegetation around the cabin and site requires keeping activities to the graveled areas.  Reservations are welcomed by those interested in following the previously mentioned guidelines. Starrigavan Creek Cabin is the first young growth cabin on the Tongass National Forest. Rustic 16’ x 20’ log cabin fully ADA compliant: one lower bunk, dining table, access doors, outdoor picnic table and fire ring, access path (summer only) to restroom. Full loft reached by a staircase.  Extensive gravel pad around cabin with gravel pathway 60 feet to bench overlooking Starrigavan Creek. Cabin site ADA compliant May 1-September 30.  October 1-April 30 vehicle restrictions apply.  Roads are not plowed in the winter nor is the cabin area kept free of snow. While split firewood is available at Starrigavan, cabin users may have to pack the wood to the cabin site upon arrival using wood sleds available from the Starrigavan Host.

Brown bears roam here.  It is their home.  Be prepared to follow established guidelines to avoid attracting bears to the cabin site.  This will include a “NO DOG” policy July through October when bears are active in the area and feeding in Starrigavan Creek in front of the cabin.

7 miles north of downtown Sitka, Alaska, and 3/4 mile from Alaska Marine Highway Sitka Ferry Terminal; within Starrigavan Recreation Area, Estuary Loop, Campsite 6

Level streamside terrain adjacent to Starrigavan Creek, with the overstory of a hemlock-spruce forest and understory of primarily salmonberry bushes. Visual screening between the cabin and adjacent campsites can be maintained if activities and travel are kept to the cabin pad, designated pathways and the parking spur.

• Split Firewood - if bringing own firewood for the stove it must be sized to 15 inches or less to prevent breaking the glass door on the Quadra fire wood stove.
• Check-In and Walk Up Use - Earliest check in for reservations or walk up use is 2 p.m. Check in time is prearranged as this is a locked cabin and the year round Starrigavan Host located in the cabin at the entrance to the Bayside Loop has the key (October through March due to darkness early in the afternoon check in is required between 2-3pm only). The Host has many duties and personal time interests that take them away from their location so prearranging check in time for the key is crucial. Walk up use cannot be prearranged and is first come first serve at 2 p.m. on the days the cabin is not reserved and is dependent on Host availability, your having the exact cash or photo ID to accompany a check payment. Split firewood is extra. Hosts do not make change. The cabin must be vacated no later than NOON the following day.
• Reservations for this cabin must be made at least 4 days in advance. Person making the reservation must be 18 years old and must be the person checking in with the Starrigavan manager and Host.  Maximum reservation is seven days. Cabin must be vacated between reservations.
• Vehicle access restrictions October 1-April 30: Maximum of one vehicle through the locked gate when no snow; access by foot (about 1400 feet) when any amount of snow; must provide own sleds or wagons for transporting camping gear.  Parking for up to 3 vehicles available at Starrigavan Host Cabin. No other parking provided at Starrigavan for this cabin.
• Refunds are not given for this cabin. Know the cabin reservation and site rules before reserving the cabin.
• Cancellation policy: Reservations cancelled 14 days before reservation begins pay a $10 service fee. Reservations cancelled within 14 days of reservation beginning, forfeit the first night cost plus pay a $10 service fee. A one time change can be made to this same cabin up to the day before the reservation date for a onetime $10 change fee.

Cabin constructed in 2008 using 35-40 year old young growth spruce logs harvested from upper Starrigavan Valley fall of 2007. These spruce trees were thinned from areas adjacent to upper Starrigavan Creek to improve wildlife and fish habitat. Logs were hand scribed as part of a construction class held in May 2008 at the University of Alaska SE , Sitka Campus. This cabin is an experiment in learning the longevity of young spruce logs for construction purposes. The cabin is the first young growth cabin on the Tongass NF and the first cabin on the Tongass located within a recreation area. Nearby federal facilities within the Starrigavan Recreation Area include: 34 campsites, 6 picnic sites, two Host sites, ¼ mile ADA accessible Estuary Life Boardwalk Trail and parking lot, Starrigavan Bird Viewing Shelter, artesian well, the Mosquito Cove Trailhead and parking lot with about 1000 feet of ADA accessible trail. State facilities include: ¾ mile protected pedestrian walkway from ferry terminal; Sitka State Historic Site and boat launch, ¾ mile ADA accessible Forest and Muskeg Trail and 1 mile dirt tread Mosquito Cove Trail. All these facilities are open year round with limited vehicle access to camping and picnic areas when snow covers the roadways.

Lots of "TLC" by many people went into the crafting of the logs for this cabin and into the final construction of the cabin and its beautiful site. Responsible use of this facility and cabin site is a way of showing appreciation for this uniquely located cabin.

• Commercial use - Cabin cannot be used for commercial purposes.  No Special Use Permits will be issued for this cabin.
• Generators - May 1- September 30 generator use restricted as follows: 1) ground protective covering must be provided under the generator for refueling purposes; 2) stage generator only in front of the cabin; and 3) generator use must be quiet (not heard by road or any of the 4 nearest campsites) and is limited to 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. October 1- April 30 generators may operate at any time but meet other restriction requirements.
• Wood stove is for heating the cabin, not for cooking.  Bring a portable propane stove for cooking purposes.
• Candles – are discouraged. Using them requires providing a container under them to catch the wax dripping.   
• Garbage policy - Pack it in, Pack it out policy October-1- April 30.  May 1-September 30 bear proof garbage cans provided at the Host sites.
• Hunting and fishing - To avoid attracting brown bears, hanging and cleaning of game animals or cleaning and smoking of fish is not allowed at this site nor can any animal or fish remains be deposited in any of the bearproof garbage cans.
• Food storage – To avoid attracting a bear to this site, food must be containerized at all times when not actively eating.  All food/drink is to be kept in the cabin or a vehicle, never outside the cabin at any time of year. Avoid attracting mice in the cabin by keeping food containerized.  Using coolers for all food works great: a cooler or two for cold items and coolers for dry food.
• Use of on site or portable grills - To avoid attracting brown bears, remove food particles from grills and burn in fire ring or dispose of in garbage.
• Reservations for cabin use between Octoer 01, 2011 and March 31, 2012 will begin shortly on or about September 15, 2012.