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How Can I Keep the Kootznoowoo Wilderness Wild?

Admiralty Island’s Kootznoowoo Wilderness is a vast, yet fragile, expanse of old growth rainforest, placid mountain lakes, and rugged alpine ridges.

Perhaps because of its scale, or the presence of an estimated 1,600 brown bears (more than remain in all the Lower 48 states combined), it may be hard to imagine how humans could have much of an impact on the “Kootz.”

Close to Juneau, though, the Kootznoowoo Wilderness is one of the most visited in the Tongass National Forest. More than 1,200 people visit the Pack Creek Brown Bear Viewing Area each summer, and hundreds more will spend the night in one of the 15 public use cabins, or one of several dozen private cabins on the island.

The Kootznoowoo Wilderness is treasured by Alaskans and belongs to every American. It’s easy to help preserve this unique resource for our future generations:

• Respect wildlife by properly securing your food and waste. Brown bears outnumber people four to one on Admiralty Island, but a little effort on your part will help ensure a safe visit for all. Always secure your food and garbage in a bear-resistant container, or hang it at least 12 feet above the ground and nine feet out from the nearest tree. It is against the law to feed a brown bear in Alaska, even unintentionally. Remember that any food or garbage you toss over the side of your boat will eventually wash up somewhere. Most of the bears in the Kootznoowoo Wilderness remain totally wild and do not associate people with food. Let’s keep it that way.
  
  
• Respect the Human History on Kootznoowoo. Federal and Alaska state law protects cultural and historic sites, including artifacts, from disturbance. Please respect the long-established and ongoing Tlingít connections to Kootznoowoo.
  
  
• Respect public and private property. Called by some “the best kept secret in Alaska,” the U.S. Forest Service maintains 15 public use cabins in the Kootznoowoo Wilderness. A small crew of workers maintain these cabins, spending each summer working long hours under extremely difficult conditions. You can help them by not damaging the cabin structures (graffiti, improper fires, etc.), cleaning up after yourself, and being economical in your use of firewood. Do not cut live trees for firewood. You need a paid reservation to use these cabins overnight; for more information, visit ReserveUSA. There are also dozens of private cabins in the Kootznoowoo Wilderness that are authorized by the Forest Service. These cabins are the private property of the permit holder, and visitors must obtain the owner’s permission before use.
  
  
• Be considerate of other people. One of the Kootznoowoo Wilderness’ greatest assets is the opportunity for solitude afforded in its forests, bays and lakes. If you are visiting the Wilderness by boat, please refrain from causing excessive noise (loud radios, horns, etc.) or operating motorized vessels, especially jet skis, when wildlife or other users may be on shore nearby.
  
  
• Plan ahead and prepare. Obtain the proper permits or reservations before embarking on your trip. While no permit is needed for most users in most areas, all public use cabins require a reservation and fee (primitive shelters are free and available on a first-come, first-served basis). All guides, commercial operations, and non-profit groups must obtain a special use permit from the Forest Service before entering National Forest lands. All visitors to the Pack Creek Brown Bear Viewing Area between June 1 and September 10 must obtain a permit.
  
  
• Minimize campsite and vegetation impacts. A good campsite is found instead of made. If you limb trees and trample vegetation dead, this leaves a lasting human impact on the wilderness and encourages future destructive behavior. When possible, use an existing site instead of creating a new site. If you camp where there is no existing site, use a naturally open site with a durable surface such as sand, gravel or duff. If you assemble a game pole, disassemble it when you are done. Use cord or line to tie things off (game poles, tarps etc...) instead of using nails which permanently damage trees and expose them to fungus and disease. Use slip knots to avoid having to cut the line and leaving remnants on the limbs. When you are leaving, make sure your campsite looks natural. The only visible evidence that you were there should be your footprints.

In addition to considering the above concerns, we ask visitors to follow the general principles of Leave No Trace.

If you have any questions, please contact the wilderness staff.

Thank you for keeping the Kootznoowoo Wilderness wild

USDA Forest Service - Tongass National Forest Accessibility Statement
Last Modified: January 11, 2007