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Sitka Camping

Note: Starrigavan Recreation Area campsites and Sawmill Creek Campground in Sitka are for recreation camping only, not for permament or temporary residency while working locally. Commercial use by operators, outfitters or guides is not allowed. Institutional outfitters including universities, schools and clubs may require a special use permit before reserving camp sites. If in doubt about the status of your group, contact the manager of both locations at (907) 747-4216.

Starrigavan Recreation Area - map.pdf or map.gif

A multi-recreational complex offering camping, picnicking, hiking; bird and wildlife viewing opportunites, with freshwater and saltwater fishing nearby; located 7 miles north of downtown Sitka at the end of Halibut Point Road, ¾ mile from Alaska Marine Highway Sitka Ferry Terminal; ADA accessible; open year round (vehicle access restrictions September 16-April 30). Restrictions on number of persons, tents and vehicles occupying campsites and picnic sites.

Nearby amenities: Additional federal facilities included in the recreation area are: Starrigavan Picnic Area, Estuary Life Boardwalk Trail and Parking Lot, Bird Viewing Shelter, artesian well, the Mosquito Cove Trailhead and Parking Lot and the ADA accessible portion of the Mosquito Cove Trail. State of Alaska facilities nearby include: Old Sitka State Historic Site and boat launch, Forest and Muskeg Trail, dirt tread portion of the Mosquito Cove Trail and a protected pedistrian walkway from the Ferry Terminal.

Starrigavan Campsites

Starrigavan's three loops each accommodate different camping equipment:

• Estuary Loop - 5 tent only sites, 18 combination tent/RV sites; 2 tent only Group Sites. More info below. The new Starrigavan Creek Cabin web site is located here.
• Backpacker Loop - 6 tent sites for campers without vehicles. More information below.
• Bayside Loop - 3 hike-in tent only sites. More information below.

Variable fee pricing $12 to $16 a night for individual campsites, $30 a night for the Group tent sites and $50 a night for the Starrigavan Creek Cabin. Golden Age and Access cards or Interagency Senior and Access cards accepted for individual camp sites only. 14 day limit per year in campsites, 7 days for the cabin, monitored and enforced. All camping and related activity must take place within the footprint provided by the gravel pads, parking spurs and pathways. Doing so maintains the vegetation screening and minimizes resource damage. Vault style restrooms, garbage service, water, picnic tables, split firewood (cost not included in camping fee). No hookups. Dump station located at the city wastewater treatment plant 7 miles away. Open year round to tent camping. RV's, trailers can be accommodated May 1 through late October in the Estuary Loop. Hosts on site year round. Brown bears can be present at anytime. Occasionally bear activity forces closure of some reservation campsites. In those instances, incoming reservations will be accommodated in other campsites. Keep food in vehicles. Hikers may borrow small bearproof canisters from Hosts.

Peak Season May 1 to September 15 - access gates closed and locked daily 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. to maintain security and quiet camping environment (Labor Day-September 15 gates may close earlier due to less camping activity and decreased daylight). Registered campers may exit and re-enter when gates are closed. See Host for instructions. New arrivals with RV's must wait until 7 a.m. (park in turnaround area at end of road near the gates), or try one of the two private RV parks (one 3/4 mile away, another in town 7 miles away), more information on these at www.sitka.org).

Non-peak Season September 16 to April 30 - restricted vehicle access due to reduced daylight hours and snow/ice conditions on roadway. Call recreation area manager as listed below before making a reservation during the non-peak season that includes a vehicle.

To make a campsite reservation: All campsites may be used on a first-come, first-serve basis. However, several campsites, including two Group tent sites, may be reserved in advance by calling the National Recreation Reservation Service at 1-877-444-6777 (TDD 1-877-833-6777) or online at www.recreation.gov Reservations take priority on campsites that may be reserved. Reservations must be made at least 4 days in advance of desired date i.e. for a Friday night make reservation no later than Monday. A reservation and change fee apply. Late cancellation policy; refunds not given after the beginning date and time of reservation.

Estuary Loop - turn left when exiting the ferry terminal; follow highway 3/4 mile to end; last right hand turn before end of highway; refer to recreation area map above; accommodates tenters with vehciles or RV's, motorhomes, travel trailers, 5th wheels and pickup campers. Most campsite parking spurs accommodate only 2-3 passenger vehicles. Parking is not provided to accommodate vehicles outside of parking spurs.

• $14 campsites: Site 1 (tents only), 2,3,4,5,7,8,10 (tents only),11,12,13,14,15 (tents only),17,20,23,24,25 (tents only),26. These sites are $12 in the Non Peark Season.
• $16 campsites: Site 9 (pull through),18,19. Site 16 (tents only, 1 vehicle parking) has a small shelter. These sites are $12 in the Non Peak Season.
• Group Tent Sites 21,22 (double family sites) -$30 per night year round. More than equal to two individual campsites with amenities not found in individual campsites i.e. covered shelter over the two picnic tables; pedestal grill; firering with log benches. More gravel pad area for tents and activities of families with children. Maximum of 20 persons, 5-6 tents and 6 vehicles.
• Summer RV Host and firewood located across from the Fee Area.

Backpacker Loop - walk-in access via Estuary Loop entrance; designed for tenters without vehicles. Refer to recreation area map above. Camping pads are gravel.

• Parking not provided.
• Six hike-in tent sites available for $12 per night year round.
• Common cooking shelter (not for overnight camping or use 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.) used by campers from any of the six surrounding campsites.
• Site limitations - 2 tents and 4-6 persons.
• Sites 27H, 28H, 29H may be reserved in advance.

Bayside Loop - turn left when exiting the ferry terminal; follow highway 3/4 mile to end; last left hand turn before end of highway. Refer to recreation area map above. All camping gear and activities must locate on the gravel pad provided. Limited parking for one vehicle per campsite.

• Three hike-in tent camp sites overlooking Starrigavan Bay, sites separated from corresponding parking area by a minimum of 80, 180, 280 feet respectively.
• Kayaks may be launched from the nearby beach.
• Restroom, split firewood, and Host located adjacent to parking area and available year round.
• Campsites $16 per night in Peak Season and $12 in Non Peak Season.
• Sites 39 and 41 may be reserved in advance. Gravel pads are small and limit each site to 6 persons and 2 tents. No tents off gravel pads.
• Site 40 is available on a first come, first serve basis only with a gravel pad, space for two 2-person tents. No tents off gravel pads.

Starrigavan Picnicking

Bayside Loop - Picnic Area

• Access gates open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. in Peak Season; reduced hours in Non Peak Season.
• Facilities for small groups only.
• Very limited parking; activities restricted to gravel picnic pads and pathways to maintain a "small activity footprint" which prevents loss of surrounding vegetative screening like trees, bushes and shrubs.
• 4 individual picnic sites (4 picnic sites with maximum of 8 persons per site with parking for 1-2 vehicles per site. No other parking is provided.
• 2 small Group Day Use Picnic Shelters each accommodating up to 20 persons with parking space for 5 vehicles at each shelter. No other parking is provided. Carpooling may be necessary.
• Reserve up to 7 days in advance, requires in-person reservation process; reservation fee $25. Contact recreation area manager at 747-4216 Mondays-Thursdays.

Questions?? Contact Recreation Area Manager at 747-4216 (voice mail after hours, on weekends and holidays) or via email at r10_sitka_rd@fs.fed.us.

Sawmill Creek Campground

Primitive older campground built in 1960's; Open when access road, Blue Lake Road, conditions permit. See Blue Lake Road Alert below. Camp sites can flood during heavy rains. 11 unlevel campsites suited to tents only. No camping fee; no potable water; Pack In, Pack Out policy. No security, expect non camping traffic noise during nighttime. Picnic tables, firerings, vault toilet. 14 day limit per year monitored and enforced. Brown bears can be present at anytime. Keep food in vehicles or hanging from a tree. Fishing at nearby Blue Lake, Beaver Lake, and Sawmill Creek is fair. Boil water from Sawmill Creek. Trailhead for Beaver Lake Trail located within this campground.

LOCATION: 16 miles southeast of ferry terminal. Take Halibut Point Road 7 miles to the junction of Sawmill Creek Road in Sitka. Follow Sawmill Creek Road about 8 miles to Sawmill Cove Industrial Park. Turn left onto graveled access road (Blue Lake Road) for 1.4 miles; then take the first and only right turn into the campground.

Blue Lake Road Alert: this road is a single-lane, narrow, winding gravel road with few turnouts, steep dropoffs and no guardrails; only maintained for high clearance vehicles; series of gravel speed bumps at beginning of road. This road is unable to safely accommodate RV's, motorhomes, travel trailers at any time. When there is snow or ice on the road or there is avalanche activity in the numerous avalanche chutes along the road, the gate accessing this road is closed (approximately mid November/December to May 1).

For more information, contact campground manager at (907) 747-4216 or via email at r10_sitka_rd@fs.fed.us

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USDA Forest Service - Tongass National Forest
Last Modified: February 24, 2009