Big John Bay Cabin
Tongass National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: PETERSBURG, AK, AK
Price: From $25 per night
Rating: 4 out of 5 (0 reviews)
Season: May through October
Big John Bay Cabin is located at the north end of Big John Bay in Rocky Pass (Keku Strait) on Kupreanof Island. It provides access to great recreational activities and spectacular scenery in southeastern Alaska. Visitors enjoy fishing, hiking, hunting and viewing wildlife.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): weak signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: AT&T.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Drinking Water, Fishing
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/big-john-bay-cabin to be notified when sites open up.
Big John Bay Cabin offers exceptional fishing and wildlife viewing in remote southeastern Alaska with access to hiking and hunting opportunities. The cabin provides spectacular scenery on Kupreanof Island accessible by boat, trail, or float plane from Petersburg.
Wildlife alert: American Black Bear present in area — use proper food storage and bear safety precautions. Also expect Sitka Black-tailed Deer, Harbor Seals, and Bald Eagles.
Insider tips for Big John Bay Cabin: Plan boat access around tide cycles — a 15-foot tide is required for direct boat/float plane access; at lower tides expect up to 1-mile hike across mudflats Book early as this is a federal campground with only 1 site available Access from Kake is closer (1.75 miles from roadside or 18 miles by boat) than from Petersburg (28 miles by float plane)
Skip Big John Bay Cabin if: You need hookups — no hookups available at this site. You cannot access remote locations by boat, float plane, or hiking — those are your only access methods. You're visiting outside May-October — seasonal operations only.
Best time to visit Big John Bay Cabin: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.
Nearby campgrounds: Towers Arm Cabin (PETERSBURG, AK), Kadake Bay Cabin (PETERSBURG, AK), Devils Elbow Cabin (PETERSBURG, AK), Salt Chuck East Cabin (PETERSBURG, AK).
Cell Phone Coverage at Big John Bay Cabin
Cell signal at Big John Bay Cabin (PETERSBURG, AK): weak overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: AT&T.
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage · AT&T 5G: 100%
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
Big John Bay Cabin is located at the north end of Big John Bay in Rocky Pass (Keku Strait) on Kupreanof Island. It provides access to great recreational activities and spectacular scenery in southeastern Alaska. Visitors enjoy fishing, hiking, hunting and viewing wildlife.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryPlan boat access around tide cycles
a 15-foot tide is required for direct boat/float plane access; at lower tides expect up to 1-mile hike across mudflats
Book early as this is a federal campground with only 1 site available
Access from Kake is closer (1.75 miles from roadside or 18 miles by boat) than from Petersburg (28 miles by float plane)
Campground operates seasonally May through October only
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: AT&T.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Petersburg, it is 28 miles by float plane. From Kake, it is 18 miles by boat or 1.75 miles from the roadside near Kake. A 15-foot tide is required for boats or float planes to directly access the cabin. A 1-mile hike across mudflats is warranted at lower tides. Part of the trail crosses a tide flat, so there is no trail access during high tide. Please check tide charts in advance. The cabin can be found on USGS topographic map Petersburg D6. Maps are available online or by calling the Peter
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Tongass National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Tongass National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
- Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Big John Bay Cabin cost per night?+
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Official resources
●Data sources on this page
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