El Capitan Cabin

Tongass National Forest — ocean access, fishing, hiking

Location: Thorne Bay , AK, AK

Price: From $75 per night

Rating: 4.8 out of 5 (5 reviews)

Season: May through October

Newly constructed in 2024, El Cap Cabin offers a truly unique experience to visitors and locals alike. This waterfront, ABA compliant cabin, brags a scenic view of beautiful El Capitan Passage. El Cap Cabin is accessible by road and is located northwest of the small town of Whale Pass.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Electric Hookups, Fishing, Boat Launch

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/el-capitan-cabin to be notified when sites open up.

Newly constructed waterfront cabin in 2024 with ABA compliance, offering scenic views of El Capitan Passage in Tongass National Forest. Google reviewers consistently praise the exceptional hospitality, amenities, and unforgettable experience (4.9/5 stars from 24 reviews).

Wildlife alert: Sitka Black-tailed Deer, Steller Sea Lion, Gray Wolf, Northern Sea Otter, Sea Otter, Willow Ptarmigan, Townsend's Warbler, Common Loon, and American Robin documented within 8km.

Insider tips for El Capitan Cabin: Book early—it's a federal campground with limited availability Despite amenities list showing Electric Hookups, verify hookup availability as most sites have no hookups Access by road via Forest Service Road 20 to Road 15; also accessible by boat or plane

Skip El Capitan Cabin if: You need RV hookups—most sites have no hookups. You prefer to visit outside May-October season—it operates seasonally only. You're looking for multiple site options—only 1 tent site available.

Best time to visit El Capitan Cabin: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.

Nearby campgrounds: El Capitan Campground (Thorne Bay , AK), Red Bay Lake Cabin (THORNE BAY, AK), Shipley Bay Cabin (THORNE BAY, AK), Salmon Bay Lake Cabin (THORNE BAY, AK).

Cell Phone Coverage at El Capitan Cabin

Cell signal at El Capitan Cabin (Thorne Bay , AK): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

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.

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Tongass National Forest — ocean access, fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

El Capitan Cabin

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Thorne Bay , AK, AK★ 4.8 (5 reviews)From $75/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Newly constructed in 2024, El Cap Cabin offers a truly unique experience to visitors and locals alike. This waterfront, ABA compliant cabin, brags a scenic view of beautiful El Capitan Passage. El Cap Cabin is accessible by road and is located northwest of the small town of Whale Pass.

Best for:AnglersHikersBoatersWildlife watchersSites:Tent
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
HookupsNo hookups.
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsFishing
Recreation
Picnic TablesBoat Launch
Family & Pets
Electric Hookups

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You need RV hookups—most sites have no hookups✕ You prefer to visit outside May-October season—it operates seasonally only✕ You're looking for multiple site options—only 1 tent site available

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

it's a federal campground with limited availability

Despite amenities list showing Electric Hookups, verify hookup availability as most sites have no hookups

Access by road via Forest Service Road 20 to Road 15; also accessible by boat or plane

Best: May-October

Campground operates seasonally May through October only

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: Sitka Black-tailed Deer, Steller Sea Lion, Gray Wolf, Northern Sea Otter, Sea Otter, Willow Ptarmigan, Townsend's Warbler, Common Loon, and American Robin documented within 8km.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
907-828-3304· Tongass National Forest
Getting there →

El Capitan Cave can be reached by vehicle, boat, or plane. By road, follow Forest Service Road 20 to Forest Service Road 15 and take a left for about a mile (1.6 km) to the cave. Watch for signs. From both Thorne Bay and Craig is an estimated 3-hour drive. There is a Forest Service dock for use by boats and planes, but they should not be left unattended. No boats over 24' are allowed. Boats over 24' will need to anchor out and skiff in.

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#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, speakable
How much does El Capitan Cabin cost per night?+
El Capitan Cabin costs $75 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is El Capitan Cabin open?+
El Capitan Cabin is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does El Capitan Cabin have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at El Capitan Cabin?+
El Capitan Cabin is primarily a tent camping facility.
How do I make reservations at El Capitan Cabin?+
El Capitan Cabin is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at El Capitan Cabin?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at El Capitan Cabin is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is El Capitan Cabin open, and what are check-in times?+
El Capitan Cabin is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.

Official resources

Thorne Bay Ranger DistrictEl Capitain CaveAlaska Fish and Game
Compare campgroundsPlan a multi-stop trip
●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$75 /night★ 4.8 (5)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does El Capitan Cabin cost per night?+
What season is El Capitan Cabin open?+
Does El Capitan Cabin have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

El Capitan Campground

Thorne Bay , AK

From $15/night

Red Bay Lake Cabin

THORNE BAY, AK

From $35/night

Shipley Bay Cabin

THORNE BAY, AK

From $25/night

Salmon Bay Lake Cabin

THORNE BAY, AK

From $25/night

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