El Capitan Campground

Tongass National Forest — ocean access

Location: Thorne Bay , AK, AK

Price: From $15 per night

Rating: 3 out of 5 (1 reviews)

Season: May through October

This waterfront campground offers a scenic view of the beautiful El Capitan Passage. This site has access to fishing, hunting, kayaking, hiking, caving and marine dock. It provides a remote, scenic setting for recreation and relaxation on the Tongass National Forest.The El Capitan Campground is in an area of high geologic interest including the El Cap Cave .

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

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables

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

Waterfront campground offering scenic views of El Capitan Passage with access to fishing, hunting, kayaking, hiking, caving and a marine dock on Tongass National Forest. Multiple verified camper reviews highlight beautiful ocean views, beach access, and walking paths.

Wildlife alert: Sitka Black-tailed Deer, Steller Sea Lion, Gray Wolf, Northern Sea Otter, and marine birds including Common Loon present in the area

Insider tips for El Capitan Campground: Book early — this is a federal campground with only 3 tent sites Bring quarters for hot showers per camper review Prepare for windy and cold conditions even in peak season

Skip El Capitan Campground if: You need RV hookups — no hookups available. You require winter camping — seasonal operations May through October only. You want large group sites — only 3 total sites available.

Best time to visit El Capitan Campground: June-September — Salmon fishing popular during summer months; campground operates May through October. September-October — Fall deer hunting season available.

Nearby campgrounds: El Capitan Cabin (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 Campground

Cell signal at El Capitan Campground (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 accessLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

El Capitan Campground

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Thorne Bay , AK, AK★ 3 (1 reviews)From $15/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

This waterfront campground offers a scenic view of the beautiful El Capitan Passage. This site has access to fishing, hunting, kayaking, hiking, caving and marine dock. It provides a remote, scenic setting for recreation and relaxation on the Tongass National Forest.The El Capitan Campground is in an area of high geologic interest including the El Cap Cave .

Best for:Wildlife watchersFamiliesSites: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 Rings
Recreation
Picnic Tables

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 — no hookups available✕ You require winter camping — seasonal operations May through October only✕ You want large group sites — only 3 total sites available

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a federal campground with only 3 tent sites

Bring quarters for hot showers per camper review

Prepare for windy and cold conditions even in peak season

Best: June-September

Salmon fishing popular during summer months; campground operates May through October

Best: September-October

Fall deer hunting season available

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, and marine birds including Common Loon present in the area

Location

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

El Capitan Campground 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 anchore 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 Campground cost per night?+
El Capitan Campground costs $15 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is El Capitan Campground open?+
El Capitan Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does El Capitan Campground have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at El Capitan Campground?+
El Capitan Campground is primarily a tent camping facility.
How do I make reservations at El Capitan Campground?+
El Capitan Campground 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 Campground?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at El Capitan Campground is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is El Capitan Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
El Capitan Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
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●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.

$15 /night★ 3 (1)
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 Campground cost per night?+
What season is El Capitan Campground open?+
Does El Capitan Campground have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

El Capitan Cabin

Thorne Bay , AK

From $75/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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