Helm Creek Cabin

Tongass National Forest — lakeside, fishing

Location: KETCHIKAN, AK, AK

Price: From $65 per night

Rating: 3.7 out of 5 (6 reviews)

Season: Year-round

Helm Creek Cabin is located on the east shore of Helm Bay near the mouth of Helm Creek. This rustic retreat is open year-round, offering opportunities for relaxation, sightseeing and recreation. The site can be accessed by float plane, boat or kayak, depending on conditions.

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

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Electric Hookups, Fishing, Firewood for Sale

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

Helm Creek Cabin offers a rustic year-round retreat on the east shore of Helm Bay known for excellent crabbing and saltwater fishing. Google reviewers rate it 5/5, calling it a lovely area and favorite spot.

Insider tips for Helm Creek Cabin: Book early as this is a federal campground with high demand Arrange your own transportation by float plane, boat, or kayak - access is water-only Bring your own amenities as this is a rustic cabin with limited services

Skip Helm Creek Cabin if: You need electrical hookups - no hookups available at this site. You require road vehicle access - only accessible by water or float plane. You prefer developed campground amenities and services.

Best time to visit Helm Creek Cabin: Year-round — Campground operates year-round according to verified data.

Nearby campgrounds: Helm Bay Cabin (KETCHIKAN, AK), Jordan Lake Cabin (KETCHIKAN, AK), Heckman Lake Cabin (KETCHIKAN, AK), Southeast Heckman Cabin (KETCHIKAN, AK).

Cell Phone Coverage at Helm Creek Cabin

Cell signal at Helm Creek Cabin (KETCHIKAN, 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.

CamperWatch
CamperWatch›AK›Helm Creek Cabin
Helm Creek Cabin — photo 1
Helm Creek Cabin — photo 2
Helm Creek Cabin — photo 3
See all photos
Tongass National Forest — lakeside, fishingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Helm Creek Cabin

Share:
KETCHIKAN, AK, AK★ 3.7 (6 reviews)From $65/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Helm Creek Cabin is located on the east shore of Helm Bay near the mouth of Helm Creek. This rustic retreat is open year-round, offering opportunities for relaxation, sightseeing and recreation. The site can be accessed by float plane, boat or kayak, depending on conditions.

Best for:AnglersBoatersWildlife watchersFamiliesSites:Tent
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

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

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsFishing
Recreation
Picnic TablesFirewood for Sale
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 electrical hookups - no hookups available at this site✕ You require road vehicle access - only accessible by water or float plane✕ You prefer developed campground amenities and services

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early as this is a federal campground with high demand

Arrange your own transportation by float plane, boat, or kayak - access is water-only

Bring your own amenities as this is a rustic cabin with limited services

Best: Year-round

Campground operates year-round according to verified data

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.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
907-225-2148· Tongass National Forest
Getting there →

The cabin is located on the east shore of Helm Bay near the mouth of Helm Creek. It is about 24 miles from Ketchikan, west of the Clover Pass area. The cabin is accessible by float plane, kayak or boat, and a buoy is located directly in front of the cabin. Please consult Local tide tables in advance.

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 Helm Creek Cabin cost per night?+
Helm Creek Cabin costs $65 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Helm Creek Cabin open?+
Helm Creek Cabin is open Year-round. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Helm Creek Cabin have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Helm Creek Cabin?+
Helm Creek Cabin is primarily a tent camping facility.
How do I make reservations at Helm Creek Cabin?+
Helm Creek 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 Helm Creek Cabin?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Helm Creek Cabin is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Helm Creek Cabin open, and what are check-in times?+
Helm Creek Cabin is open Year-round. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
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.

$65 /night★ 3.7 (6)
SeasonYear-round
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Helm Creek Cabin cost per night?+
What season is Helm Creek Cabin open?+
Does Helm Creek Cabin have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Helm Bay Cabin

KETCHIKAN, AK

From $65/night

Jordan Lake Cabin

KETCHIKAN, AK

From $65/night

Heckman Lake Cabin

KETCHIKAN, AK

From $60/night

Southeast Heckman Cabin

KETCHIKAN, AK

From $60/night

Own a campground nearby?

List free on CamperWatch — we take 5% only on bookings we send. No monthly fee.

List your campground →
$65 /nightNo booking fees
+TRIPCheck availability
Helm Creek Cabin — Tongass National Forest | CamperWatch