Phocena Bay Cabin

Tongass National Forest — fishing, hiking

Location: KETCHIKAN, AK, AK

Price: From $60 per night

Rating: 4 out of 5 (5 reviews)

Season: Year-round

Phocena Bay Cabin sits on the south shore of Phocena Bay on the west side of Gravina Island approximately 15 miles from Ketchikan. The cabin was constructed in 1973 and moved to its current site in 1985. The cabin is available year-round and makes an excellent base for experiencing this corner of Alaska with its recreation options, beautiful scenery and abundant wildlife.

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

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

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

Phocena Bay Cabin offers a remote Alaskan experience on Gravina Island's south shore with abundant recreation options, beautiful scenery, and excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. Reviewers praise its cleanliness, peaceful setting, and well-stocked firewood.

Wildlife alert: Harbor seals, humpback whales, North American river otters, Sitka black-tailed deer, and marbled murrelets documented in the area

Insider tips for Phocena Bay Cabin: Book early — federal campground with limited availability Mooring buoy available in Phocena Bay for boat access Firewood sold on-site; reviewers note it is pre-stocked in the cabin

Skip Phocena Bay Cabin if: Require hookups — no electrical or water hookups available. Cannot arrange floatplane or boat transportation — only accessible by these methods. Need a large campground — only 1 tent site available.

Best time to visit Phocena Bay Cabin: Year-round — Cabin available year-round per RIDB official description.

Nearby campgrounds: Signal Creek Campground (Ketchikan, AK), Kegan Cove Cabin (CRAIG, AK), Kegan Creek Cabin (CRAIG, AK), Last Chance Campground (Ketchikan, AK).

Cell Phone Coverage at Phocena Bay Cabin

Cell signal at Phocena Bay 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›Phocena Bay Cabin
Phocena Bay Cabin — photo 1
Phocena Bay Cabin — photo 2
Phocena Bay Cabin — photo 3
See all photos
Tongass National Forest — fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Phocena Bay Cabin

Share:
KETCHIKAN, AK, AK★ 4 (5 reviews)From $60/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Phocena Bay Cabin sits on the south shore of Phocena Bay on the west side of Gravina Island approximately 15 miles from Ketchikan. The cabin was constructed in 1973 and moved to its current site in 1985. The cabin is available year-round and makes an excellent base for experiencing this corner of Alaska with its recreation options, beautiful scenery and abundant wildlife.

Best for:AnglersHikersBoatersWildlife 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 RingsElectric Hookups
Recreation
Picnic TablesFishing
Family & Pets
Drinking WaterFirewood for Sale

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:✕ Require hookups — no electrical or water hookups available✕ Cannot arrange floatplane or boat transportation — only accessible by these methods✕ Need a large campground — only 1 tent site available

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

federal campground with limited availability

Mooring buoy available in Phocena Bay for boat access

Firewood sold on-site; reviewers note it is pre-stocked in the cabin

Best: Year-round

Cabin available year-round per RIDB official description

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: Harbor seals, humpback whales, North American river otters, Sitka black-tailed deer, and marbled murrelets documented in the area

Location

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

Approximately 15 air miles and 25 water miles from Ketchikan on the south shore of Phocena Bay on the west side of Gravina Island. Accessible by floatplane or by boat. A mooring buoy is located in Phocena Bay. Refer to USGS Ketchikan A-6. Please consult local tide tables before departing for the cabin.

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 Phocena Bay Cabin cost per night?+
Phocena Bay Cabin costs $60 per night. Hookup options: No hookups.
What season is Phocena Bay Cabin open?+
Phocena Bay Cabin is open Year-round. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Phocena Bay Cabin have hookups?+
No hookups.
What is the maximum RV length at Phocena Bay Cabin?+
Phocena Bay Cabin is primarily a tent camping facility.
How do I make reservations at Phocena Bay Cabin?+
Phocena Bay 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 Phocena Bay Cabin?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Phocena Bay Cabin is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Phocena Bay Cabin open, and what are check-in times?+
Phocena Bay 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.

$60 /night★ 4 (5)
SeasonYear-round
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Phocena Bay Cabin cost per night?+
What season is Phocena Bay Cabin open?+
Does Phocena Bay Cabin have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Signal Creek Campground

Ketchikan, AK

From $10/night

Kegan Cove Cabin

CRAIG, AK

From $35/night

Kegan Creek Cabin

CRAIG, AK

From $25/night

Last Chance Campground

Ketchikan, AK

From $10/night

Own a campground nearby?

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

List your campground →
$60 /nightNo booking fees
+TRIPCheck availability
Phocena Bay Cabin — Tongass National Forest | CamperWatch