Camp Observer1 of 4 photos
Jack Bay Cabin
Overview
Jack Bay Cabin is located at the east end of Jack Bay in the Chugach National Forest. Visitors to the cabin will find many opportunities for recreation and relaxation in the vicinity.Access to the site is by float plane or boat only. The flight is typically 15 minutes from Valdez or 30 minutes from Cordova. It is 20 miles from Valdez by boat and 70 miles from Cordova. Tides affect access to this cabin, so it is important to check local tide information. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.
Recreation
Anglers will find good pink salmon fishing steps away from the cabin's front door. Coho fishing is good later in the year in nearby creeks.Razor clams, eel and crabs can be found while beachcombing at low tide.
Boating is the most efficient way to explore Jack Bay. Otherwise, viewing harbor seals and sea otters from the front deck is a fantastic pastime.
Hunters can take advantage of a long hunting season in the surrounding national forest. Bear season occurs during spring and fall, while deer season begins in late summer and lasts through late fall.
Facilities
The cabin is 12-by-14 feet and equipped with wooden bunks that sleep up to six guests. It is furnished with a table, benches, wood and oil stoves, a rainwater catchment barrel and an outdoor pit toilet.The cabin does not have running water, electricity, cut firewood or heating oil. Visitors must bring their own supply of drinking water, firewood and #1 stove oil for the oil stove.
Visitors must bring food, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, a cook stove, matches, cooking gear, lanterns or flashlights, toilet paper, a first aid kit and garbage bags. All trash and food must be packed out, and visitors are expected to clean the cabin before leaving.
Natural Features
Jack Bay is located southeast of the Valdez Narrows, hemmed in by steep mountains. The cabin sits at the edge of a grassy clearing overlooking the bay. A thick temperate rainforest of spruce and hemlock backs up to the cabin, with an understory of shrubs, fern and moss-covered logs.From mountains rising from shoreline, waterfalls surge from ice fields and glaciers.
Wildlife in the area abounds, including Sitka black-tailed deer, mountain goat and brown bear (learn more about bear safety).
Nearby Attractions
Jack Bay State Marine Park is located 15 miles from Valdez, southeast of the Valdez Narrows. The uplands of the park consist of alder, muskeg, salt marsh and old-growth forest of spruce and hemlock. The northern arm of Jack Bay within the marine park becomes shallow a quarter-mile out and caution is recommended. Although the bay can be used as a fair weather anchorage, it is not protected. Access to the area is by boat.Camp site features
Across 1 camp site:
- Largest party: 6 people
Fees
Only one change per reservation for all Alaska cabins is allowed. Change is
defined as a modification to the start or end date of the reservation; after
one change has been made, if additional changes are desired, the customer must
cancel the current reservation and re-book the new dates.
Directions
Access to the site is by float plane or boat only. The flight is typically 15
minutes from Valdez or a 30 minutes from Cordova. To travel by boat is 20
miles from Valdez and 70 miles from Cordova. Tides influence travel to the
cabin. Click here for local tide information.
Inclement weather conditions may cause an extension of your trip during any
time of the year and winter access can be difficult due to snow and ice
conditions. Guests should bring extra supplies to last 2-5 days Please contact
the Cordova Ranger District at (907) 424-7661 prior to arrival for more
detailed information about safety precautions.
Stay Limit
Check in from 12 PM, check out by 12 PM.
Reviews
Ratings (16)
5 stars
9
4 stars
6
2 stars
1
Olia M
Loop:Area Jack Bay Cabin
Site:C11
Reviewed 2 years ago
This place is a pure gem. The views from the cabins are epic no matter the weather conditions. We had three adults and two kids and the cabin was just perfect. The cabin though wasn’t clean( whoever used it before us left it pretty dirty). I’ve read some reviews from 2020 about filthy foam pads, it’s 2024 and those foam pads are still there! Please !!! REMOVE THOSE FILTHY FOAM MATTRESSES OUT ASAP PLEASE!!!!
It’s time , the cabin is tiny and they are too disgusting.
We made sure it was nice and clean when we left. We had a visitor the early morning on a day two (black bear came to the door and was wondering around for a while). He was peaceful and left up the trail.
We did some fishing ( didn’t catch anything close by, had to cruise way out)
Saw many eagles, sea otters and even sea lions. We had two kids with us and they enjoyed playing by the water
Mike J
Loop:Area Jack Bay Cabin
Site:C11
Reviewed 2 years ago
Great cabin close to Valdez. Just need to fix the low tide. ; )
Bernard F
Loop:Area Jack Bay Cabin
Site:C11
Reviewed 2 years ago
This is a very comfortable, well maintained cabin. The taxes that are used to pay the staff responsible for this cabin is money well spent.
Valerie P
Loop:Area Jack Bay Cabin
Site:C11
Reviewed 3 years ago
Our family of 5 and small dog stayed in Jack Bay cabin from 6/2-6/5/2023.
We loved how remote the cabin was and that there was no sounds from boats passing by the bay, and no one else came down to where the cabin was in the bay. We didn’t like that it was a 2 1/2 hour boat ride on top of our 4 1/2 hour drive, but knew about that before signing up.
There was a nearby waterfall that the kids liked playing in and a very small creek that you need taller than ankle boots to cross to get to the waterfall. We anchored our sailboat in about 40 ft of water (tide was around +13ft) which worked well for our stay. The tide that ranged from +13 to -3 came up to right below the fire pit at high tide.
The cabin seemed to be older and smaller than most of the other cabins we have been to. With two tables inside it was very crammed. Also, I recommend to whomever stays next remove the foam mattresses on the beds. We fortunately had backpacking air mattresses which was the only thing that saved our sleeping bag from what we later determined was urine (not sure if from a dog or a human) that had soaked into the foam mattress - bottom left bed. Other repairs that could be done to improve cabin was interior locks on cabin and outhouse.
When we arrived there was a smattering of different things left at the cabin. The best surprise was there was several camp chairs (4 or 5) which made sitting by the fire nice since there were no outside benches or tables. There was also a variety of pans and a cook stove (though I didn’t test it).
Also, if you want a bathroom with a view this one had a great view from the large window. All 4 windows in the cabin had new screens that were not ripped which was nice for a breeze when it got warm out.
Overall, I might be back. I am not certain. I preferred another nearby cabin that was bigger, closer to Valdez, and had an awesome creek right next to it. This one offered more remoteness which made unplugging easier.
Bittner B
Loop:Area Jack Bay Cabin
Site:C11
Reviewed 4 years ago
Views were amazing. Cabin is well maintained (forest service arrived when my reservation ended and was doing more upkeep and maintenance). Stove runs great burned about 1.5 gallons a night.
Greg M
Loop:Area Jack Bay Cabin
Site:C11
Reviewed 4 years ago
The cabin was great. Lots of wildlife and calm water. Cell service was spotty but it's enough to send and receive texts.
Brian E
Loop:Area Jack Bay Cabin
Site:C11
Reviewed 4 years ago
Everything was as expected because we stayed their in the past.
The heater was broken from the winter snow load.
the stove pipe was pushed down and pulled the bracket from the roof.
the stove sat ona slant and couldnt be used in current condition.
we brought alternate heat options so we used them instead.
Morrison F
Loop:Area Jack Bay Cabin
Site:C11
Reviewed 5 years ago
A great experience, everything was as advertised. The stove worked well to kee us warm. Do be aware of the tides if you are on a tight schedule
Morrison F
Loop:Area Jack Bay Cabin
Site:C11
Reviewed 5 years ago
Everything was as advertised & it exceeded our expectations. I’d stay again
Greg M
Loop:Area Jack Bay Cabin
Site:C11
Reviewed 5 years ago
Views from the cabin are beautiful. It's tucked away and relatively out of the wind. The stove is easy to use and very warm. It's a great place to packraft some flat water and watch wildlife.
Paul M
Loop:Area Jack Bay Cabin
Site:C11
Reviewed 6 years ago
Bring some heating oil for the stove, beautiful place!
Kenneth S
Loop:Area Jack Bay Cabin
Site:C11
Reviewed 6 years ago
Fun cozy cabin for our family of 4. Beautiful scenery, peaceful weekend getaway. Person who used cabin before us left the oil fuel valve wide open. Had way too much heating oil in bottom of stove to deal with when warming up stove. Please remember to shut off valve outside from tank, and valve on stove inside. Foam sleeping pads were filthy, Looks like a dog gave birth on one of them. Forest Service recreation crew: please incinerate these nasty foam pads ASAP! Cabin needed a good cleaning, but other then smelling like a diesel refinery the first few hours and cleaning up after previous users, the experience was great. Good boat anchorage and safe from low tide if you anchor in 35 to 45 ft of water. Use heating oil for stove. Not wood like previous bozo's used. USFS superintendent: Please lower cabin cost to $45 per night the way it used to be. Its not the Ritz Carlton. Thanks -
david c
Loop:Area Jack Bay Cabin
Site:C11
Reviewed 7 years ago
Had a good time. Remember to bring fuel for the furnace, it was great to dry clothes in the cabin and have heat.
Kristen M
Loop:Area Jack Bay Cabin
Site:C11
Reviewed 7 years ago
We had a good time! Cabin was in decent shape and worked well for us. The heater /stove kept us nice and warm
Kahlil W
Loop:Area Jack Bay Cabin
Site:C11
Reviewed 7 years ago
Not a lot of opportunities for hiking but the fishing was fun. A lot of rock fish to be had in addition to salmon if they are in while you are there. Cabin is comfortable. Remember to bring fuel for the heater.
Popularity
Busy · 78%
Busiest in August, when about 78% of sites are booked. Based on 9 years of reservations.