Control Lake Cabin

$35.00/night

Overview

Control Lake Cabin, built in 1969, offers guests recreation, relaxation and a unique lodging experience in the central portion of Prince of Wales Island in southeastern Alaska. The remote site offers a scenic setting for fishing, boating, hiking and wildlife viewing, all within the vicinity of the cabin.

The site can either be accessed by vehicle and then paddling in by boat or by float plane. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.

Recreation

Anglers will find Control Lake to be a scenic setting for fishing. The lake supports healthy populations of cutthroat trout, dolly varden and sockeye salmon.

Hunters can take advantage of the 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 the late fall.

Guests are welcome to use the aluminum skiff with oars available at the cabin, but are responsible for bringing and using their own personal floatation devices.

Facilities

The cabin is large multi-room structure that once served as the Ranger District office. It is furnished with wooden bunkbeds (without mattresses) and some rustic log furniture. It can accommodate up to six guests.

The cabin is equipped with a table, benches, a wood stove for heat and an outside toilet. Other amenities include cooking counters, an axe, splitting maul and a broom. Firewood may be available, but the supply cannot be guaranteed.

The cabin does not have running water or electricity. Guests must bring their own food, water, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, cook stove, stove fuel, matches, cooking gear/utensils, light source (lantern), toilet paper, first aid kit and garbage bags.

Water is available from the lake, but must be filtered, boiled or chemically treated before drinking. Click here for more cabin details.

Natural Features

The cabin sits in a grassy area just off the shore of Control Lake. The shoreline is surrounded by a scattering of sparse lodgepole pines with muskeg openings extended for several miles west of the lake.

Wildlife in the area abounds, including a variety of waterfowl and insects in neighboring ponds, eagles, marten, mink, otter, Sitka black-tailed deer and black bears. Learn more about bear safety in the Tongass National Forest.

Nearby Attractions

It is an easy 18 mile drive to lower Thorne River, which has excellent fishing, boating, hiking trails, wildlife viewing areas and day-use areas.

Camp site features

Across 1 camp site:

  • Largest party: 8 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

From State Highway 929, Control Lake Cabin is located 41 road miles from Hollis, 20 road miles from Craig and 15 miles from Thorne Bay. From Highway 929, access to the cabin is about a 20 minute boat paddle away. An aluminum skiff with oars is provided by the Forest Service. The boat can use a long shaft motor, though it is not provided. Please pull skiff up on dock and pull plug. The cabin is also accessible by float plane; although in fall, winter, and early spring, the cabin may be inaccessible as float planes cannot land on the frozen lake surface. Click here for information about reaching Forest Service Cabins. 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 Thorne Bay Ranger District at 907-828-3304 prior to arrival for more detailed information about safety precautions.

Stay Limit

Check in from 1 PM, check out by 12 PM.

Reviews

4 reviews
5 stars
2
3 stars
2
Austin S
Loop:Area Control Lake Cabin
Site:
Reviewed a month ago
One of our go to cabins when we want to get away. great place to let the dogs run and Can hike or boat in. Make sure you bring your own wood and water to this cabin
Mike M
Loop:Area Control Lake Cabin
Site:
Reviewed a year ago
Cabin was tidy. No firewood. Surrounding grounds had an excessive amount of littering. Jon boat only had one paddle(other was broken), so it was difficult to access the cabin and then return to the dock with only one. Tea light candles left from previous guest was nice and cozy and the lakeview was beautiful. Overall 4/10.
Carrie M
Loop:Area Control Lake Cabin
Site:
Reviewed 3 years ago
The rains must be taken into consideration. The boat was complete full of water therefore mostly underwater, and there was only one semi-functional bailer. We decided to hike in but due to all the water, the lake level was pretty high and the 'local's trail' was nearly impossible to navigate. The cabin was fine, luckily we were warned about there not being any firewood, so we were a little prepared but, was not as much as if we had the boat.
Scott R
Loop:Area Control Lake Cabin
Site:
Reviewed 5 years ago
Cabin was great. Very Alaskan and provided a genuine deer hunting experience. Keep in mind, you can paddle to this cabin, but you can also hike in from the big pull out with the gravel piles!
Availability

See the Camp Sites section below to find detailed booking availability.

Reserve
Popularity: Moderate

Busiest in November, when about 46% of guest capacity is reserved. Based on 3 years of reservations.

Season dates

Off Peak season

Oct 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026

Reservable online

Off Peak season

Jan 1, 2027 – Apr 30, 2027

Reservable online

Peak season

May 1, 2027 – Sep 30, 2027

Reservable online

Off Peak season

Oct 1, 2027 – Dec 31, 2027

Reservable online

Off Peak season

Jan 1, 2028 – Apr 30, 2028

Reservable online

Peak season

May 1, 2028 – Sep 30, 2028

Reservable online

Off Peak season

Oct 1, 2028 – Dec 31, 2028

Reservable online

Camp Sites

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