How to Rent Cabins

• 1. Rent the cabin. These reservations are done at: www.recreation.gov
  1. The reservation system opens 6 months prior to any date. The most popular cabins go quickly. The most popular cabins are: Karta River, Karta Lake, McDonald, Jordan & Heckman.
  2. Karta River and some of the other cabins that are on saltwater have to be “worked” at high tide – so your dates need to be planned around high tides at workable times for our company.
  3. The cabin rental times are from Noon to Noon – so we usually take people to the lakes in the afternoons after our tours are completed.
  4. I recommend that you rent the cabin the day after your intended pickup date in case weather causes delayed pickup.
  5. Different cabins offer different options. Some are better for hiking around than others. Some have different times of year for different species of fish.
  6. Some cabins have wood stoves – the USFS may or may not supply chopped wood at these locations. Some have oil stoves. It is up to you to confirm what type of stove a cabin has. If you are unsure, please call the USFS Misty Fjords Ranger District office (907) 225-2148.
  7. To order the 5 gal. bucket of stove oil for delivery to our warehouse prior to flying out call Crowley Oil (907) 225-2163 There are also locally made “fire bricks” available at Walmart or Tongass Marine Store. Generally 1 brick burns for 3 hours.
  8. The USFS website provides good information about the different cabins – what to expect, how large, etc.
• 2. When you fly into Ketchikan – it is advisable to fly in the day before you want to go out to the lake. This allows time for grocery & supply shopping. The Ketchikan International Airport is on Gravina Island, so there is a ferry that you need to board to come across to the Ketchikan side. The fee is $6.00 per person. Your hotel can pick you up on the Ketchikan side if you request that.
• 3. You can rent camping gear, coolers, motor etc. from Family Air Tours/The Hookup (907) 247-1305 (see attached list). They also rent out InReach satellite units. They are located next door and will deliver your order to our warehouse prior to your flight.
• 4. When you purchase groceries – ask the grocery store to put the items in boxes for a camping trip. It should be sorted by frozen, refrigerated and dry items. Safeway offers an excellent shopping service – you place your order on line and arrange a pick up time for the date of your flight.
• 5. You can purchase fishing license, fishing supplies and propane cylinders at Tongass Marine store or Walmart. Fishing licenses are also available online at https://www.alaska.gov
• 6. You will want a combination of block ice and crushed ice. Tongass Marine has both. The grocery stores only carry crushed.
• 7. Depending on the time of year and which cabin you choose, there can be bears in the area. Most people take bear spray. You are allowed to take firearms – but must have the weapon unloaded and the ammunition must be carried separately. If you choose to bring a firearm – be sure to check with the airline you fly into Ketchikan on what their requirements are. You must inform us that you are bringing a firearm on board the aircraft.
• 8. You will need to have properly filled out Hazmat forms for items that are listed as Hazmat items in the 49CFR. Hazmat items will need to be properly labeled and packaged. It is your responsibility to ensure this is in order before trying to have these items loaded onto the plane.