Freds Creek Cabin

Fred's Creek Cabin is 10 miles west of Sitka on the southeastern shore of Kruzof Island and is available year round, weather permitting. Its proximity to a creek and a hiking trail that leads to the cone of a dormant volcano makes it an excellent base to explore this beautiful area. The cabin can be accessed by boat, though erratic waves on Kruzof Island can make landings difficult; helicopters may land during low tide. The 6.7-mile Mount Edgecumbe Trail offers a gradual hike to the cone of Mount Edgecumbe through miles of muskeg and forest. At the cone the trail becomes very steep, but hikers are rewarded with panoramic views on clear days. Cabin visitors may encounter tour groups passing near the cabin to access the trailhead. Guests also enjoy beachcombing, viewing the breaking surf on the rugged shoreline and exploring varied pumice and volcanic rock formations on the beach and in Fred's Creek. Deer hunting is also an option. The 15-by-18-foot Pan-abode-style wood cabin can accommodate 8 people, with plywood bunks downstairs and a full sleeping loft accessed by a staircase. A wood stove for heat, axe or splitting maul, table, benches, cooking counter and an outhouse are provided, and a deck extends off the front. There are no mattresses or cooking utensils: bring bedding, a cook stove and cookware, a lantern, food, a fire extinguisher, fire starter, raingear and rubber boots. Water is available from Fred's Creek but must be treated; bringing your own is recommended. A mooring buoy is available on a first come, first served basis and is not reserved for cabin guests. Mooring buoys are configured using a 4200-pound concrete block with 90 feet of 1 5/8-inch stud link chain, and mariners are responsible for determining how suitable an anchoring system is for the size of their craft. Care should be taken when unloading and anchoring, as the surf breaks along a pumice-rock shoreline and no protected anchorage is available. The oceanfront cabin sits on Sitka Sound on a rocky Kruzof Island shoreline surrounded by fairly flat terrain, with Fred's Creek flowing to saltwater just north and a spruce and hemlock forest covering the area. It is 5 miles south of Brent's Beach Cabin and just east of Mount Edgecumbe, a 3,200-foot dormant volcano that dominates the landscape. Humpback whales can often be seen offshore in early spring and late fall, along with sea otters, sea lions, puffins and other sea birds. Brown bear frequent the area.