Plenty Cutthroat Cabin

Plenty Cutthroat Cabin is situated at the west end of Orchard Lake on Revillagigedo Island, 35 air miles from Ketchikan. The cabin is available year-round and makes an excellent base for this corner of Alaska. It is remote and accessible only by float plane or boat, depending on conditions; visitors arriving by boat should expect to anchor in Klu Bay and hike 1 mile to the cabin from the Shrimp Bay trailhead. This primitive cabin has no electricity, indoor plumbing or cell phone coverage, and visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety. Fishing, hiking and boating are popular options at this cabin, with cutthroat trout and kokanee salmon in Orchard Lake. A 14-foot aluminum skiff with oars is provided for rowing around the lake, but visitors must provide their own life jackets; the skiff can use a short-shaft motor, which is not provided. The 12-by-12-foot pan-abode style log cabin accommodates 6 people with 2 single and 2 double bunks. Other amenities include a table and benches, a cooking counter, food storage, and a broom and dustpan. A tiny wood stove is provided for heat, and an outhouse is located near the cabin. Drinking water is not available at the cabin, so visitors must bring their own supply; water is also available from the lake and nearby creeks, and should be treated first. Firewood cannot be guaranteed either — bring your own firewood or biobricks and firewood gathering tools. Other items to bring include bedding, cooking gear, lighting, food and all other supplies, and rain gear and boots are recommended. Visitors are expected to pack out their trash, gear and food and clean the cabin before leaving. The cabin is tucked into a temperate rainforest of old-growth cedar, Sitka spruce and western hemlock with views of the lake and the forested mountain peaks on the other side. Visitors hiking the trail between Shrimp Bay and the cabin can access an overlook to view one of the twin waterfalls spilling out of Orchard Lake. The area supports populations of Sitka black-tailed deer, black bear, wolf, beaver, marten, mink and otter, and a variety of birds may be spotted in and around the lake.