Tongass National Forest

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Campground Information

A Night in the Forest
Whether you prefer camping with your car, backcountry trekking, or driving a recreational vehicle (RV), you can use and enjoy campgrounds in the Tongass National Forest.

Forest Settings
National forest campgrounds are less developed than many RV parks. Most have running water, picnic tables, pit toilets, tent sites and parking spurs for your car or trailer. Drinking water and trash collection are provided in campgrounds with fees. Many campgrounds also have nearby picnic areas, where camping is not allowed. Several campgrounds also have RV dump stations.

Campground Fees and Use Limits
Campground fees vary from $6 to $28 per night, with most in the $8 to $10 range, depending on available facilities. No fee is charged for campgrounds without water or for picnic areas.

Mendenhall, Starrigavan, Signal Creek, Last Chance, Eagle's Nest and Harris River campgrounds have sites that may be reserved in advance. To make reservations, call the toll free number at 1-877-444-6777. An $8.65 reservation fee is charged in addition to the campground use fee. Other campgrounds may be added to the reservation system, so check with the reservation center to see if you can reserve your campsite.

In nonreservation campgrounds, self-service fee stations at campground entrances give fee schedules and payment instructions. Fee payment is strictly enforced, so to avoid citation, it is important to pay your fees as soon as you select a campsite. You may stay in a single campground for a maximum of 14 nights.

Campfires
Campfire areas are provided in many campgrounds. Do not cut live trees for your fire. Green wood makes very poor campfires, and cutting down the live trees in the area destroys the appearance of the campground and surrounding area.

Campfires may be prohibited in some areas where dry conditions exist. In some campgrounds a private concessionaire provides bundles of firewood for a small fee since suitable firewood is often not available.

Enjoy your campfire, please help us to prevent forest fires.

Keeping it Clean
Garbage dumpsters are provided in most campgrounds for your use. Trash in the toilets increases campground operating costs, so we appreciate your consideration.

Have a Safe and Enjoyable Visit!
We hope you enjoy visiting your National Forest campgrounds. For your safety the discharge of firearms is not allowed in campgrounds. Drive slowly, watching for other campers. Drink only from approved water sources to avoid giardiasis infection.

Campgrounds in the Tongass National Forest

Prince of Wales Island

• Eagles Nest (11 sites)
• Harris River Campground (14 sites)
• Horseshoe Hole Campsite (2 sites)
• Lake No. 3 Campsite (2 sites)
• Staney Bridge Campsite (2 sites)

Ketchikan

• Signal Creek* (24 sites)
• Three C's (4 sites)
• Last Chance* (19 sites)

* These campgrounds have a limited number of reservable sites. To reserve a site, call 1-877-444-6777.

Wrangell

• Nemo Campsites (8 sites)
• Lower Salamander Recreation Site (3 sites)

Petersburg

• Ohmer Creek (10 sites)

Sitka

• Sawmill Creek (11 sites)
• Starrigavan(35 sites)

Juneau

• Auke Village (12 sites)
• Mendenhall Lake (68 sites)

For additional information, please contact the
Southeast Alaska Discovery Center
50 Main Street
Ketchikan, AK 99901-6559
(907) 228-6220
FAX: (907) 228-6234
email: r10_Ketchikan_Alaska_Info@fs.fed.us

USDA Forest Service - Tongass National Forest
Last Modified: April 05, 2006