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El Capitan Campground

Whale Pass, Alaska · USDA Forest Service

Hookups
El Capitan Campground — official Recreation.gov photo

Photo: Recreation.gov

About

This waterfront campground offers a scenic view of the beautiful El Capitan Passage. This site has access to fishing, hunting, kayaking, hiking, caving and marine dock. It provides a remote, scenic setting for recreation and relaxation on the Tongass National Forest.Prince of Wales Island Visitor Guide can be found on the Prince of Wales Chamber of Commerce website .The El Capitan Campground is nearby many opportunities Prince of Wales island has to offer. Salmon fishing is popular during the summer months as well as fall deer hunting, beach combing and other marine sports including paddle craft and sea kayaking. The nearby El Capitan Cave offers guided tours during the summer season and is the longest mapped cave in Alaska at over two miles.There is access to an accessible outhouse as well as a nearby covered picnic pavillion and marine dock.The El Capitan Campground is in an area of high geologic interest including the El Cap Cave . The surrounding forest boasts old growth species such as yellow cedar, red cedar, hemlock, and Sitka spruce. There is abundant wildlife viewing for both aquatic and terrestrial species including Sitka black tail deer, black bear, harbor seals, otters and many fish species. Prince of Wales Island has runs of every salmon species except chinook as well as populations of cutthroat trout and Dolly Varden.

Directions

El Capitan Campground can be reached by vehicle, boat, or plane. By road, follow Forest Service Road 20 to Forest Service Road 15 and take a left for about a mile (1.6 km) to the cave. Watch for signs. From both Thorne Bay and Craig is an estimated 3-hour drive. There is a Forest Service dock for use by boats and planes, but they should not be left unattended. No boats over 24' are allowed. Boats over 24' will need to anchore out and skiff in.

Location

Map tiles © OpenStreetMap.

Details

State
Alaska
City / area
Whale Pass
Agency
USDA Forest Service
Parent area
Tongass National Forest
Campsites
3
Reservable
Yes
Typical price
$15 / night
Rating
3.67 / 5 (3 reviews on Recreation.gov)
Equipment
See Recreation.gov

Reserve on Recreation.gov

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