Big Shaheen Cabin
Big Shaheen Cabin offers guests an opportunity for recreation, relaxation and a unique wilderness lodging experience in the central part of Admiralty Island in the Tongass National Forest. The remote site offers a scenic setting for hiking, fishing, canoeing and wildlife viewing, all within the vicinity of the cabin.
The cabin is one of three on Hasselborg Lake, which is seven miles long and part of the Admiralty Island Canoe Route.
Access to the cabin is float plane or canoe with portage. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.
The log cabin has two bedrooms and a living room/kitchen area. It is furnished with wooden bunks (no mattresses) and can accommodate up to eight people. The cabin is equipped with a table, benches, a cooking counter, an oil stove for heat, a broom and an outside toilet.
The cabin does not have running water or electricity. Guests must bring their own food, water, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, cook stove, matches, cooking gear/utensils, light source, No.1 stove oil (estimate about 10 to 20 gallons per week), toilet paper, first aid kit and garbage bags. Water from any natural
site must be filtered, boiled or chemically treated before drinking.
Click here for more cabin details.
Need to Know
- This facility is located in an extremely remote and wild area; before making a reservation, become aware of bear, water, and weather safety (including cold)
- Recreating in Alaska can present both obvious and hidden dangers; please be aware of your surroundings and be prepared for extended stays due to occasionally poor weather
- Water is not available at this facility; visitors must bring their own for drinking, cooking, and cleaning
- All garbage and food must be packed out
- The lake is on a flight path and has substantial overhead plane traffic
- Contact the Admiralty Island National Monument at 907-586-8800 prior to arrival for information about safety precautions
- Same day reservations are available for this facility
- Use of this cabin by a commercial operator, such as an outfitter or guide, is prohibited
- Learn more about Tongass National Forest
- Don't Move Firewood: Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by purchasing firewood near your destination and burning it on-site. For more information visit dontmovefirewood.org.
To ensure users have capability of using the skiffs, it is recommended that they bring their own 8 or 9 foot oars. Oars are provided once on an annual maintenance trip but are not guaranteed to still be on site or in working order.
Natural Features
At an elevation of 300 feet, the cabin is situated under a canopy of old growth forest, at the edge of scenic Hasselborg Lake. It is located in the Kootznoowoo Wilderness which encompasses 956,255 acres of the island. Dense spruce and hemlock forests, glacier-fed streams, lakes and muskeg openings define the landscape, while rocky peaks tower along the island's high crest, reaching elevations of over 3,000 feet.
Sitka black-tailed deer make a home in the dense forest and bald eagles perch in treetops along most beaches. Brown bears frequent the area as well (learn more about bear safety).
Nearby Attractions
Admiralty Island also has a rich cultural heritage, which is evident in the traditional native village of Angoon, the island's only permanent settlement.
Recreation
Hasselborg Lake offers fishing for cutthroat trout, Dolly Varden and kokanee salmon. A small fishing boat with oars is provided at the cabin. Guests will need to bring their own life jackets and may choose to bring a small (10-horsepower), outboard motor.
Several primitive trails extend from the cabin into the forest. Little Shaheen cabin is close by, connected by a 100-yard trail. Other trails can be accessed by boat. From Hasselborg Lake, trails lead to Lake Guerin, Beaver Lake, Lake McKinney, and Hasselborg River. Lake Guerin and Beaver Lake are on the Admiralty Island Canoe Route, offering guests access to pristine wilderness settings.
Contact Information
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ADMIRALITY NATIONAL MONUMENT JUNEAU AK
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 907-586-8800
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
Access to the cabin is by float plane or canoe with portage. It is about a 45-minute flight from Juneau. By canoe and portage, it is about 10 miles from Mole Harbor. Click here for information about Admiralty Island Canoe Route and portage. This cabin is in a designated Wilderness area, and access by helicopter is illegal.
In the fall, winter, and early spring, the cabin may be inaccessible due to frozen lake surface (float planes cannot land). The lake is typically ice-free from mid-May through November. Refer to USGS topographic map Sitka C-1, C-2. Click here for information about reaching Forest Service Cabins.
