Starrigavan Campsites
STARRIGAVAN CAMPSITES
Part of Tongass National Forest
Overview
Starrigavan Campsites lie within Starrigavan Recreation Area about seven miles north of Sitka. Visitors enjoy hiking, photography, wildlife viewing, picnicking, fishing and kayaking. Learn more about the campsites here.Access to Sitka is by boat or airplane. The campsites are a two-minute drive from the Alaska Marine Highway Sitka Ferry Terminal or a seven-mile drive from downtown Sitka or the airport.
Facilities
This primitive camping area is fully accessible and offers a variety of accommodations, including group tent sites, individual campsites (both drive in, one is pull through, and hike-in) and Starrigavan Creek Cabin. Several sites overlook Starrigavan Bay; others are close to Starrigavan Creek. Maximum RV length accommodated is 38 feet.Two small group tent sites accommodate up to 20 people, offering twice the amount of tent space and vehicle parking as individual campsites. They also have covered cooking shelters with two picnic tables, a large grill and a fire ring with two log benches.
Picnic tables, campfire rings, gravel tent pads and gravel parking spurs are furnished at the individual sites. Vault toilets, drinking water, bear-proof food lockers and seasonal trash collection are provided. Firewood is provided for a small fee. A dump station is located in Sitka, seven miles away.
Natural Features
The campsites are situated within a typical temperate rainforest of hemlock and spruce trees with salmonberry bushes, low shrubs and mosses covering the forest floor.The Starrigavan Recreation Area is home to a diverse range of forest, estuary and marine habitats. Depending on the season, visitors might spot brown bear, spawning coho (silver) and pink (humpy) salmon, common merganser, bufflehead, bald eagle, great blue heron, kingfisher, river otter or Sitka black-tailed deer.
Recreation
Hiking, picnicking and wildlife viewing are popular pursuits at Starrigavan. Visitors also enjoy fishing in saltwater and freshwater areas. Many bird and wildlife viewing opportunities exist. Hiking options include the Estuary Life Boardwalk Trail, Forest and Muskeg Trail, the Mosquito Cove Trail and numerous intertwining path and roadways of the recreation area.For information about fishing permits and seasons, visit the Alaska Department of Fish and Game .
Nearby Attractions
The State of Alaska's Old Sitka State Historic Site is nearby. Visitors can take half or full-day kayak trips to Katlian Bay and Siginaka Islands.Important Notices
- Open year-round.
Vehicle access varies throughout the year depending on daylight hours. Summer open gate hours are generally 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m starting in late August as the daylight hours diminish. Please call the Sitka Ranger District (907-747-6671) for questions about gate hours.
Vehicle access during the winter will depend on the presence of snow/ice on roadway and winter host availability for managing gates; check with the Sitka Ranger District (907-747-6671) for current conditions. When access gates are closed, customer equipment/supplies must be packed in by non-motorized means; parking is available off highway near the entrance to the recreation area.
Access gates are closed and traffic is not permitted to enter or exit the recreation area outside established open hours. Exceptions are made on a case by case basis for customers with a campsite reservation who are arriving or departing on the Alaska Marine Highway during hours the gates are closed. Contact the Sitka Ranger District (907-747-6671) for additional information.
November 1 through April 30: All Campsites available on walk-up basis only with payment made in one of the fee collection boxes in the recreation area or at the Sitka Ranger District office.
- Starrigavan Host is located in cabin at last left-hand turn before the end of the state highway.
- Food storage required.
- An active population of brown bears inhabits Starrigavan. Be bear aware by: being noisy, storing food in vehicles or high in a tree when not actively eating at table or around fire ring, keeping dogs leashed and under control, cleaning food remnants off grills, packing garbage to bear-proof garbage cans provided at the host site and not cleaning or smoking fish within Starrigavan Recreation Area.
- Tent pads are gravel; for comfort, additional padding may be needed under tent and/or sleeping bags.
- Additional campsites available on first-come, first-served basis.
- Use of recreation area by a commercial outfitter or guide is not allowed; institutional outfitters including universities, schools and clubs may require a special use permit before making reservations.
- Click here to learn more about the 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.
Available Activities
- FISHING - Fishing
- INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS - Educational Programs
- CAMPING - Camping
- HISTORIC & CULTURAL SITE - Museum
- BOATING - Boating
- BIKING - Biking
Directions
Starrigavan Recreation Area is located 7 miles northeast of Sitka at the end of Halibut Point Road and 3/4 mile from the local Alaska Marine Highway Ferry Terminal. There are no roads to Sitka. Access is via the Alaska Marine Highway or Alaska Airlines. <br /><br /> Upon exiting the Ferry Terminal parking lot, turn left. Estuary and Backpackers Loop are the last right hand turn before the end of the highway. Bayside Loop is the last left hand turn before the end of the highway. <br /><br /> From the airport, go across Japonski Bridge to downtown Sitka. Take Halibut Point Road north 7 miles to Starrigavan Recreation Area.
Contact Information
Phone: 907-747-6671
SITKA RANGER DISTRICT2108 HALIBUT POINT RD
SITKA, AK 99835
Rental Options
Available Campsites
- Site 016, Loop ESTU, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 041, Loop BAYS, Type Walk To
- Site 023, Loop ESTU, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 001, Loop ESTU, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 011, Loop ESTU, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 019, Loop ESTU, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 040, Loop BAYS, Type Walk To
- Site 002, Loop ESTU, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 030H, Loop BACK, Type Walk To
- Site 039, Loop BAYS, Type Walk To
- Site 024, Loop ESTU, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 027H, Loop BACK, Type Walk To
- Site 007, Loop ESTU, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 012, Loop ESTU, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 013, Loop ESTU, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 005, Loop ESTU, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 022, Loop ESTU, Type Group Tent Only Area Nonelectric
- Site 021, Loop ESTU, Type Group Tent Only Area Nonelectric
- Site 015, Loop ESTU, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 025, Loop ESTU, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 029H, Loop BACK, Type Walk To
- Site 008, Loop ESTU, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 017, Loop ESTU, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 010, Loop ESTU, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 028H, Loop BACK, Type Walk To
- Site 009, Loop ESTU, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 014, Loop ESTU, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 032H, Loop BACK, Type Walk To
- Site 004, Loop ESTU, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 003, Loop ESTU, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 020, Loop ESTU, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 018, Loop ESTU, Type Standard Nonelectric
- Site 006, Loop ESTU, Type Walk To
- Site 031H, Loop BACK, Type Walk To
