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Control Lake Cabin, built in 1969, offers guests recreation, relaxation and a unique lodging experience in the central portion of Prince of Wales Island in southeastern Alaska. The remote site offers a scenic setting for fishing, boating, hiking and wildlife viewing, all within the vicinity of the cabin.
The site can either be accessed by vehicle and then paddling in by boat or by float plane. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.
Anglers will find Control Lake to be a scenic setting for fishing. The lake supports healthy populations of cutthroat trout, dolly varden and sockeye salmon.
Hunters can take advantage of the long hunting season in the surrounding national forest. Bear season occurs during spring and fall, while deer season begins in late summer and lasts through the late fall.
Guests are welcome to use the aluminum skiff with oars available at the cabin, but are responsible for bringing and using their own personal floatation devices.
The cabin is large multi-room structure that once served as the Ranger District office. It is furnished with wooden bunkbeds (without mattresses) and some rustic log furniture. It can accommodate up to six guests.
The cabin is equipped with a table, benches, a wood stove for heat and an outside toilet. Other amenities include cooking counters, an axe, splitting maul and a broom. Firewood may be available, but the supply cannot be guaranteed.
The cabin does not have running water or electricity. Guests must bring their own food, water, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, cook stove, stove fuel, matches, cooking gear/utensils, light source (lantern), toilet paper, first aid kit and garbage bags.
Water is available from the lake, but must be filtered, boiled or chemically treated before drinking. [Click here](http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/tongass/recreation/camping-cabins/recarea/?recid=78667&actid=101
) for more cabin details.
The cabin sits in a grassy area just off the shore of Control Lake. The shoreline is surrounded by a scattering of sparse lodgepole pines with muskeg openings extended for several miles west of the lake.
Wildlife in the area abounds, including a variety of waterfowl and insects in neighboring ponds, eagles, marten, mink, otter, Sitka black-tailed deer and black bears. Learn more about [bear safety](http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=livingwithbears.bearcountry) in the Tongass National Forest.
It is an easy 18 mile drive to lower Thorne River, which has excellent fishing, boating, hiking trails, wildlife viewing areas and day-use areas.
From State Highway 929, Control Lake Cabin is located 41 road miles from Hollis, 20 road miles from Craig and 15 miles from Thorne Bay. From Highway 929, access to the cabin is about a 20 minute boat paddle away. An aluminum skiff with oars is provided by the Forest Service. The boat can use a long shaft motor, though it is not provided. Please pull skiff up on dock and pull plug. The cabin is also accessible by float plane; although in fall, winter, and early spring, the cabin may be inaccessible as float planes cannot land on the frozen lake surface. Click here for information about reaching Forest Service Cabins. Inclement weather conditions may cause an extension of your trip during any time of the year and winter access can be difficult due to snow and ice conditions. Guests should bring extra supplies to last 2-5 days Please contact the Thorne Bay Ranger District at 907-828-3304 prior to arrival for more detailed information about safety precautions.
Only one change per reservation for all Alaska cabins is allowed. Change is defined as a modification to the start or end date of the reservation; after one change has been made, if additional changes are desired, the customer must cancel the current reservation and re-book the new dates.
First, the row boat is awful. The handles on the oars are too short putting you at a tremendous mechanical disadvantage. Also, one of the oars bites into the water more than the other constantly steering you off course. Rowing the boat was slow and torturous and I had to make 2 round trips to carry everyone and the gear. I wish we had brought a kicker.
Second, the cabin was filthy. The front door doesn't close. Fortunately there is a second door that does. Garbage was in the woodstove. The stove pipe was in poor condition and the damper on the flue was broken. The fire extinguisher was inspected in 2005 which might be the last time this cabin was serviced. I can't say if the propane heater works since we didn't try it, but it was beaten up and dirty.
Lastly, the outhouse was appalling. The pit was full and as you walk around the back you could see it brimming with you-know-what.
It's a fairly popular cabin and the USFS charges more for it than others. It would be nice if they would take care of it.
My kids still liked camping, but we won't go back there.
Beautiful place no amenities, you will need waders or canoe to the fish the lake.
Lake does have some big trout, be safe and check fishing regulations.
Fun trails & spacious cabin...everyone who stays there really cares & cleans up!
