Page 242 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Alaska

240  TR A VELERS ’ NEEDS

Talon Loge, on a private island, offers superb views of the Sitka shoreline
Campgrounds administered sites charge require pre-booking, and with
Alaska has two main types of nightly fees for pitching a few exceptions, are available
campgrounds – public and tent or parking an RV. Some to only one party at a time.
private. Generally, public campgrounds include pre-cut Because they get booked up
campgrounds occupy scenic firewood in the price of the quickly between June and
sites in national and state site. Most of these places are August, reserve in advance,
parks, wildlife refuges, forests, open from mid- or late May to especially in popular locations
recreation areas, and game early September. Those that such as Chugach State Park,
sanctuaries. The Alaska Public stay open through the winter Nancy Lake State Recreation
Lands Information Centers generally shut down the water Area, and in the Chugach
(APLIC) provide details on supply in early September. National Forest. National forest
public campgrounds, most cabins may be booked up to
of which are not reservable. six months in advance at
Lifetime Adventures makes Public Use Cabins www.recreation.gov, while
reservations for some Alaska In the Chugach and Tongass state park cabins can be
State Park campgrounds. National Forests, as well as in booked with Alaska State
Reserve Denali takes several state parks and Parks Public Use Cabins.
bookings for that popular recreation areas, more
park. It is worth arriving early than 200 cabins are
on summer weekends to find available for overnight
a good camping spot. use. Most of these
While public campgrounds public use cabins are in
offer few amenities, they do remote areas or along
provide spacious individual hiking trails. Access to
campsites and easy access these isolated cabins
to scenic outdoor attractions. is almost always on
Sites located in government foot, by boat, or
campgrounds along the road by floatplane.
system will offer parking Many cabins have
spaces, picnic tables, and a wood stoves and
basic barbecue pit. Communal ranger-provided
facilities usually include firewood. They usually
outhouses and public contain bunks for eight
water pumps. or more people.
A few of the campgrounds Mattresses are not
administered by the Chugach provided and travelers
National Forest or Tongass need to bring their
National Forest may be used own ground pads and
free of charge. However, most sleeping bags. Alaskan
of the state and nationally public use cabins Private cabin, Kachemak Bay State Park

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