Tongass National Forest
Forest Service17,701,808 acres · USDA Forest Service
Can you sleep here
Dispersed camping is generally allowed
On national forest and grassland, camping outside developed campgrounds is generally permitted unless an area is posted closed or a local order says otherwise. Stay on existing surfaces, camp away from water and trailheads, and check the forest's current orders before you go — fire restrictions change through the season.
Stay limit14 days in most forests — the exact limit is set per forest and district
In an RVDispersed sites are unimproved: no hookups, no water, no dump station, and access roads are often unsurfaced. Designated wilderness inside the unit is closed to all vehicles.
Rule36 CFR 261.58 — occupancy and use, set by forest order
Rules change with fire season and local order. Checked 2026-08-05. Confirm on the managing office’s official page
- Area
- 27,659 sq mi
- Managed by
- Forest Service
- Campgrounds
- 201
- Longest rig
- 99 ft
Where the land is, and what fits
The official Forest Service boundary with every campground we hold inside it. Tell it how long your rig is and the map keeps only what takes it — public land rarely matches the shape people picture, and neither does what you can actually get into.
Map loads as you scroll
Official unit boundary · USDA Forest Service · 201 campgrounds shown
201 of 201 campgrounds
- Admiralty Cove Cabin1 sites · Bear boxesReservations accepted
- Alava Bay Cabin1 sitesYear round · Reservations accepted
- Allan Point Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Alsek River Cabin1 sitesYear round · Reservations accepted
- Anan Bay Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Anan Lake Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Anchor Pass BuoySeason not published
- Anchor Pass Cabin1 sitesYear round · Reservations accepted
- Appleton Cove Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Auk Village Campgroundto 40 ft · 11 sitesMay 1st - September 30th · Reservations accepted
- Avoss Lake Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Bakewell Lake Cabin1 sitesYear round · Reservations accepted
- Baranof Lake Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Barnes Lake Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Bay Of Pillars ShelterSeason not published
- Beecher Pass Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Berg Bay Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Berners Bay Cabin1 sites01/01 · Reservations accepted
- Big John Bay Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Big Shaheen Cabin1 sites · Bear boxesReservations accepted
- Black Bear Lake CabinMid-June · Reservations accepted
- Blind Pass Cabin1 sitesYear round · Reservations accepted
- Blind River Rapids ShelterSeason not published
- Bohemia Basin ShelterSeason not published
- Breiland Slough Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Brent's Beach Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Cascade Creek Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Castle Flats Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Castle River Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Checats Lake Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Church Bight Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Control Lake Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Dan Moller Cabin1 sites01/01 · Reservations accepted
- Davidof Lake Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Davidson Lake ShelterSeason not published
- Deer Mountain Shelter SiteJune · First-come, first-served
- Denver Caboose Cabin1 sites05/01 · Reservations accepted
- Devil's Elbow Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Distin Lake CabinSeason not published
- Eagle Cabin1 sitesYear round · Reservations accepted
- Eagle Glacier Cabin1 sites01/01 · Reservations accepted
- Eagle Lake Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Eagles Nest Campgroundto 99 ft · 12 sitesReservations accepted
- Eight Fathom Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Ella Narrows Cabin1 sitesApril · Reservations accepted
- Falls Lake ShelterSeason not published
- Fish Creek Cabin1 sitesYear round · Reservations accepted
- Florence Lake (East) Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Fred's Creek Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Frenchy Ridge ShelterSeason not published
- Frosty Bay Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Garnet Ledge Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Goulding Lake Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Greentop Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Gut Island #1 Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Gut Island #2 Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Harbor-Gavan Hill ShelterSeason not published
- Harding River Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Harlequin Lake ShelterYear round · This is a free use shelter
- Harris River Campgroundto 89 ft · 14 sitesApril · Reservations accepted
- Hasselborg Creek Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Hasselborg Lake ShelterSeason not published
- Heckman Lake Cabin1 sitesYear round · Reservations accepted
- Helm Bay Cabin1 sitesYear round · Reservations accepted
- Helm Creek Cabin1 sitesYear round · Reservations accepted
- Honker Lake Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Horseshoe Hole CampgroundSeason not published
- Hugh Smith Lake Cabin1 sitesApril · Reservations accepted
- Humpback Lake Cabin1 sitesApril · Reservations accepted
- Icehouse Cove Buoy Camping AreaSeason not published
- Italio River Cabin1 sitesYear round · Reservations accepted
- Jims Lake Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- John Muir Cabin1 sites01/01 · Reservations accepted
- Jordan Lake Cabin1 sitesYear round · Reservations accepted
- Josephine Lake Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Kadake Bay Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Kah Sheets Bay Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Kah Sheets Lake Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Kakul Narrows ShelterSeason not published
- Kanga Bay Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Karta Lake Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Karta River Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Kathleen Lake Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Kegan Cove Cabin1 sites · Pull-throughApril · Reservations accepted
- Kegan Creek Cabin1 sitesApril · Reservations accepted
- Kennel Creek CabinReservations accepted
- Koknuk Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Kook Lake Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Kunk Lake Shelternot required
- Lake Alexander Cabin1 sites · Bear boxesReservations accepted
- Lake Alexander ShelterSeason not published
- Lake Eva Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Lake Guerin ShelterSeason not published
- Lake No. 3 CampgroundSeason not published
- Lake Shelokum ShelterSeason not published
- Last Chance CampgroundMay · Reservations accepted
- Laughton Glacier Cabin1 sitesMay 1 · Reservations accepted
- Little Dry Island Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Little Shaheen Cabin1 sites · Bear boxesReservations accepted
- Long Bay ShelterSeason not published
- Long Lake Shelternot required
- Lower Salamander Creek Campgroundnot required
- Mallard Slough Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Manzanita Lake Cabin1 sitesApril · Reservations accepted
- Marten Lake Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Mcdonald Lake ShelterYear round · First-come, first-served
- Mendenhall Lake CampgroundMay 15 - September 15 · Reservations accepted
- Middle Dangerous River Cabin1 sitesYear round · Reservations accepted
- Middle Ridge Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Mitchell Bay ShelterSeason not published
- Mole Harbor ShelterSeason not published
- Moser Island Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Mount Flemer Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Mount Rynda Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Mt Edgecumbe Midway ShelterSeason not published
- Mud Bay ShelterSeason not published
- Nemo Campsites Entry & Info SiteReservations accepted
- Neva ShelterSeason not published
- Nooya Lake Shelter SiteYear round · First-come, first-served
- North Beach Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- North Wrangell High Country ShelterReservations accepted
- North Wrangell Pond ShelterReservations accepted
- Ohmer Creek CampgroundNo open/close season - available for day use and limited overnight use
- One Duck Shelter SiteSeason not published
- Otstoia ShelterSeason not published
- Patching Lake Cabin1 sitesApril · Reservations accepted
- Petersburg Lake Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Peterson Lake Cabin1 sites01/01 · Reservations accepted
- Phocena Bay Cabin1 sitesYear round · Reservations accepted
- Pinta Cove ShelterSeason not published
- Piper Island Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Plenty Cutthroat Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Plotnikof Lake Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Point Amargura Cabin1 sitesApril · Reservations accepted
- Portage Bay Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Punchbowl Lake Shelter SiteYear round · First-come, first-served
- Pybus Bay Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Raven Cabin1 sitesYear round · Reservations accepted
- Raven's Roost CabinReservations accepted
- Red Bay Lake Cabin1 sitesMay · Reservations accepted
- Reflection Lake Cabin1 sitesYear round · Reservations accepted
- Salmon Bay Lake Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Salmon Lake CabinReservations accepted
- Salmon Lake CabinReservations accepted
- Salt Chuck East Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Samsing Cove Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Sarkar Lake Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Sawmill Creek Campgroundmid May
- Sergief Island Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Seven Fathom Bay Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Seven Fathom Mooring BuoySeason not published
- Shakes Slough 1 Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Shakes Slough 2 Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Shelikof Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Shipley Bay Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Shoemaker Bay Overlook ShelterReservations accepted
- Signal Creek Campgroundto 45 ft · 24 sitesMay · Reservations accepted
- Sitkoh Lake East Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Sitkoh Lake West Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Situk Lake Cabin1 sitesYear round · Reservations accepted
- Southeast Heckman Cabin1 sitesApril · Reservations accepted
- Spurt Cove Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Staney Bridge CampgroundSpring
- Staney Creek Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Starrigavan Creek Cabinto 15 ft · 1 sitesReservations accepted
- Starrigavan Rec Area - CampsitesSeason not published
- Steamer Bay Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Suloia Lake Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Swan Lake CabinReservations accepted
- Sweetwater Lake Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Taku Glacier Cabin1 sites01/01 · Reservations accepted
- Tanis Mesa Cabin1 sitesYear round · Reservations accepted
- Thayer Lake Shelter NorthSeason not published
- Thayer Lake Shelter SouthSeason not published
- Thoms Creek Crossing CampsiteReservations accepted
- Three C's Group Use CampgroundReservations accepted
- Three Lakes ShelterSeason not published
- Three Sisters Overlook CampsiteReservations accepted
- Tower's Arm Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Turn Island Beach CampsiteReservations accepted
- Turner Lake East Cabin1 sites01/01 · Reservations accepted
- Turner Lake West Cabin1 sites01/01 · Reservations accepted
- Twin Creek ShelterSeason not published
- Twin Lakes CabinReservations accepted
- Upper Salamander Creek CampsiteReservations accepted
- Virginia Lake Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Warm Fish Lake ShelterSeason not published
- West Point Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- White Sulphur Springs Cabin1 sitesReservations accepted
- Wilson Narrows Cabin1 sitesApril · Reservations accepted
- Wilson View Cabin1 sitesApril · Reservations accepted
- Windfall Harbor ShelterSeason not published
- Windfall Lake Cabin1 sites01/01 · Reservations accepted
- Winstanley Island Cabin1 sitesYear round · Reservations accepted
- Winstanley Lake Cabin1 sitesApril · Reservations accepted
- Winstanley Lake Shelter SiteYear round
- Wolf Lake Shelter SiteSeason not published
- Yakutat Beach Campsite 2Year round · Not reservable
- Young Lake North Cabin1 sites · Bear boxesReservations accepted
- Young Lake South Cabin1 sites · Bear boxesReservations accepted
- Yunshookuh Loop CampgroundReservations accepted
Tongass National Forest
The Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska is the largest U.S. National Forest at 16.7 million acres, an expanse larger than 10 U.S. states and 75 U.N. member nations. Most of its area is temperate rain forest and is remote enough to be home to many species of endangered and rare flora and fauna. The Tongass, which is managed by the United States Forest Service, encompasses islands of the Alexander Archipelago, fjords and glaciers, and peaks of the Coast Mountains. An international border with Canada runs along the crest of the Boundary Ranges of the Coast Mountains. The forest is administered from Forest Service headquarters offices in Ketchikan. There are local ranger district offices located in Craig, Hoonah, Juneau, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Sitka, Thorne Bay, Wrangell, and Yakutat.
Extract from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA. Agency description not published.
No vehicles past these lines
Designated wilderness is closed to every wheeled vehicle, including bicycles. You can walk in and camp; you cannot drive or park a rig inside one.
- Misty Fjords National Monument Wilderness2,144,883 acres
- Kootznoowoo Wilderness999,979 acres
- Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness647,358 acres
- Stikine-LeConte Wilderness440,200 acres
- Russell Fjord Wilderness350,158 acres
- South Baranof Wilderness315,851 acres
- West Chichagof-Yakobi Wilderness272,004 acres
- Endicott River Wilderness98,396 acres
- South Prince of Wales Wilderness87,034 acres
- South Etolin Wilderness83,430 acres
- Chuck River Wilderness75,393 acres
- Tebenkof Bay Wilderness67,030 acres
- Petersburg Creek-Duncan Salt Chuck Wilderness46,733 acres
- Karta River Wilderness40,213 acres
- Pleasant/Lemusurier/Inian Islands Wilderness23,136 acres
- Coronation Island Wilderness19,121 acres
- Warren Island Wilderness11,484 acres
- Maurille Islands Wilderness4,818 acres
Byways through this country
Places worth pulling over
National parks close enough to pair
Plan it
Drive to Tongass the long way
Byway plans the road in, not just the destination — real places along the way, weighted to what you like, with nothing invented.