| alert |
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| contractID |
NRSO |
| description |
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. |
| drivingDirection |
Starrigavan Recreation Area is located 7 miles northeast of Sitka at the end ofHalibut Point Road and 3/4 mile from the local Alaska Marine HighwayFerry Terminal. There are no roads to Sitka. Access is via the Alaska MarineHighway or Alaska Airlines. 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. From the airport, go across Japonski Bridge to downtown Sitka. Take HalibutPoint Road north 7 miles to Starrigavan Recreation Area. |
| facilitiesDescription |
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. |
| facility |
STARRIGAVAN CAMPSITES |
| facilityID |
73951 |
| fullReservationUrl |
http://www.reserveamerica.com/campsiteSearch.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=73951&cmp=39-32--joewils |
| importantInformation |
Open year-round. May 1 through September 30: Daily vehicle access 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. October 1 through April 30: Vehicle access will vary with amount of daylight, presence of snow/ice on roadway and winter host availability for managing gates; check with the Sitka Ranger District for current conditions. When access gates are closed, customer equipment/supplies must be packed in by non-motorized means; parking is available off highway at the Estuary trailhead adjacent to bird viewing shelter. Access gates are locked and traffic cannot 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 Starrigavan Recreation Manager (907-747-6671) for additional information. September 16 through April 30: Campsites available on walk-up basis only with payment made in one of the fee collection tubes 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. |
| nearbyAttrctionDescription |
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. |
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| orientationDescription |
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. |
| recreationDescription |
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 . |