Floatplane base
Thorne Bay Seaplane Base
State floatplane dock at Thorne Bay with scheduled Taquan Air service to Ketchikan.
5.4 mi
Viewpoint
Sandy Beach Picnic Site
Beach day-use site north of Thorne Bay looking across Clarence Strait, with dispersed camping.
Tongass National Forest · USFS
- View of
- Clarence Strait
- Access modes
- Road
- Road accessible
- Yes
- Parking
- Yes
Road
Six miles north of Thorne Bay on Forest Road 30, this beach site has two vault toilets and room for dispersed camping. Look across Clarence Strait for orcas and humpback whales.
Location
In pictures
Whale watching · Camping · Photography
Sources
- Sandy Beach Picnic SiteUSDA Forest Service, Tongass National Forest · Accessed 2026-11-05
Last updated 2026-11-09
Nearby within 25 miles
Floatplane bases
Fishing spots
Fishing spot
Thorne River
The island's biggest road-accessible river for steelhead, coho and trout, reached at Gravelly Creek.
5.8 mi
Fishing spot
Karta River
Wilderness steelhead and trout river reached by boat or floatplane to Karta Bay.
14.3 mi
Fishing spot
Luck Lake and Eagle Creek
Trout lake with a road access site, draining to Eagle Creek's steelhead run.
16.8 mi
Fishing spot
Staney Creek
Road-accessible west-side creek for coho and steelhead, with free campsites and a cabin.
24.7 mi
Fishing spot
Harris River
Roadside coho river beside Harris River Campground.
24.9 mi
Campgrounds
Campground
Lake No. 3 Dispersed Campsite
Free two-site lakeside camp near the Salt Chuck mine trail, west of Thorne Bay.
9.0 mi
Campground
Eagles Nest Campground
Forest campground above Balls Lake in the center of the island, with a canoe launch and lakeside walk-in sites.
14.2 mi
Campground
Staney Bridge Dispersed Campsite
Free two-site camp at the Staney Creek bridge on Forest Road 2050.
24.7 mi
Campground
Harris River Campground
Quiet 14-site USFS campground beside the Harris River on the Hollis–Klawock highway.
24.9 mi
Bear viewing sites
Trails
Public use cabins
Public-use cabin
Karta River Cabin
Cedar cabin at Karta Bay, at the start of the Karta River Trail.
14.3 mi
Public-use cabin
Karta Lake Cabin
Lake cabin in the Karta River country, 1.5 miles by trail from Karta Bay or by floatplane.
14.7 mi
Public-use cabin
Control Lake Cabin
Road-access lake cabin a short row from the Control Lake junction.
15.3 mi
Public-use cabin
Honker Lake Cabin
Small cabin on the Honker Divide canoe route, by floatplane or a 6-mile paddle.
16.1 mi
Public-use cabin
Black Bear Lake Cabin
Fly-in lake cabin below Patricia Peak, reachable only by floatplane.
20.9 mi
Public-use cabin
Sweetwater Lake Cabin
Lake cabin 10 road miles from Coffman Cove, then a short hike and skiff ride.
21.7 mi
