No detected openings were recorded in the last 90 days. Campsite Sniper monitors El Capitan Campground continuously and will alert you if that changes.
Of the 549 tracked site-nights (Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027): 549 open for online reservation.
Where the open windows are
Load status
Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 312 fall on weekdays and 237 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Mar 2027October holds the most room. 93 of 93 site-nights are still open there.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 3 sites| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open | |
| Thanksgiving | THU Nov 26 | 3 | Open |
| FRI Nov 27 | 3 | Open | |
| SAT Nov 28 | 3 | Open | |
| Christmas | THU Dec 24 | 3 | Open |
| FRI Dec 25 | 3 | Open | |
| New Year | THU Dec 31 | 3 | Open |
| FRI Jan 1 | 3 | Open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked night. Thanksgiving: 3 sites are available for the complete three-night stay. Christmas: 3 sites are available for the complete two-night stay. New Year: 3 sites are available for the complete two-night stay.
Best-availability sites
Most open site-nights · tracked window| Site | Open site-nights |
|---|---|
| 1 | 183 |
| 2 | 183 |
| 3 | 183 |
The 3 sites with the most open site-nights in the current snapshot. Pair a bookable date with a free alert to cover everything else.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotThe next bookable night is Sep 18; the first open weekend starts Sep 18. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
Multi-night stays. 3 2-night, 3 3-night, 3 7-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Sep 18 at site 1.
All 3 sites with current availability
| Site | Max RV | Hookups | Open site-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Not recorded | None | 183 | 183 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +171 more |
| 2 | Not recorded | None | 183 | 183 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +171 more |
| 3 | Not recorded | None | 183 | 183 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +171 more |
About El Capitan Campground
Overview
This waterfront campground offers a scenic view of the beautiful El Capitan Passage. This site has access to fishing, hunting, kayaking, hiking, caving and marine dock. It provides a remote, scenic setting for recreation and relaxation on the Tongass National Forest.
Recreation
The El Capitan Campground is nearby many opportunities Prince of Wales island has to offer. Salmon fishing is popular during the summer months as well as fall deer hunting, beach combing and other marine sports including paddle craft and sea kayaking. The nearby El Capitan Cave offers guided tours during the summer season and is the longest mapped cave in Alaska at over two miles.
Natural Features
The El Capitan Campground is in an area of high geologic interest including the El Cap Cave . The surrounding forest boasts old growth species such as yellow cedar, red cedar, hemlock, and Sitka spruce. There is abundant wildlife viewing for both aquatic and terrestrial species including Sitka black tail deer, black bear, harbor seals, otters and many fish species. Prince of Wales Island has runs of every salmon species except chinook as well as populations of cutthroat trout and Dolly Varden.
Getting there
El Capitan Campground can be reached by vehicle, boat, or plane. By road, follow Forest Service Road 20 to Forest Service Road 15 and take a left for about a mile (1.6 km) to the cave. Watch for signs. From both Thorne Bay and Craig is an estimated 3-hour drive. There is a Forest Service dock for use by boats and planes, but they should not be left unattended. No boats over 24' are allowed. Boats over 24' will need to anchore out and skiff in.
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
Photo gallery
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at El Capitan Campground?
Reservations for El Capitan Campground are made through Recreation.gov. The current snapshot shows substantial availability: 549 of 549 tracked site-nights are open (100%), though availability can change. Pick a site on the map to see its calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this campground for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Sep 18, 2026 13:18 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
Can I get a multi-night stay at El Capitan Campground?
3 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Sep 18 at site 1. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which month has the most availability at El Capitan Campground?
October 2026, with 93 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 93.
When is the next open date at El Capitan Campground?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Fri, Sep 18 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Sep 18. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
Stop refreshing. Let the app watch it.
Lakefront, hookups, your RV length, weekends only - set it as picky as you want.
We run paced availability checks for El Capitan Campground. One watch covers every matching site.
When a match opens, you get a push with a Recreation.gov link so you can review and book it yourself.