Openings · last 7 days
1
Booking reality
Campsite Sniper detected 1 site opening here in the last 7 days
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-232953
When Helm Bay Cabin reopens
Helm Bay Cabin's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
1
Openings · last 90 days
1
Only 1 opening in the last 90 days: not enough recent activity for a reliable pattern. A free Campsite Sniper alert watches around the clock instead, and pings you the moment one opens.
02 · Availability Outlook · Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027 · of 1 monitored site
Of the 183 tracked site-nights (Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027): 163 open for online reservation · 20 reserved.
Where the open windows are
10.9% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 163 of 183 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027Not open online10.9%
Open site-nights163 / 183
Reserved (of online inventory)20 / 183
Weekday openings92
Weekend openings71
Of the open cabin-nights on mapped sites, 92 fall on weekdays and 71 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Mar 2027December holds the most room. 31 of 31 site-nights are still open there.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 1 cabin| 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 | 1 | Open |
| FRI Nov 27 | 1 | Open | |
| SAT Nov 28 | 1 | Open | |
| Christmas | THU Dec 24 | 1 | Open |
| FRI Dec 25 | 1 | Open | |
| New Year | THU Dec 31 | 1 | Open |
| FRI Jan 1 | 1 | Open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked night. Thanksgiving: 1 cabin is available for the complete three-night stay. Christmas: 1 cabin is available for the complete two-night stay. New Year: 1 cabin is available for the complete two-night stay.
Availability
Most open cabin-nights · tracked window| Cabin | Open cabin-nights |
|---|---|
| K06 | 163 |
This cabin currently has 163 cabin-nights available.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotNext open dateSun · Sep 20
Next open weekendFri · Sep 25
The next bookable night is Sep 20; the first open weekend starts Sep 25. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
163 open cabin-nights across 1 cabin at Helm Bay Cabin, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 4 2-night, 4 3-night, 3 7-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Sep 20 at site K06.
All 1 cabin with current availability
| Cabin | Max RV | Hookups | Open cabin-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K06 | Not recorded | None | 163 | 134 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 5 +151 more |
About Helm Bay Cabin
Overview
Helm Bay Cabin is located on the west shore of Helm Bay behind Forss Island. This rustic retreat is open year-round for relaxation and recreational use in Alaska's beautiful Inside Passage.
The site can be accessed by float plane, boat or kayak, depending on conditions. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.
Recreation
Helm Bay is especially known for excellent crabbing, as well as saltwater fishing for salmon, halibut and red snapper. Tide tables should be consulted before taking a boat out on the bay to fish. Sea kayaking is also possible.
Facilities
This 16-by-20 ft. three-room (pan-abode style) cabin has four single bunks and two double bunks, to sleep up to eight people. A covered deck extends from the front of the cabin. It is also equipped with a table and benches, wood stove, splitting maul, broom and an outhouse. Bring your own firewood as it cannot be guaranteed .
A floating dock is located nearby, which is maintained by the state and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Water and electricity are not provided. Water is available from an adjacent creek, but guests should be sure to treat water before drinking or cooking with it (water safety tips). It is recommended that guests bring their own water supply.
Other items to pack include sleeping bags, sleeping pads, lanterns or flashlights, cookware, plates, utensils, food, toilet paper, garbage bags, a fire extinguisher and matches, among other necessities. Guests are expected to pack out trash and clean the cabin before leaving (click herefor more cabin details).
Natural Features
The cabin sits at sea level, near a large saltwater tide flat, surrounded by an old-growth rainforest of Sitka spruce and western hemlock. A beach is revealed in front of the cabin at low tide. Guests have views of Helm Bay and the gentle, forested slopes that surround the area.
The area is home to black and brown bears, Sitka black-tailed deer and mountain goats ( bear safety information ). Seals, whales and other marine mammals may be seen in Helm Bay.
1 monitored cabinNo hookupsMax party 8
Getting there
The cabin is approximately 24 miles from Ketchikan or 12 miles from the Clover Pass area, located on west end of Helm Bay. It is accessible by float plane, kayak or boat with a state-maintained floating dock near cabin. Refer to USGS topographic map for Ketchikan, C-6, and consult local tide tables .
Ketchikan, AK907-225-2148
BoatingCampingFishingWildlife Viewing
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-232953 · facility + sites
Photo gallery
Roll CS-232953 · Helm Bay Cabin · Ketchikan AK7 frames · facility + sites
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Helm Bay Cabin?
Reservations for Helm Bay Cabin are made through Recreation.gov. The current snapshot shows substantial availability: 163 of 183 tracked site-nights are open (89.1%), though availability can change. Campsite Sniper has also detected 1 site opening here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. 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 16:19 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.
How often do new openings appear at Helm Bay Cabin?
Campsite Sniper detected 1 site-date opening at Helm Bay Cabin in the last 7 days, 1 over 30 days and 1 over the last 90.
Can I get a multi-night stay at Helm Bay Cabin?
4 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Sep 20 at site K06. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which month has the most availability at Helm Bay Cabin?
December 2026, with 31 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 31.
When is the next open date at Helm Bay Cabin?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Sun, Sep 20 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Sep 25. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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