South Etolin Wilderness
This island Wilderness extends from lofty, ice-carved, granite peaks to the rocky coast, including a rim of small-protected islands. The lack of unique Alaskan features does not attract the masses and therefore provides exceptional opportunities for solitude in this temperate rainforest, except for overflights. The South Etolin Wilderness (83,371 acre) is on the south end of Etolin Island and several smaller islands about midway between Ketchikan and Wrangell on the Inland Passage, and about 15 miles north of the community at Thorne Bay across Clarence Strait. The Wilderness is also on the Alaska Marine Highway route. There is moderate use along the shoreline and very low use in the interior of the Wilderness.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Alaska |
| Size | 82,593 acres |
| Designated | 1990, by Congress |
| Center point | 56.01° N, 132.30° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 9) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 3 federal campgrounds within ten miles sit inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 5.4 miEtolin Canoe ↗Wrangell, AK
- 11.2 miJudith Ann (Riverboat) ↗Wrangell, AK
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Alaska
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is South Etolin Wilderness?
82,593 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages South Etolin Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is South Etolin Wilderness in?
Alaska.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was South Etolin Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1990.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at South Etolin Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to South Etolin Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 56.008° N, 132.302° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Are there historic places near South Etolin Wilderness?
The National Register has 2 listings within 15 miles, including Etolin Canoe and Judith Ann (Riverboat).
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.