South Prince of Wales Wilderness
The southwestern corner of Prince of Wales Island, a complex network of bays and inlets, and a cluster of islands known as the Barrier Islands make up this Wilderness. On Prince of Wales Island, the topography...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Alaska |
| Size | 86,771 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1980, by Congress |
| Center point | 54.9014, -132.3232 |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 7) |
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
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 2 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is South Prince of Wales Wilderness?
86,771 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages South Prince of Wales Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is South Prince of Wales Wilderness in?
Alaska.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was South Prince of Wales Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1980.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at South Prince of Wales Wilderness?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Kegan Creek Cabin, 6.1 miles out. 2 in all are within ten miles. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit rules.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to South Prince of Wales Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 54.901, -132.323. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How dark is the night sky at South Prince of Wales Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 7 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, about as dark as the ground gets.
Source: NASA Black Marble
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.