Ultimate Alaska: Remote Lake Charters

Book a lake charter to your remote wilderness cabin: An experience that defines SE Alaska.

Access Remote Alaska Cabins by Seaplane Charter

Fly by seaplane into the back country, and arrive at a Forest Service cabin tucked along the shoreline, complete with access to fishing, exploring, and total solitude.

Seawind Aviation provides direct access to alpine lakes, coastal bays, and remote cabins throughout Misty Fjords National Monument, Prince of Wales Island, and the great Ketchikan area. These cabins offer a dry, comfortable base camp and are reserved through recreation.gov

We can meet you at the airport upon arrival, or depart from our downtown base, making your transition into the wilderness seamless. Our team will help you choose a cabin that fits your trip, whether you’re planning a fishing adventure, hunting excursion, or quiet retreat.

For backcountry travel, we can connect you with local outfitters for essential gear, including camping equipment, outboard motors, and Satellite communication devices.

Aircraft

DeHavilland Beaver or DeHavilland Otter floatplane

Passengers Per Flight

Up to 3-4 with gear (Beaver) or 5-8 with gear (Otter)

Maximum Load

Beaver: up to 1,200 lbs | Otter: up to 2,100 lbs

Trip Info

Round-trip transport with remote drop-off and scheduled pick-up

What makes Lake Charters unique?

Remote Access Without Limits

Many of Southeast Alaska’s most sought-after destinations have no road access. A seaplane provides the most efficient – and often the only – way to reach them.

Built for Extended Wilderness Stays

Lake charters are designed to transport both passengers and large loads of gear, supporting multi-day trips into remote environments.

Local Expertise That Matters

With decades of experience flying these routes, Seawind’s pilots understand the terrain, conditions, and logistics required to safely reach remote lakes and cabins.

All reviews
Google
Google
Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
Yelp
Yelp
4.9973 reviews
4.9
973 reviews
4.8249 reviews
4.8
249 reviews
4.9697 reviews
4.9
697 reviews
4.927 reviews
4.9
27 reviews
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Zwander profile picture
Zwander
Verified
Astonishing sea plane tour It was easy to deal with the owners. Seamless booking and confirmation. Pickup and drop off were efficient. The actual ride was simply amazing. We lucked out with great weather. The pilot was great with commentary - not too much not too little just right amount. The Misty fjords are beautiful. The pilot also spotted a whale and a bear and did nice 360 to give everyone a chance to see. The tour was for 1 hour but looks like the pilot never rushed us and may have spent more time.
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
J K profile picture
J
Verified
Awesome Our pilot was amazing. He landed on a remote island where we were able to exit the plane and have a look around. What an amazing experience!!
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Geraldine Z profile picture
Geraldine
Verified
Awesome! Our guide Kim was excellent as was our pilot. We had a great time and saw amazing bears and two Bald Eagles! Eat part of our Alaskan cruise by far!
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Chris C profile picture
Chris
Verified
Amazing views This is a fantastic way to see the immensity of the Misty Fjords area. There is no way a land-based trip can give you the scope of the area that a small plane can, and SeaWind was a perfect company for my small family of three to go with to see the scenery. From pick-up to return, the entire process is very professional and friendly, with a true family feel to the experience. There were five people in our little sea plane, not counting the pilot, and we all had great views as all seats are alongside a window. We took off from the same harbor where our cruise ship was docked, and we flew over forests, mountains, lakes, waterfalls, and rivers. While we were in a plane, it was still easy for the pilot to get close to the areas he wanted us to see. For example, he circled around a waterfall a few times so we could all get a good view, and since the plane was so small and relatively slow moving, we all got up close and personal. It was amazing to see such pristine wilderness from the perfect vantage points. We took a ton of pictures out of the windows, and they looked really good. It's a great way to capture the sights. Rolf, our pilot, gave us expert commentary as we went along, and he really knows his stuff after spending decades in the area. I was sitting in the front passenger seat, and he showed me the radar, communication equipment, and other cool cockpit stuff. It was really cool. We landed on a beautiful lake for a short photo stop. I'm sure one of the pictures Rolf took of us will make it to our Christmas card this year. It was a gorgeous location and was about as peaceful as can be. Then we got back in the plane for the second half of the flight, which was as beautiful as the first. Rolf took us a different way back, which was great. We loved every minute of it. The trip isn't cheap, but if you're in Ketchikan, do yourself a favor and splurge on a trip like this. If you do, go with SeaWind. They are great people who will give you a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You won't regret it for a minute.
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
rms192 profile picture
Rms192
Verified
Amazing views and great customer service This was an excellent trip through the fjords, despite the cloudy, rainy day. It does rain 200 days a year in Ketchikan, so we were not surprised. Lesley worked with us as we tried to sort out an itinerary conflict which she brought to our attention and made sure that we were able to enjoy this excursion and get back to the ship in time.
Posted on Google Google
Eileen Fitzpatrick profile picture
Eileen
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
We were able to charter a plane out of Coffman Cove to Ketchikan for 5 people at a reasonable rate, short notice and received great service from town to airport by staff knowledgeable in local sites. Definitely will use SeaWind Aviation for future flights!
Posted on Google Google
Mequel Baril profile picture
Mequel
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
They got us in last minute and we had an amazing time. Safe and professional. If you’re on the fence…DO IT! We really enjoyed our tour.
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
N R profile picture
N
Verified
Exceptional--worth every penny!! On previous cruises, we always booked our excursions through the cruise line. With sites like TripAdvisor, we felt comfortable discovering our own excursions. All were great! This was the most expensive excursion we've ever done. It was a lot of money for us... but WORTH EVERY PENNY!! As a previous reviewer mentioned, flying through the Misty Fjord was SUREAL... it's undescribable... beautiful!! Adam was our pilot, and he was excellent. We didn't even feel the take-off and the landing was very smooth. He did a great job narrating the whole flight. You can ask questions via the headsets. The soundtrack/music in the background over the headset was perfect too. Adam landed on a beautiful lake and we spent some time on a tiny island just surrounded by Alaskan beauty and majesty! You simply must do this!
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
gretchen30 profile picture
Gretchen30
Verified
Excellent Experience & Beautiful Views!!! Everything about this flight tour was excellent - Leah & Lesley were so helpful booking it and accommodating our schedule. Their customer service was outstanding! The views from the plane were beautiful! Being so close to everything was just breath taking! The pilot was great too - answering all of our questions and providing us with lots of fun information. We would highly recommend this tour! Definitely a highlight of our trip to Alaska!
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
Phil S profile picture
Phil
Verified
Great Experience This was a top-notch experience from start to finish. I had several questions before we left home and Lesley responded quickly and cheerfully. Connecting with them in port went smoothly and before we knew it we were meeting Mike our pilot and climbing into the plane. I had never taken off from water before, but Mike is an excellent pilot and it was just like taking off from a runway. The views were breathtaking and well worth the cost. Definitely book direct from them rather than your cruise ship. You save big $$ and get to deal directly with them, which is a plus.
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
No name profile picture
No
Verified
Ketchikan Misty Fjords Tour Our family of five booked this excursion 8 months prior to our Alaskan cruise. We were able to get a discount booking so far in advance which made it feasible. I emailed Leslie with numerous questions prior to booking this excursion, and Leslie couldn't have been more pleasant and patient to deal with. We called from the pier after arriving in Ketchikan since our ship arrived over an hour later than expected. Our tour time needed to be rescheduled which required several phone calls, but Leslie accommodated us within the hour after rearranging her schedule and we explored Creek St. We were picked up at the Liquid Sunshine Guage, a short walk from the ship, and driven by van a short distance to their pier. Leslie's husband, Steve, our private pilot greeted us there and assisted us to board the plane. He explained that he had been a commercial pilot for years before starting his own business. Everyone had a window and we alternated the front seat. Taking off and landing in the water was an awesome experience. We all wore headphones which allowed Steve to point out sights along the way, and allowed us to ask him any questions we had. We flew around beautiful Misty Fjord and landed in a valley where Steve took pictures of us and let us explore for approximately 15 minutes. Steve was great at pointing out plenty of mountain goats on our return to Ketchikan. It was wonderful to experience the difference of Misty Fjords from the air since we had experienced Tracy Arm Fjord from a ship while in Juneau. We highly recommend this excursion.
Posted on Tripadvisor Tripadvisor
MCramer14 profile picture
Mcramer14
Verified
Incredible Trip This was an incredible trip and a "must do" while in Ketichikan. Leslie at SeaWind is great to work with. Steve our pilot was awesome. The Crab Feast is off the charts. The Crab was tremendous and the best I've ever had.
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Destinations & Regions Served

Charter flights operate throughout Southeast Alaska, including:

  • Misty Fjords National Monument
  • Tongass National Forest
  • Prince of Wales Island
  • Remote lakes surrounding Ketchikan

To book cabins directly, visit Recreation.gov

Patching Lake

Manzanita Lake

Heckman Lake

Seawind Aviation

Your base for scenic flights and custom air adventures in Southeast Alaska.

Winstanley Lake

Humpback Lake

Salmon Bay Lake

Karta Lake

McDonald Lake

Designed for Wilderness Travelers

Alaskan Lake Charters are ideal for

Guests staying in U.S. Forest Service cabins

Fishing and hunting groups

Outdoor enthusiasts seeking remote access

Private groups planning extended stays

Your Scenic Gateway to Remote Alaska

From still alpine lakes to dense forest wilderness, these are places few ever reach and fewer forget.

Lake charters are not simply transportation. They are the beginning of your time in Alaska’s backcountry.

Contact us today to plan your departure and secure seamless transport to your remote destination.

Begin Your Seawind Adventure

Reach Out & Choose Your Experience

Contact us to book, ask questions, or select a flightseeing tour or charter.

Clear Scheduling & Communication

We confirm flight details and provide transparent updates around timing and weather.

Arrival & Safety Briefing

Meet our team, receive a clear safety briefing, and get comfortable before departure.

Experience Alaska from the Air

Fly confidently with pilots who know these landscapes – and care about your experience.

Lake Charters Frequently Asked Questions