So, you want to find a remote cabin for your backcountry trip in
Alaska?
Most of the information contained herein is in web links, clickable in MS Office and similar
programs. To download a clickable document, visit: ftp://ftp.dnr.state.ak.us/mlw-dataout/ and
download cabininfo.doc .
This document lists by name most of the cabins available for use by the public for recreation or
safety. Safety cabins cannot be reserved or locked, and no one can be refused access by anyone
occupying the cabin. Recreation or public use cabins may be reserved for private use subject to
operating agency limitations. Each agency requires different methods of reservation, access, and
fees, so research the cabin requirements carefully before your trip. Some cabins are extremely
remote, and may only be accessed by boat, floatplane or snowmachine. Generally, each cabin
listing will note that in the description, but contact the managing agency beforehand to make sure.
Cabin information clearinghouse (most information reiterated below.)
http://www.alaskacenters.gov/cabins.cfm
Public Use Cabins
If you want to get away to a wilderness cabin, state and
federal agencies in Alaska give you more than 200
opportunities. Cabins are located throughout Alaska on
trails, lakes, streams, ocean shorelines, and in alpine areas.
They are managed by different public agencies, each with its
own guidelines for rental. Cabins have "rugged"
accommodations: usually a heating stove, bunks/sleeping
platforms, table and chairs, and an outhouse. You are
PHOTO BY DNR
responsible for providing your own food, cook stove and
cooking utensils, water, and bedding. Bald Lake Cabin
Access to cabins is by plane, boat, trail, or a combination of
these. You are on your own for arranging transportation to and from the cabins. Usually a list of
operators permitted to provide services within the public land unit can be obtained from the
managing agency. Most cabins are used year round although usage may be strongly discouraged
during certain times of the year. Alaska's weather can delay your trip at any time of year, so plan
accordingly in regards to extra food, provisions, and pick-up plans. For any travel in Alaska's
backcountry, you are responsible for your own safety; be prepared with survival skills and proper
equipment.
Generally, cabin permits are issued on a first-come, first-served basis for noncommercial purposes
to anyone over 18 years old. However, because of high demand, agencies may incorporate a lottery
system.
For more information select a link below or check out the Wilderness Cabin brochure (a pdf)
Cabins by Agency/Location:
Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge (Kodiak Island)
Chugach National Forest Cabins (Kenai Peninsula & PWS)
Alaska State Park Cabins (Anchorage, Matsu, & Resurrection Bay)
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Cabins (Kenai Peninsula)
Kenai Fjords National Park Cabin Reservations/Information(Resurrection Bay)
Yukon Charley Rivers National Preserve Public Use Cabins (Interior)
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve Backcountry Cabins
White Mountains National Recreation Area Cabins (Interior)
Tongass National Forest Cabin Information (Southeast)
Bureau of Land Management Public Use Cabins (Interior)
Alaska Dept of Natural Resources Cabins
Alaska State Parks Public Use Cabins
Alaska State parks offers 60 cabins and 8 ice huts for rent by the public. These cabins are in 18
state park units, as far north as Fairbanks, in Interior Alaska, and as far south as Ketchikan, in
Southeast Alaska.
Alaska State Parks has two rates on all public use cabins except ice huts:
Peak Use -- May 1 to September 30, PLUS Friday and Saturday night rentals from October 1 to
April 30; AND during the following holiday periods of December 15 - January 6 and March 15 -
31.
Non-Peak Use -- October 1 - April 30; EXCEPT: Friday and Saturday nights; AND during peak
holiday periods of December 15 - January 6 and March 15 - 31.
Several other government agencies have public use cabins for rent in Alaska. If you do not find the
cabin or area of the state you are looking for with Alaska State Parks, then try one of these other
agencies.
General Cabin Information
Cabin Reservation and Fee Information
Online Cabin Reservation Instructions
Cabin Access Summary
Map with Location of Parks with Cabins
Cabin Descriptions and Availability
Northern Area (near Fairbanks)
Mat-Su Area (between Fairbanks and Anchorage)
Anchorage Area
Kenai Area
Kodiak Area
Prince William Sound Area
Southeast Area
Gulf Coast Area
Ice Fishing Huts Descriptions and Availability
Northern Area (near Fairbanks)
Cabin Permit Application
Cabin Fact Sheets
Some of the information on these web pages can be found in the following fact sheets for easier
reference. However, for complete cabin information, refer to the web pages.
General Information
Reservation Information
Access Summary Chart
US Forest Service Cabins
Chugach National Forest Cabin Rental Areas
http://tinyurl.com/3d8netr (The USFS official site URL is over 456 characters long) ALL CABINS
REQUIRE RESERVATIONS: http://www.recreation.gov/ Create a profile and login to reserve yours.
Copper River Delta
Double Bay Cabin
Hook Point Cabin
Jack Bay Cabin
Martin Lake Cabin
McKinley Lake Cabin
McKinley Trail Cabin
Nellie Martin River Cabin
Power Creek Cabin
Shelter Bay Cabin
Softuk Bar Cabin
Tiedeman Slough
Eastern Kenai Peninsula
Aspen Flats Cabin
Barber Cabin
Caribou Creek Cabin
Crescent Lake Cabin
Crescent Saddle Cabin
Dale Clemens Cabin
Devil's Pass Cabin
East Creek Cabin
Fox Creek Cabin
Juneau Lake Cabin
Lower Paradise Lake Cabin
Romig Cabin
Swan Lake Cabin
Trout Lake Cabin
Upper Paradise Cabin
Upper Russian Lake Cabin
West Swan Lake Cabin
Prince William Sound
Beach River Cabin
Coghill Lake Cabin
Crow Pass Cabin
Green Island Cabin
Harrison Lagoon Cabin
Log Jam Bay Cabin
Paulson Bay Cabin
Pigot Bay Cabin
Port Chalmers Cabin
San Juan Bay Cabin
Shrode Lake Cabin
Tongass National Forest Recreation Cabins and Shelters
Cabins are listed alphabetically within areas; the areas themselves are listed from
south to north. Each cabin name is a link to detailed information and how to reserve
the cabin. You can either click on the individual cabin or on the cabin map listed in
bold for each area. Clicking the map link will bring you to a page which is linked to
each cabin from its location on the map.
If you would rather see a map of the entire Tongass to choose the area where you
are interested in camping, go to the cabin maps page. It, in turn, will direct you to
the map for the appropriate section below.
Refund of reservation and use fees will not be granted to customers who are unable
to access National Forest cabins in Alaska due to inclement weather.
* indicates barrier-free cabin
Misty Fiords Cabins Misty Fiords Cabin Map
Alava Bay Hugh Smith Lake Wilson Narrows
Beaver Camp Humpback Lake Wilson View
Checats Manzanita Lake Winstanley Island
Ella Narrows Winstanley Lake
Misty Fiords Shelters
Big Goat Lake Nooya Lake Winstanley Lake
Manzanita Bay Punchbowl Lake
Prince of Wales Prince of Wales Cabin Map Salmon Bay Lake
Island Vicinity Cabins Karta Lake Salmon Lake
Barnes Lake Karta River Sarkar Lake
Black Bear Lake Kegan Cove Shipley Bay
Control Lake Kegan Creek Staney Creek
Honker Lake Point Amargura Sweetwater Lake
Josephine Lake Red Bay Lake Troller's Cove
Twelvemile Cabin
Prince of Wales
Island Shelter
One Duck
Ketchikan Vicinity Ketchikan Cabin Map
Cabins Helm Creek Phocena Bay
Anchor Pass Jordan Lake Plenty Cutthroat
Blind Pass McDonald Lake Reflection Lake
Fish Creek Patching Lake Southeast Heckman Lake*
Heckman Lake
Helm Bay
Ketchikan Vicinity
Shelters McDonald Lake Wolf Lake
Lake Shelokum Reflection Lake
Long Lake
Wrangell Vicinity Wrangell Cabin Map
Cabins Mount Rynda
Gut Island #2
Anan Bay Sergief Island
Harding River
Anan Lake Shakes Slough #1
Koknuk
Berg Bay Shakes Slough #2
Little Dry Island
Binkley Slough Steamer Bay*
Mallard Slough
Eagle Lake Twin Lakes
Marten Lake
Frosty Bay Virginia Lake*
Middle Ridge Cabin*
Garnet Ledge
Gut Island #1 Mount Flemer
Wrangell Vicinity
Shelters North Wrangell High Shoemaker Bay Overlook
Kunk Lake Country
Long Lake North Wrangell Pond
Petersburg Vicinity Petersburg Cabin Map
Cabins Devil's Elbow Ravens Roost
Beecher Pass Harvey Lake Salt Chuck East
Big John Bay Kadake Bay Spurt Cove
Breiland Slough Kah Sheets Bay Swan Lake
Cascade Creek Kah Sheets Lake* Towers Arm
Castle Flats Petersburg Lake West Point*
Castle River Portage Bay
Deboer Lake
Petersburg Vicinity
Shelters Frenchy Ridge Twin Creek
Bay of Pillars
Falls Lake
Sitka Vicinity Cabins Sitka Cabin Map
Allan Point Kanga Bay
Salmon Lake
Appleton Cove Kook Lake
Samsing Cove
Avoss Lake Lake Eva
Sevenfathom Bay
Baranof Lake Moser Island
Shelikof
Brent's Beach North Beach
Sitkoh Lake East
Davidof Lake Piper Island
Sitkoh Lake West
Fred's Creek Plotnikof Lake
Starrigavan Creek Cabin*
Goulding Lake Redoubt Lake
Suloia Lake
White Sulphur Springs
Sitka Vicinity Shelters
Harbor-Gavan Long Bay North Neva
Kakul Narrows Mt. Edgecumbe Trail Otstoia
Hoonah Cabin Map
Hoonah Vicinity
Cabin
Greentop Harbor
Eight Fathom Cabin
Admiralty Island Admiralty Cabin Map
Cabins Hasselborg Creek N. Young Lake
Admiralty Cove Jim's Lake Pybus
Big Shaheen Lake Alexander South Young Lake
Church Bight Lake Kathleen Sportsmen
Distin Shelter Little Shaheen
Florence Lake (East)
Admiralty Island
Shelters Mole Harbor
Lake Alexander
Juneau Vicinity Juneau Cabin Map
Cabins East Turner Lake Taku Glacier
Berner's Bay John Muir West Turner Lake
Dan Moller Peterson Lake Windfall Lake
Eagle Glacier
Memorial
Skagway Vicinity Skagway Cabin Map
Cabins Laughton Glacier
Denver Caboose
Yakutat Cabin Map
Yakutat Vicinity Italio River Situk Lake
Cabins Lower Dangerous Square Lake
Alsek River Middle Dangerous Tanis Mesa North
Eagle (Middle Situk Raven (Middle Situk S) Tanis Mesa South
N)
Yakutat Vicinity
Shelters
Harlequin Lake North
Harlequin Lake South
BLM Public Use Cabins
http://www.blm.gov/ak/st/en/prog/recreation/activities/pub_cabins.html
Iditarod National Historic Trail Cabins
http://www.blm.gov/ak/st/en/prog/nlcs/iditarod/inht_cabins.html
Except for the Rohn cabin, all shelter cabins are accessible only during the winter. Use of these
cabins is free, and no reservations are required. Due to the potential for extreme weather
conditions, users are expected to share the cabin with others if necessary. Each cabin is equipped
with bunks, a woodstove, and outhouses.
White Mountain National Rec Area
Cabins Permits are required. Cabin permits may be obtained up to 30 days in advance. Use is
limited to three consecutive nights per cabin. Permits run from noon of the first day's stay to noon
of the last day. Weekends, holidays, and spring break are times of peak use. Cabin Permits are $25
per night. Permits must be paid for prior to occupying the cabins. If you are using a credit
card, call (907) 474-2251 or 474-2252, or you can apply in person at the BLM Public Room in the
Fairbanks District Office at 1150 University Avenue, Fairbanks. If you are outside the Fairbanks
area, call (800) 437-7021 and ask for the cabin permits desk.
Cabin Name Latitude Longitude
Borealis-LeFevre Cabin N 65° 23.2' W 147° 44.2'
Cache Mountain Cabin N 65° 25.6' W 147° 14.6'
Caribou Bluff Cabin N 65° 28.3' W 147° 34.3'
Colorado Creek Cabin N 65° 29.6' W 147° 54.0'
Crowberry Cabin N 65° 19.3' W 147° 27.6'
Eleazars Cabin N 65° 16.7' W 147° 52.6'
Fred Blixt Cabin N 65° 29.1' W 148° 23.2'
Lees Cabin N 65° 12.8' W 147° 53.3'
Moose Creek Cabin N 65° 13.7' W 147° 37.8'
Richards Cabin N 65° 25.6' W 146° 58.5'
Summit Trail Shelter N 65° 16.4' W 147° 58.0'
Wickersham Creek Trail Shelter N 65° 16.7' W 147° 50.8'
Windy Gap Cabin N 65° 34.7' W 147° 25.5'
Wolf Run Cabin N 65° 33.3' W 147° 39.4'
Pinnell Mountain National Rec Trail
There are also free first-come first-serve trail shelters along the Pinnell Mountain National
Recreation Trail.
USFWS Wildlife Refuge Cabins
Kenai NWR
http://kenai.fws.gov/cabin.htm
Cabin Rules, Regulations, & Permit Conditions
1. Registration and accountability for use of recreational cabins will be limited to non-
commercial users 18 years of age or older. A cabin permit holder or named cabin
occupant may only reserve that cabin once during the same 30 day period.
2. Reservations may be made up to 180 days in advance.
3. Use of cabins is limited to 7 consecutive days regardless of season. A permit day begins at
noon and ends at noon the following day. You may begin using the cabin at noon of the
first day of your permit.
4. Cabin users may obtain permitted commercial transporter services such as air or water taxis
for transportation but may not be accompanied by guides. Commercial visitor services
permit holders are not authorized to occupy cabins. Contact the Kenai National Wildlife
Refuge for a list of permitted transporters.
5. Occupancy of public use cabins without a permit (for reservation cabins) or registering (first
come – first serve) is prohibited. You must have your permit with you while using a
reservation cabin.
6. Tent camping restriction will be instituted for persons not staying in the cabin within 600’
feet of public use cabins, unless they are members of the party using the cabin.
7. Campfires will only be authorized in an established metal campfire ring provided by the
Refuge at the cabin site. Only dead and down trees may be cut for firewood. No cutting of
standing trees is permitted.
8. All food items, garbage, and other personal items must be packed out and not left in the
cabin or cabin area. Leaving food or refuse available to wildlife or feeding wildlife is
prohibited, and violators will be prosecuted.
9. Cabin users must comply with all Refuge public use regulations and State of Alaska and
federal boating, hunting and fishing regulations. It is your responsibility to become familiar
with these regulations.
Please call the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge for Refuge specific regulations at (907) 262-7021.
Vogel Lake Cabin
Pincher Creek Cabin
Big Indian Creek Cabin
McLain Lake Cabin
Snag Lake Cabin
Trapper Joe Lake Cabin
Dolly Varden Lake Cabin
Kelly Lake Cabin
Engineer Lake Cabin
Upper Ohmer Lake Cabin
Doroshin Bay Cabin
Nurses Cabin
Caribou Island Cabin
Pipe Creek Cabin
Lake Emma Cabin
Kodiak NWR
Cabins permits are controlled by a lottery. Information on the cabins and the locations of each
found here : http://kodiak.fws.gov/pdf/Public_Cabins.pdf
Tetlin NWR
http://tetlin.fws.gov/cabins.htm
The Refuge has three administrative cabins available on a reservation basis. Wellesley Lake and
Jatahmund Lake cabins are accessible only by float plane. Nabesna River cabin is accessible by
boat on the Nabesna River. If you are interested in reserving one of these cabins, a reservation
form must be submitted by phone, by mail, or in person at the Refuge Headquarters (during
business hours) no more than 120 days prior to the requested date of use. Reservations will be
filled on a first come, first serve basis. A party may not reserve a cabin for more than five
consecutive nights. The primary purpose of these cabins is to support Refuge field operations.
However, every attempt will be made to accommodate requests for reservations. These cabins can
not be used for commercial use.