Public Use Cabins In Alaska

Public Use Cabins in Alaska

There are over 200 public use cabins scattered across the state of Alaska, the Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska alone has over 150 managed by the US Forest Service. The BLM's White Mountain National Recreation Area in the Interior has 12 public use cabins and 250 miles of groomed trails. In South Central Alaska, cabins are maintained and managed by numerous public agencies both State and Federal. The links in the right margin offer access to the different agencies and the web sites that deal specifically with different public use cabins in Alaska, the last one, recreation.gov also allows you to look up public use cabins in locations around the country.

What to expect

Access to these public use cabins is not usually a drive to affair. You will have to find and arrange your own transportation which may include travel by boat, foot, skiing, dog sled, snow mobile (where allowed), or plane. Whatever the method, plan accordingly and bring extra provisions in case the weather leaves you unable to return as scheduled.

Public use cabins are considered to be 'rugged' accommodations by most. You can expect, usually expect these cabins to have bunks or sleeping platform, a wood stove for heat, table and chairs, everything else you will need to bring with you so do not forget your sleeping bag. Visitors should be prepared to gather firewood in the vicinity of the cabins, or bring their own firewood. Only dead and down wood can be used.

The various agencies have different policies for rental of these cabins, some allow you to rent 6 months in advance others are drawn by lottery several months before and others do not require any reservation but are available on a first-come, first served basis. Below are brief descriptions of some of the areas you will find Public use cabins in and contact information for the respective management agency.

Basic Details & Contact Information

US Forest Service
Chugach National Forest is located in Southcentral Alaska and the Prince William Sound area. There are just over 40 cabins available for public use. The Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska has over 150 cabins. The majority of cabins are accessed by plane or boat. Those accessible by trail tend to be more popular and are reserved months in advance. It is best to obtain a map of cabin locations and start planning early for making cabin reservations. For cabin availability and/or reservations Chugach National Forest & Tongass National Forest, call: 1-877-444-6777 All reservations must be made over the phone or internet. http://www.ReserveUSA.com

For more information, contact:
National Forest Service
Centennial Hall
101 Egan Drive
Juneau, AK 99801
(907) 586-8751

http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/chugach/cabin_web_page/index.html

National Wildlife Refuges

Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge maintains seven public use cabins. Cabins on the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge are available by lottery only and are only accessible by boat or float plane because brush and terrain make hiking very difficult. Drawings occur the first business day of January, April, July, and October for dates requested beginning three months later.

For more information, contact:
Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge
1390 Buskin River Road
Kodiak, AK 99615
(907) 487-2600

http://kodiak.fws.gov/visiting.htm

Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Cabins on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge just south of Anchorage are available all year. Eleven cabins are reservable by phone or in person 180 days in advance. Two cabins are available on a first-come/first-served basis. The cabins are located throughout the refuge, Swanson Lakes to Lake Tustemena. Only a few of these public use cabins are road accessible.

For more information, contact:
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
P.O. Box 2139
Ski Hill Road
Soldotna AK 99669
(907)-262-7021 or 1-877-285-5628

http://kenai.fws.gov/cabin.htm

Tetlin National Wildlife 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.

For more information, contact:
Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge
P. O. Box 779 MS 529
Tok, Alaska 99780
Phone: (907) 883-5312
E-Mail: tetlin@fws.gov

National Park Service

Kenai Fjords National Park Situated near Seward, Kenai Fjords National Park has three coastal cabins open only during the summer months at Aialik Bay, Holgate Arm and North Arm. These are accessible by float plane, and private or charter boat. The park also has one cabin at Exit Glacier open for public use only in winter when the Exit Glacier Road is closed, usually late December through March depending on snowfall. The Exit Glacier cabin can be reached in winter by skis, dog sleds, and snowmobile. Reservations are required. To reserve a cabin, contact the Alaska Public Lands Information Center at (907) 644-3661 or toll-free at (866) 869-6887

For more information, contact:
Kenai Fjords National Park
Cabin Reservations
PO Box 1727
Seward, AK 99664
(907) 224-3175

http://www.nps.gov/kefj/planyourvisit/public-use-cabins.htm

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve. Currently, there are 13 public-use cabins located within Wrangell-St. Elias. Most of these cabins were old mining, trapping, or hunting cabins that are located on public land and have been restored by the National Park Service. All of these public use cabins are available to everyone on a first-come, first-served basis, and with the exception of the Esker Stream Cabin near Yakutat, and Viking Lodge Cabin along the Nabesna Road, do NOT require reservations and are not reserve-able.

For more information, contact:
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve.
P.O. Box 439
Mile 106.8 Richardson Highway
Copper Center, AK 99573
907-822-5234

http://www.nps.gov/wrst/planyourvisit/backcountry-cabins.htm

Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve: Yukon-Charley has six public use cabins available on a no-cost, first-come, first-served basis. Be aware that if others arrive, you may have company, particularly in emergency situations.

For more information, contact:
Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve
PO Box 167
Eagle, AK 99738
(907) 547-2233

http://www.nps.gov/yuch/planyourvisit/publicusecabins.htm

Alaska State Parks: State park cabins are some of the most accessible cabins in Alaska. They are located throughout the state, many near favorite recreation areas such as Kachemak Bay, Nancy Lakes, and Denali State Park. The cabins range in size and can sleep from 3-10 persons. Reservations The cabins can be rented from the nearest state park office or from the DNR Public Information Center. You can reserve up to seven months in advance if you an Alaskan resident, six months in advance if you are from out-of-state. Reservations can be made in-person or by mail, and are not confirmed until the full amount is paid.

For more information, contact:
Alaska State Parks
Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR)
Public Information Center (PIC)
550 West 7th Ave., Suite 1260
Anchorage, AK 99501-3557
(907) 269-8400

http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/cabins/index.htm

Bureau of Land Management, The White Mountains National Recreation Area has several log cabins built at scenic locations along the 200-mile winter trail system. These remote cabins are used by skiers, dog mushers, and snowmachiners. The wet and marshy trail conditions allow only one of these cabins (Lee’s Cabin) to be suitable for summer use. There is another cabin near the roadside (Fred Blixt), not part of the White Mountains system, that is available for rent year round. Reservations, these cabins must be reserved and can be booked up to 30 days in advance by mail, telephone or in-person. Use is limited to three consecutive nights per cabin.

For more information, contact:
BLM Land Information Center
1150 University Avenue
Fairbanks, AK 99709-3844
(907) 474-2250

http://www.blm.gov/ak/st/en/prog/sa/white_mtns/cabins.htmll

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