Description
New in 2016, this very large and airy log cabin with a sleeping loft and spiral staircase is immediately adjacent to parking with an amazing panoramic view of the Alaska Range. The cabin is occupied by a campground host during summer, with public rentals usually (but not always) limited to the September through May period. (It’s worth checking for a rare summer opening.) The location inside the Tent Loop of the K’esugi Ken Campground features exceptional recreation potential. On a sunny day with crystal air, the sight of Denali’s white massif glimmering on the northwestern horizon might take your breath. Denali Cabin is also one of the very few Alaska PUCs with limited electric power suitable for lights, and running water with a sink during summer.
Facilities
The ADA-accessible 24x30 foot cabin comes equipped with a front and rear ramps, covered deck, wooden bunks and a small bedroom, two tables, a counter with a sink and summer-time running water, wood stove for heating, picnic table, campfire ring and fire extinguisher. With a 12x20-foot loft. A vault toilet is 250 feet away.
Capacity
10 people (pets welcome)
Area
Denali State Park
Location
The cabin is inside the K'esugi Ken Campground on the Tent Campground Loop, right next to parking. Though spacious and particularly well-appointed for a rustic PUC, Denali Cabin doesn’t offer the same level of seclusion that you’d find at the Hunter and Tokosha cabins a few hundred feet away.
Access
K'esugi Ken Campground is located at Mile 135.4 of the George Parks Highway, north of Anchorage and Talkeetna. The K'esugi Ken Road climbs a long, curvy hill for two miles. In winter, consider using all-wheel drive vehicles.
Terrain
Set well into the foothills below Curry Ridge, the campground complex sprawls over a relatively flat area, with difficult terrain below and above the facility. It’s best to stick to maintained trails when exploring. Denali State Park in general is known for its wilderness character and rugged topography that morphs into alpine country with sweeping views found on Curry and K’esugi ridges.
What can you do at Hunter Cabin?
- Hike or bike. The campground features a 2-mile loop over an easy trail.
- Attend a talk at K’esugi Ken Interpretive Center. A 30-by-90 foot pavilion has interpretive information about Denali State Park and the Alaska Range, plus ranger or naturalist presentations on most days between Memorial Day through Labor Day.
- Explore Curry Ridge. A new 3-mile trail climbs 1,100 feet from the K’esugi Ken Campground up the southwestern flank of Curry Ridge. A three-mile cross-country route leads further to a historic shelter on the 2,507-foot summit.
- Paddle or hike at Byer’s Lake: At Mile 147.1 of the Parks Highway in the Byers Lake Campground, you’ll find a boat concession and a 5.3 trail that circumnavigates the lake.
- Visit the Alaska Veteran’s Memorial. At Mile 147.1 of Parks Highway. Five 20-foot tall concrete panels commemorate the contributions of the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard to Alaska.
Season of Use
Year-round
Managing Agency
Denali State Park
What To Bring
This PUC provides a secure indoor shelter with hard bunks, table, cooking space and an incredible view, but you must supply the rest. Don’t forget personal, sleeping and camping gear, food and water containers (during winter when the sink is offline,) cookware and utensils, a camp stove with fuel, matches or fire starter—everything you need to be comfortable for your stay. You’ll need firewood for heat or campfire. It does have electricity for lighting (not for heaters or hot plates.) But power outages are common, so it’s recommended that you bring alternative lighting, like a lantern or headlamps. Extra toilet paper are also good ideas.
Stove
Wood
