Alaska Public Use Cabins
If you’ve ever dreamed of living in a cabin in the Alaska wilderness, there’s an inexpensive way to try it for up to 7 days: rent an Alaska public use cabin.
Compared to an Alaska wilderness lodge or resort, they’re bare-boned affairs. But compared to sleeping in a tent, you’re living like royalty.
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There are more than 300 of these remote cabins around Alaska: on beautiful lakes, along popular hiking trails, overlooking rivers or streams—even on glaciers. Many require a boat or air taxi to get to them.
You can spend your days hiking, taking photos, picking berries, reading by a campfire, or just soaking in the sounds of wilderness. And while you’re on your own, you have the peace of mind of knowing you can retreat to a safe, dry cabin at the end of the day.
Alaska’s weather can delay your trip at any time of year, so plan accordingly with 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.
How Alaska Public Use Cabins Work
The cabins are managed by a variety of public agencies, and most cost about $30 to $75 per night; a few are even free. You can reserve some up to 180 days in advance. Others are first-come, first-served. With many bookings, you are issued a permit, which proves that the cabin is yours for your visit there.
The agency that books your cabin can recommend air taxis or boat operators to help you get there, but you book and pay for transport yourself. For example, Scenic Mountain Air offers floatplane flights to a variety of cabins on the Kenai Peninsula. They'll arrange transportation for you and your gear.
Most cabins are used year- round although rentals may be strongly discouraged during certain times of the year due to avalanche or other dangerous conditions.
Amenities in Alaska Cabin Rentals
Cabins are rustic—as in, no running water, usually no mattresses, and an outhouse rather than a toilet. But they offer solid basics: bunks or sleeping platforms (some even sleeping up to 10), a heating stove, table and chairs, and sometimes a cooking stove. You bring anything else you’ll need to sleep and eat: food, water, bedding and cook stove or utensils.
Cabins on lakes often have a rowboat you can use to go fishing, explore the shoreline, or set off on hikes.
Features
We've also grouped public use cabins with specific characteristics, that will be helpful depending on what type of experience you're looking for.
Accessible by road | Accessible by trail | Have good fishing
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Public Use Cabins
Set at the mouth of gorgeous Shoup Bay in Shoup Bay State Marine Park, McAllister Cabin is the easiest of the three cabins in the state park to reach. Just getting here is an adventure; you can take a water taxi (available in the Valdez Boat Harbor) or rent a kayak to paddle out here yourself.
Set at the mouth of gorgeous Shoup Bay in Shoup Bay State Marine Park, McAllister Cabin is the easiest of the three cabins in the state park to reach. Just getting here is an adventure; you can take a water taxi (available in the Valdez Boat Harbor) or rent a kayak to paddle out here yourself.
Public use cabins are amazing places to get away from it all in a rustic setting surrounded by Alaskan nature, and Kittiwake Cabin is no different. Plus, this remote location in Shoup Bay State marine Park has the added bonus of being wheelchair accessible.
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A two-story log cabin with a loft sleeps eight with bunk space for seven. It has counter space table, benches and a wood stove for heat. Other features include splitting maul and hand saw, an outhouse — and a rowboat with oars. Check Availability
The cabin can sleep up to six and has two latrines close by, a fire ring overlooking the dock, a wood stove, table and other cabin necessities. During the height of the summer, you should be able to get water close by. This cabin is close to the Ranger Station, hiking trails, safe kayaking and King salmon fishing in June.
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This 16 x 22-ft public use cabin offers access to both saltwater and freshwater fishing, plus great scenic and wildlife viewing. Located on the road system 27 miles south of Hoonah at Freshwater Bay, this modern, cedar cabin sleeps eight and is heated by a wood stove.
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This small cabin sleeps two and provides a base camp from which to explore game trails and ridgelines with excellent views of Mount Wrangell, Mount Sanford and Tanada peaks. It’s located at the end of 3‑mile Caribou Creek Trail, which is sometimes accessible by recreational ATV (check with National Park Service first), as well as snow machines when there’s at least 6 inches of snow on the ground.
This cabin is located in the Nabesna River valley approximately 13 miles southeast of Nabesna, or approximately 20 miles by snowmachine trail from the Nabesna Road. Rustic Cabin, 12×16. Use is on a first-come, first-served basis.
The cabin is located between May and Chititu Creek, approximately 11.5 miles southeast of McCarthy. First-Come, First-Served. Access by plane only.
This is a rectangular log cabin built in 1936. Two sleeping rooms are divided from the wood stove and cooking area. Access is by float plane or canoe with portage. It is about a 45-minute flight from Juneau.
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These cabins are located on the north shore of the Chitina River about 15 miles south of McCarthy. No reservations or rental fee, first-come first-served.
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Rhein Lake Cabin overlooks a large, pristine lake with great paddling and decent fishing for rainbow trout in the forest of Nancy Lake State Recreation Area near Willow. This handsome (brand-new in 2018) log cabin offers something special in a vast park known for its backcountry outposts
The Yukla Yurt can be used as a first-night stop for people doing the Cross Pass Crossing to Girdwood. It’s also a great base for exploring the valley or for taking a hike on the upper half of the Dew Mound Trail. The area will be quiet: no motorized recreation allowed. This yurt is the furthest from Nature Center, with a more remote feel than Rapids Camp Yurt.
Located 39 miles north of Juneau. Access by foot or boat in the summer. Beach-comb, fish, look for wildlife, and more.
Mile 11.9 Russian Lakes Trail.Handsome 12×14 trapper’s style log cabin that overlooks the lake and a stunning view. With bunk space for six and sleeping for eight. (The Forest Service recommends space for 4, so expect close quarters.) Check Availability ...more
This is a winter-access-only Bureau of Land Management safety cabin, built and maintained in partnership with the Iditarod Historic Trail.
This is a three-sided Adirondack shelter on the southwestern shore of Otstoia Island.
This cozy 10×16 cabin inside a campground about 22 miles up the Elliott Highway from Fairbanks offers great access to the 400-acre Chatanika State Recreation Area with nearby sled and ATV trails, and boating on the Chatanika River. Wired for electricity, the cabin may be unavailable for public reservations May 1 through Sept. 30.
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Spend a magical night on Mt. Eyak in a rustic, 16’x20’ cabin overlooking Cordova, with amazing views of Orca Inlet. The Hidden Valley Public Use Cabin, built by the Sheridan Alpine Association, is available for your group of 4 – 6 people to rent — and it’s just a 20-minute hike from the base of the ski hill.
This is a winter-access-only Bureau of Land Management safety cabin, built and maintained in partnership with the Iditarod Historic Trail.
A cozy 14 x 12 log cabin inside a 61-acre park with a boat launch site on the Salcha River about 40 miles southeast of Fairbanks in the Tanana River Valley. The site is known for its grayling fishing, with a July salmon run. With skiing and snowmachining in winter. The cabin may be unavailable for public reservations mid-May through mid-September.
“Cabin” may be the wrong word for this sprawling, comfortable cottage fronted by an ample floating dock ready for all kinds of lake fun. With a covered front porch large enough to keep an extended family reunion dry during a late summer downpour, this facility is really a one-room house, nearly 600 square feet of living space compete with a semi-private sleeping bay, a closet, plus gobs of room to cook, lounge and play.
This is a very small enclosed CCC Adirondack shelter. It has a concrete floor, and a 1930s fireplace. 2 single wooden bunks, wood stove, table and benches, Cooking counter, broom, fireplace, axe and maul, wood, outhouse, skiff with oars. The cabin is in the central part of the island on the southern end of Hasselborg Lake at an elevation of 300ft (91 m).
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12 by 14 rustic cabin on Resurrection Creek in spruce-birch forest with mountain views. Sleeping bunks for six with space for eight. Equipped with counter space, table, benches, wood stove, splitting maul and hand saw. Outhouse and bear locker.
This cabin is a real treat! If you spend the night here you are staying in what was the original Park Ranger Headquarters for Kachemak Bay State Park.
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A place for people who want to experience the serenity of deep woods but maintain the option of boating or skiing on a 761-acre water playground with plenty of action. Situated on a hillside beneath a mature stand of spruce and birch, this new log cabin is the most isolated PUC near Nancy Lake proper.
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Cabin at the intersection of Windy Creek Trail and Cache Mountain Loop Trail in the White Mountains National Recreation Area
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Derby Cove Cabin is 14′ X 18′. This cabin sits within a spruce and hemlock forest behind a gravel beach. At the head of the Caines Head trail system, Derby Cove is a quarter mile from the ranger station. Use the creek that runs in front of the cabin as a water source.
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2 story log cabin. 1‑hour float plane flight from Sitka or Juneau or by boat
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Pan Abode cabin on north end of Young Lake. It is about a 20-minute float plane flight from Juneau.
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Operated by the non-profit Alaska Mountain and Wilderness Huts Association, Manitoba Cabin is intended to promote wilderness experience and camaraderie in the spirit of European-style trekking huts. While very popular among backcountry skiers during winter weekends, the facility often has openings during weekdays. During the summer, you might have the entire place to yourself.
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Approximately 6 miles above Takoma Bluff, just above the mouth of Eureka Creek on river left. Sleeps 3 comfortably, 6 max.
This modern, spacious cabin is located on the road system, 11 miles south of Wrangell on the Zimovia Highway. Open year-round, it sleeps 6 – 8 and meets ADA disability requirements. There is access to Newt Lake where a skiff and oars are available for use.
This is a winter-access-only BLM safety cabin, built and maintained in partnership with the Iditarod Historic Trail.
This large 20 x 24 cabin with a broad, covered front porch supported by burled posts looks out over the Chena River and features exceptional access with wheelchair suitable ramps. Located about 37 miles from Fairbanks in the Chena River State Recreation Area, the cabin nestles in a handsome spruce-birch forest on the river inside the 254,000-acre recreation area.
The cabin offers seclusion and good fishing. A rowboat and oars provided at the cabin gives anglers excellent opportunities to catch grayling on the small, adjacent lake. The cabin is accessible only by floatplane (15 minutes from Moose Pass or 15 minutes from Seward).
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The yurt is located about ¾ the way up Tutka Bay on the right as heading up the bay. It is approximately 1 mile past the Hatchery entrance and about ½ mile from the Sea Star state cabin rental. The yurt is located on the prominence just past the beach with the state park campground and the trailhead marker.
Downriver from the mouth of Coal Creek on the left bank of the Yukon. Boat or hike in.
20ft x 20ft 2‑story Pan Abode cabin. Main level has single-wide bunk, table, benches, cooking counter, 2 entrances (front and back), large front deck. Stairway to second level open sleeping loft with two double-wide bunks, outside balconies to front and back.
A rustic log cabin with counter space, a table, benches and a wood stove for heat. Sleeps eight, with bunks for six. Other features include splitting maul and saw, outhouse — and a rowboat equipped with oars for exploring the lake. Check Availability ...more
This 16 x 20 log cabin is situated inside the park-like Delta State Recreation Site a half mile north of Delta Junction and the junction of the Alaska and Richardson highways. The braided Tanana River is just across the highway, offering stunning views of the Alaska Range during clear weather.
If you’d like to spend the night listening to the rush of a wild river, visit this snug yurt overlooking Eagle River with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. Located less than two miles form the Nature Center off the Albert Loop Trail, the yurt sleeps up to four, with two on wooden bunks and two on the floor. It features a deck, two chairs and a table, plus a wood stove with firewood stacked in a shed. Eagle River is your water ...more
Out of ideas for what to do? Check out the log books at this cabin to see who has stayed here and what they’ve done.
The yurt is accessible by water. The Grace Ridge Trail makes it accessable by Alpine hike from the Kayak Beach trail head at the head of Little Tutka Bay.
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A historic 15 x 20 log cabin that resembles a Gold Rush Sourdough’s retreat hunkers in the forest on the shore of Quartz Lake. It’s accessible from the lake, too, by boat in summer or ski/snowmobile in winter. The lake is 86 miles southeast of Fairbanks, inside a 556-acre recreation area with some of the best road-accessible fishing in Alaska’s Interior.
At a spectacular spot two miles from the Canadian border, this public use cabin sleeps six and overlooks the main branch of the Skagway River. The trail there leads to Laughton Creek and Laughton Glacier. Moose, brown bears, and wildflowers can be found in this subalpine forest.
This U.S. Forest Service rental cabin is accessed only by boat or floatplane and lies about 20 miles southwest of Hoonah on Frederick Sound. Located on a sunny patch of beachfront, the 15 by 17-foot cedar log structure sleeps up to eight people and is heated by a wood stove.
24′ x 36′ cabin that sleeps 8. The cabin location permits off- trail hiking/exploring in the direction of Mount Drum and fishing in Chelle Lake.
The cabin is on the west side of Admiralty Island on the east end of Lake Florence. Sleeps 6. ...more
This is a log chalet style cabin, 12 feet by 16 feet, located on the South shore of Eagle Lake
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Hunter Style cabin, 12 feet by 16 feet. Access by 4‑mile trail from Dangerous River Bridge at end of Forest Highway 10 or by boat on the Dangerous River.
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Very striking at the 2,973-foot level of the Alaska Range, this simple, 12×14 log cabin can anchor your alpine adventure — with sweeping views of surrounding tundra foothills only a few miles north of Paxson off the Richardson Highway. The 605-acre state recreation site features a boat launch and picnic sites, with berry picking and ATV trails in summer, and a vast realm for snow sports in winter. Note: The 1.5‑mile access road is not plowed in ...more
Mile 29.2 Resurrection Pass Trail. This cabin sits at the south end of Juneau Lake. A rustic cabin with counter space, a table, benches and a wood stove for heat. Sleeps eight with bunks for six. Other features include a splitting maul and saw, an outhouse — and a canoe with paddles for exploring the lake. Check Availability ...more
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This is a typical Pan Abode cabin on the North end of Jim’s Lake
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This is a typical Pan Abode cabin. It has a nice overlook of the lake. Access is by float plane or canoe with portage. It is about a 45-minute flight from Juneau. By canoe and portage, it is 3.5 miles (5.6 km) from Mole Harbor.
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A‑frame cabin with sleeping loft accessible by floatplane from Petersburg.
This new, log cabin comes with an airy interior space, a child-safe sleeping loft, two covered porches and view of Eklutna Lake. Located down a flat trail about 650 yards from year-round parking, the cabin balances a bit of solitude with easy access and ample recreation. Great for families.
Cabins are located 14 miles east of McCarthy on a gravel bar of the Chitistone River surrounded by towering cliffs. Use is on a first-come, first-served basis.
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This 15 x 17 trapper’s style cabin perched on a ridge 1,800 feet above Spencer Glacier offers one of the most spectacular views in the world. The panorama sweeps across a wild mountain-scape of sheer faces and avalanche chutes. Close to the cabin, visitors will find alpine meadows with wildflowers and interesting geology, and chances to see various wildlife.
This A‑frame public use cabin lies eight miles northeast of Wrangell on the Stikine River delta, one mile south of Point Rothsay and walking distance to the town’s famous garnet deposits. It sleeps six. Guests must provide firewood, bedding and cooking utensils. The garnet outcropping is owned by the Presbyterian Church in Wrangell.
North half of double A‑frame cabin (14ft x 40ft) without windows 4 single wooden bunks, Table, 2 chairs, Fuel oil heater, Log book, Upper level loft, Broom and dustpan, 12ft x 12ft meat shed shared with Tanis Mesa South, Outhouse, Windsock (15 MPH), Airstrip 1800ft x 50ft
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Winter-access-only BLM safety cabin, built and maintained in partnership with the Iditarod Historic Trail.
Encounter a taste of old-time Alaska by spending the night inside an authentic log cabin once used by ferrymen who operated boats transporting pioneers across the Tanana River on the old Valdez-Fairbanks Trail.
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A 12ft x 16ft rustic A‑frame cabin with a loft. The cabin is located 200 yards south of Beach River on the Gulf of Alaska side of Montague Island.
Rustic style 12ft x 14ft Pan Abode cabin. Mainland near the northwest boundary of Misty Fiords National Monument Wilderness.
Located off of Windy Creek Trail Near Beaver Creek in White Mountains National Recreation Area.
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Cabin located between Trail Creek Trail and Wickersham Creek Trail in the White Mountains National Recreation Area
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.)
Adirondak style shelter designed for winter use.
Voted one of the Top 10 Forest Service cabins in Southeast, this modified A‑frame public use cabin occupies a prime spot in the Stikine-LeConte Wilderness, overlooking the Stikine River delta. A short trail leads to LeConte Bay, where icebergs broken off LeConte Glacier can be spotted. It’s also a prime spot for watching the spring shorebird migration.
16-by-16 rustic log cabin on Fox Creek in the Resurrection Creek valley near the edge of by spruce/birch forest with views of nearby mountains. Sleeps 6, with table, wood stove, splitting maul, crosscut saw, and outhouse.
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14′ x 18′ cabin located 39 miles north of Juneau in Point Bridget State Park. Go beachcombing, wildlife viewing, hiking, or boating.
The only state public use cabin on the Ketchikan-area road system, this popular 12 x 16 cabin features one of the region’s few accessible sandy beaches. Hiking trails, salmon viewing, sports fishing, excellent kayaking and wildlife viewing all contribute to the cabin’s reputation as a remarkable base for recreation in a serene coastal rain forest setting.
Rustic Cabin, approximately 16′ x 20′, located on Northeastern shore of Holgate Arm in Aialik Bay.
Cabin is near Crow Pass in the Chugach Mountains, 3 miles from the Crow Pass Trailhead and is located 500 yards East of the Trail at the old cabin site
16′ x 16′ cabin in the White Mountains Recreation Area
This framed 12 x 20 cabin about 45 miles from Fairbanks is wired for electricity and offers a partitioned sleeping area, with space for up to four adults and a bit of privacy. Located inside the Granite Tors Campground, the cabin is a great base for exploring both the Chena Hot Springs Winter Trail (also known as the Yukon Quest Trail) and the 15-mile Granite Tors Trail.
These two almost identical cabins (only 200 feet apart) are aimed toward adventurers and families who want to include both paddling and hiking in their daily adventures. They offer direct access to two lakes as well as the park’s trail system. Though relatively close, each cabin is colored by a slightly different atmosphere. Lynx 2’s porch faces the sunset, with good afternoon sun and a view of Lynx Lake. It feels open, more exposed. Lynx 3 ...more
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This large log cabin sits adjacent to the parking lot at Quartz Lake, with a reputation for some of the best road-accessible fishing in Alaska’s Interior and hiking trails with striking views of the Tanana River Valley. During winter, ice fishing is popular, with four huts available for rent. The cabin may be unavailable for public reservations May 1 through Sept. 30.
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This is a Pan Abode cabin. The cabin and flat beach are in full sun exposure. 20 minute float plane flight from Juneau.
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16ft x 12ft Pan Abode style cabin with 4 single wooden bunks, Table, Wood stove, Food cupboard, Axe, Cooking counter and shelves, Log book, Broom and dustpan, Outhouse, Wood supply (rounds), 12-foot skiff with oars. Water is available from the lake. Treat all water before using.
The Don Sheldon Mountain House may be the world’s most spectacularly situated cabin. Perched on a 4.9 acre rock and ice covered outcrop located at the 5,800 foot level, in the middle of the Don Sheldon Amphitheater just above the Ruth Gorge, it is surrounded on all sides by towering granite walls and glaciers flowing off the flanks of Denali, less than 10 miles away. It’s used primarily from March through October by photographers, skiiers, ...more
Cabin is currently in disrepair and not available for rent.
This rustic log cabin — ideal for fishing, wildlife viewing, kayaking, and hiking — can sleep 6 on Lake Clark.
This airy and handsome 16 x 20 cabin with a sleeping loft stands in a popular campground next to an 800-acre fishing and boating lake about 59 miles southeast of Fairbanks. The cabin may be unavailable for public reservations May 1 through Sept. 30 because it is used to house campground hosts.
12-by-14 rustic cabin tucked away from the trail in a scattered spruce forest near the more open subalpine zone at 2,200 feet. Sleeps 6, with table, wood stove, splitting maul, crosscut saw, and outhouse.
Located off of the middle of Wickersham Creek Trail, sleeps 4.
This is a winter-access-only Bureau of Land Management safety cabin, built and maintained in partnership with the Iditarod Historic Trail. It does not require a reservation, is free, and is not exclusive use (meaning you will have to share it with others if they show up). Each cabin is equipped with bunks, a woodstove, and outhouses.
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A small, two-room rehabilitated log cabin on Lake Clark ideal for fishing, wildlife viewing, kayaking, and hiking.
16ft x 16ft A‑frame cabin with sleeping loft reached by a vertical ladder. 35 miles (56 km) southeast of Sitka and 5 miles (8 km) northeast of Whale Bay on the southcentral portion of Baranof Island.
Cabin in the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge.
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12′ x 16′ cabin on shore of Byers Lake. Sleeps 6.
This airy 16 x 18 log cabin overlooks a scenic bend in the river estuary inside the Eagle Beach State Recreation Area near Juneau. Berry Patch offers a bit of privacy but remains a great base to explore accessible nature loops, or beachcomb and watch for marine wildlife such sea lion and whales, birds and other critters in the salt marsh and tide flats.
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This rustic, 20 x 24 log cabin with a covered porch sits in the forest close to the Chena River about 53 miles from Fairbanks inside the Chena River State Recreation Area. It has the vibe of an old-time trapper’s cabin, with great river access.
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Winter-access-only BLM safety cabin, built and maintained in partnership with the Iditarod Historic Trail.
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16ft x 16ft (5m x 5m) A‑frame cabin with sleeping loft, partially covered porch.
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You can’t get much closer to a railroading experience than sleeping in a caboose. Refurbished as a public use cabin in the 1960’s, this classic trail car mothballed by the White Pass and Yukon Route railroad offers rustic amenities with views of Skagway River’s East Fork and Sawtooth Mountains.
The cabin is on the western shore of Church Bight, a small cove within Gambier Bay on southeast Admiralty Island.
This is a winter-access-only Bureau of Land Management safety cabin, built and maintained in partnership with the Iditarod Historic Trail
The cabin is located on the north shore of Engineer Lake. The cabin is south facing overlooking the lake surrounded by spruce and birch trees. Two bunk beds, table with benches, wood stove, broom, shovel, water bucket, fire extinguisher, established campfire ring, and outhouse.
New in 2016, this airy log cabin with a sleeping loft and spiral staircase sits on a bench with a view of the Alaska Range. The location inside the Tent Loop of the K’esugi Ken Campground — close to the similar Tokosha Cabin — features a short walk from parking and 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.
Located about four miles south on the western shore of Eklutna Lake inside Chugach State Park, the new, spacious Kokanee Cabin offers backcountry paddling and skiing with a strong wilderness vibe. Off the trail system and reachable only by traveling across the lake, the cabin is surrounded by forest that’s seen almost no human use. With this isolation, it’s a place that asks for self-sufficiency and gives solitude, plus a taste of what it might ...more
South half of double A‑frame cabin (14ft x 40ft). Accessible by wheeled aircraft.
Mile 8.6 Russian Lakes Trail. Rustic cabin with bunks for six and sleeping space for eight. Fishing for Dolly Varden and rainbow trout in the nearby Russian River. Features counter space, table, benches, a wood stove, splitting maul and handsaw, and outhouse. Check Availability ...more
Centered on a park-like island with winding trails through the brush, Red Shirt Lake Cabin 1 is a big cabin that’s an easy paddle from the launch point at end of the three-mile Red Shirt Lake Trail. From its sprawling front porch, you can glimpse water on two sides, but no major vistas. Situated in the mouth of the lake’s protected northwestern lobe, the cabin is a great launch point for exploration by canoe when the main lake becomes windy and ...more
The 12x20-ft, rustic cabin has a loft and a covered deck. Located 4.2 miles from Power Creek Trailhead, which begins approximately 6.9 miles north of Cordova, Alaska.
This is a restored Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) log cabin, 16′ x 20′. Access by 3 mile trail on Pioneer Street off Cordova Street, and at the end of Jackson St. above Blueberry Hills subdivision in West Juneau.
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Cabin in the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge
Reaching this mountaintop perch requires a steep, four-mile climb, but hikers are rewarded with birds-eye view of the area from a rocky, alpine ledge. The only U.S. Forest Service cabin on Mitkof Island’s road system, Raven’s Roost accommodates eight.
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New in 2016, Dolly Varden Cabin offers the same recreation opportunities that you’d find while car camping in the Eklutna Campground, but you sleep inside an insulated with a wood-burning stove and loads of space. Aimed at people who might want to experience the paddling, biking, hiking and climbing possibilities of the stunning Eklutna Valley, but don’t want to “rough it” or chop wood for heating.
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This is a winter-access-only Bureau of Land Management safety cabin, built and maintained in partnership with the Iditarod Historic Trail. It does not require a reservation, is free, and is not exclusive use (meaning you will have to share it with others if they show up). Each cabin is equipped with bunks, a woodstove, and outhouses.
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12ft x 12ft Pan-Abode precut cedar log cabin with large covered porch on Northern Prince of Whales Island
A‑frame cabin rebuilt in 2005 – 2006. 18 air miles (29 km) from Petersburg. Float plane when lake is open. Helicopter when lake is frozen.
Located at the end of the trail between Fossil Gap Trail and Fossil Creek Trail, in the White Mountains Recreation Area.
14 foot x 16 foot (4.25 m x 5 m) hunter-style cabin with half-loft for storage & small wrap-around deck
This is a small dark A‑frame cabin, about a 30-minute floatplane flight from Juneau
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Bald Lake Cabin is a great choice for people who want to stay at an Alaska wilderness cabin on a pristine lake, but don’t want to travel far to get there. On the hillside overlooking isolated Bald Lake, the cabin offers seclusion and privacy only a short walk from your vehicle. It’s a “best of both worlds” kind of place — where you can spend the day exploring a virtually private lake with interesting bays, or quickly dash back to your vehicle to ...more
The Harlequin Lake 14ft X 80ft shelter and is available on a first come first serve basis.
This cozy 12 x 14 cabin is tucked into the forest inside the Eagle Beach State Recreation Area about 15 miles up the coast from Juneau on the island-rich Favorite Channel of Lynn Canal. Martin Cabin offers a bit of privacy amid the big trees, with more immediate access to the trails along the river than the area’s other coastal-oriented cabins.
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16-x-16 log cabin in an alpine valley nestled amid steep mountain slopes. Sleeps 6, with table, oil stove, and outhouse. Note: You must bring #1 stove oil if you want heat. One gallon lasts about one hour. Devil’s Creek Trail intersects here, a 10-mile descent to the Seward Highway trailhead. Devi’s Pass Lake is about one mile down the trail. Check Availability ...more
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For lakeside adventures of all kinds — with canoe trails, pike fishing and wildlife viewing nearby — try this 22,500-acre multi-use park outside Willow, featuring 131 lakes and a network of trails. Its 13 public use cabins range from places that offer motorboat access, to vehicle parking, to true wilderness refuges reachable only by canoe or ski trail. Winter creates a snow-sport mecca for cabin users too — skiing, Nordic skating, snow biking and ...more
15′ x 12′ log chalet style cabin with a deck.
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Small Rustic Cabin Sleeps Two
Nestled just off the Seward Highway near Bird Creek, these two new, spacious cabins might allow you to fulfill almost any family-friendly Alaskan recreation fantasy in a single weekend. They offer unmatched options for all kinds of activities — biking, fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing — with exceptionally easy access by car.
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Hunter style cabin, 14 feet by 16 fee with 4 single wooden bunks, 1 table, Oil heater, Food cupboard, Windsock (15 MPH), Log book, Broom and dustpan, Cooking counter and shelves, Meat shed (12ft x 12ft), Outhouse, Airstrip 1800ft x 50ft.
If you want a convenient no-frills outpost close to your boat or airplane — and just off the winter trail — Nancy Lake Cabin 3 will fit the bill. What this well-used, old-style public use cabin lacks in amenities or architectural wonder may be compensated by its simplicity and ease of heating on frigid winter nights. Cozy is the word — a warm, dry refuge after a long day outside.
Cabin in Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge accessible by boat or floatplane
Cabin sleeps 3 in South West White Mountains National Recreation Area
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14′ x 16′ Cabin on Byers Lake that sleeps up to 6.
12′ x 14′ Pan Abode style cabin with covered deck on front on west side of Sergief Island on Stikine River tideflats
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Small hunter-style cabin on north side of Distin Lake. Access is by float plane or canoe with portage.
Located at the back of Eklutna Lake, Serenity Falls is one of Alaska’s largest huts. With an enormous bank of windows facing the falls and a mountain so high as to nearly block the sky, the place feels as though you have crossed into the alpine realm. Yet it’s a relatively easy 12-mile hike or bike along the wide, flat Eklutna Lakeside Trail, making it a great choice for families with kids or large groups.
Along a historic travel route that dates to the Gold Rush era, these four public use facilities offer people a flat walk to a secluded riverine wilderness only an hour walk from a trailhead that’s an easy drive from town. Managed by the Eagle River Nature Center, the three yurts and one cabin are perfect those who want to hike and explore the Eagle River corridor, known both for its wildlife — bald eagles, brown and black bear, moose — and ...more
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8′ x 10′ Cabin 18 miles east of McCarthy, about 1⁄2 mile south of the Chitistone River. No reservations required, no rental fee.
4 single bunks. 16 air miles (25 km) or 30 water miles (48 km) from Petersburg on the edge of the mud flats of Castle River, on the west side of Duncan Canal on Kupreanof Island.
The 12x14-ft rustic structure can sleep up to 6. Access to the cabin is by wheel plane on the beach at low tide only, typically a 25-minute flight from Cordova.
Quaint cabin renovated in 2000, located about 1⁄4 mile north of the Nabesna Road.
The yurt is located on the point between Sadie Cove and Little Tutka Bay
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This snug 16 x 20 cabin on the braided Delta River offers stunning glimpses of some of the tallest peaks in the Alaska Range. The cabin nestles in a wooded, 46-acre recreation site with 12 campsites, surrounded by foothills that rise into tundra, on the fresh-water Donnelly Creek. Just off the highway and seldom crowded, the locale is known for its wilderness character and sweeping views.
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The 14x16-ft rustic cabin can sleep up to six people. Access to the cabin is by wheel plane at low tide from Cordova or Seward.
Cabin in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. The trailhead to the cabin is located on the Skilak Lake Road, mile 7.5 from the east entrance junction with the Sterling Highway. The cabin is located .2 miles from the road on the Upper Ohmer Lake Trail.
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12′ x 14′ cabin in Misty Fiords National Monument east of Ketchikan
12ft x 12ft Pan-Abode cedar log cabin on Prince of Whales Island.
Located on an isthmus between a sheltered cove and the main body of a vast backcountry lake, Red Shirt Lake Cabin 2 offers a basic, easy-to-heat base for exploring 1,186-acre Red Shirt Lake regardless of weather. It gives a small party no-fuss access to water, fuel and ski trails — a cozy space to relax when the day is done and the light begins its dying slant.
On the shore in the quiet corner of a busy lake, Nancy Lake 1 may be one of the most versatile public use cabins in Alaska. One minute you’re in deep woods beneath a towering canopy, and then, like stepping through the looking glass, you descend a hill to find a storybook log cabin with a panoramic view of boating and fishing, or skiing and snowmobiling.
Red Shirt Cabin 3 celebrates the ancient spirit of Red Shirt Lake as a gathering place. The lake once featured large salmon runs and summer camps for Dena’ina Native groups, and still hosts private cabins on its southern half. The cabin may be perfect for large parties in quest of lake action, a platform for those who want strenuous days of paddling, fishing, swimming, and motoring followed by rousing evening campfires.
This is a three-sided Adirondack shelter nestled in a stand of tall trees along the shoreline.
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The West Cabin is the third cabin within Halibut Cove Lagoon. It is not accessible via the public dock, and you must either take your own boat here or be dropped of by water taxi on the beach in front of the cabin.
Callisto Cabin is located in the Caines Head State Recreation Area, approximately 7 nautical miles south of Seward in Resurrection Bay. The cabin can be reached by the coastal tidal trail, or by water taxi or floatplane.
Mile 2.3 Russian Lakes Trail. This rustic cabin in a flat area along the eastern shore of Lower Russian Lake features a rowboat with oars. It sleeps eight, with bunks for six, and includes cooking counter, table, benches, wood stove, spitting maul and saw, and an outhouse. Check Availability ...more
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The White Mountain National Recreation Area has over 200 miles of winter trails that are shared by dog mushers, skiiers, skijorers, and snow machiners and several cabins have been built along the White Mountain winter trails to provide visitors with safety and comfort during their adventures.
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This handsome, well-seasoned log cabin is the postcard for your public use cabin dreams. If they filmed “Alaska Public Use Cabins — The Movie,” the producers would have a hard time finding a better place than James Lake for the setting.
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16′ x 16′ cabin on south side of Little Dry Island on Stikine River tideflats
Pan Abode cabin with a nice beach. It is about a 45-minute flight from Juneau. By canoe and portage, it is about 10 miles (16 km) from Mole Harbor.
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Ideal for those paddling, boating, fishing, hiking as well as those looking for seclusion away from the lake’s more popular routes for skiing and snowmobiling. The cabin faces the sunset and may be the perfect locale to string a hammock for long summer afternoons listening to forest birds.
Want to feel like you’ve ventured deep into the mountains without walking all day? The Rapids Camp Yurt grabs some of the best views in the Eagle River Valley. The yurt and its viewing deck are perched high, giving their inhabitants a feeling they are standing among the peaks around them. In summer, the sound of the river running provides a soothing white noise.
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This 16′ X 16′ cabin is constructed of beetle-killed, milled spruce logs and has two full size bunk beds with a capacity to sleep eight people. Located in Decision Point State Park, this cabin can be reached by private boat, kayak, floatplane, or commercial water taxi.
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11′ x 15′ cabin in the historic mining settlement of Chisana
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Sited at the end of a hiking trail at 3,100 feet elevation, this six-person A‑frame cabin is open to the adventurous year-round, offering views of this alpine lake and the surrounding mountain ridges. A strenuous, 2.5‑mile trail leads to a spectacular overlook and to Devil’s Punchbowl, a tarn nested in a deep, rocky bowl.
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The yurt is on the Left side of Right Beach facing the beach
New in 2016, this log cabin with a sleeping loft and spiral staircase has an amazing panoramic view of the Alaska Range. The location inside the Tent Loop of the K’esugi Ken Campground — close to the similar Hunter Cabin — features a short walk from parking and exceptional recreation potential.
Modified A‑frame cabin. Float plane or boat from Petersburg or Wrangell
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This is a winter-access-only Bureau of Land Management safety cabin, built and maintained in partnership with the Iditarod Historic Trail.
With exceptionally easy access for families, Yuditna Creek cabin may be one of the most versatile backcountry cabins in the state, whether cycling, skiing or hiking. Located at the end of a three-mile trip down a mostly flat trail along Eklutna Lake into the heart of Chugach State Park, the cabin offers a perfect base for all-day adventures in a spectacular mountain valley.
Although it takes some getting to, this wilderness, lakeside public use cabin offers great sportfishing and a skiff to paddle around in. This new cabin is a 7 – 10 mile hike and four-mile paddle or skiff ride across Wrangell Narrows from downtown Petersburg. It sleeps six.
A‑frame cabin modified with an extended roof and an upright wall to form a bump-out. 2 double bunks sleep up to 6. Boat or floatplane from Petersburg or Wrangell, then easy 1⁄2 mile walk from flats.
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Pan-Abode cabin with covered front porch
The Sea Star Cove public-use cabin is located in Tutka Bay, about three-quarters of the way in, on your right, on the south side. The cabin is surrounded by large, old-growth Sitka spruce. By far, this is the best Public Use Cabin in the park, and it has many hiking and kayaking options if used as a base.
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15ft x 18ft Pan Abode style cabin with full sleeping loft reached by staircase and a deck in front of the cabin. 30-minute boat ride from Sitka. Helicopter access possible on beach at lower tides.
This rustic log cabin nestles into the forest about 1.5 miles up the Iditarod Trail off on a side trail. It has the feel of an old-time Alaskan trapper’s home. Although perched at the edge of hard-core wilderness — deep inside the mountains — this cabin is close to trails maintained by the Nature Center itself, giving families with small children the option of combining short hikes with education. The facilities can also be used as a ...more
This cabin is nestled in a glacial valley on the upper Chitina River. No rental fee, first-come, first-served.
A quarter mile from the air strip on the opposite side of Little Esker Stream
Located at the top right hand side of the entrance of Sadie cove. The site is overlooking the cove and out to the Kachemak Bay and Eldred Passage.
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Cabin at the end of Bear Creek Trail in the White Mountains National Recreation Area.
The yurt is removed from the state park campground and very private. Drop off is to the right of the game marker about 300 yards to the left of the Humpy Creek trail head and campground.
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Cabin in Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge accessible by float plane
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This airy and very popular 16 x 18 log cabin enjoys exceptional access inside Eagle Beach State Recreation Area. With a wheelchair accessible ramp and a covered front porch adjacent to parking, the cabin is a great base to explore accessible nature loops, or beachcomb and watch for marine wildlife, birds and other critters in the salt marsh and tide flats.
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This is a large A‑frame cabin with a loft. The cabin is about 1⁄2 mile (1 km) north of Donkey Bay in a protected cove within Pybus Bay on southeast Admiralty Island. Access is by float plane or boat.
A 12ft x 14ft rustic cabin overlooking the southern shore of Crescent Lake. It is a 7 mile hike via Carter Lake Trail and an 11 mile hike via Crescent Creek Trail.
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Located just south of the Dolly Varden Cabin at Eklutna Lake
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12 foot x 14 foot hunter-style cabin. The cabin is 12 miles by floatplane or shallow draft boat from Wrangell, or 7 miles from the boat ramp on the south end of Mitkof Island.
1950’s hunting cabin. Sleeps 3 comfortably, 6 max. Approximately one quarter mile downriver from the mouth of Glenn Creek on left bank of the Yukon River
12′ x 28′ road accessible cabin that sleeps up to 6.
Have you ever wanted to spend time in a trapper’s shack deep in the Alaska Bush? A place where you might see the outline of a loon’s head against slate water with Denali gleaming above the trees and no other movement? Nestled on a peninsula on a lake deep inside the Nancy Lake State Recreation Area, Lynx Lake Cabin 1 is private, snug and cozy. An early-to-bed, early-to-rise retreat with a weathered, lived-in vibe.
This handsome 16 x 24 log cabin with a sleeping loft sits on the banks of the Chena River about 48 miles from Fairbanks, featuring the musical flow of the crystal river with decent fishing for grayling or a launch spot for float trips. It’s dedicated to the memory of Park Ranger Darryl Hunt, who managed the Chena River State Recreation Area from 1994 to 2003.
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Rustic 16ft x 20ft log cabin fully ADA accessible bunk on main level. 15 minute drive from downtown Sitka or 2 minute drive from Alaska Marine Highway Sitka Ferry Terminal.
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The cabin is located on an island of Tustumena Lake in the Kenai Wilderness area.
12′ x 16′ cabin that sleeps up to 6. Accessible via trail from Point Bridget State Park.
On the southwest shore of Coghill Lake, on a lagoon just before the Coghill River, on the east side of College Fiord in Prince William Sound. Trail is 3 miles.
This 16 x 16 cabin is located on the north bank of Big Indian Creek. This cabin offers seclusion and the opportunity to explore the remote northeast interior of the Refuge. Wildlife includes moose, black and brown bears and wolves. Hunting and trapping is allowed. In the winter there is cross-county skiing and snowshoeing. Review Alaska department of Fish and Game hunting and fishing regulations.
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A 12ft x 14ft rustic cabin at the northwest end of Crescent Lake in the Kenai Mountains.
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