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Established Camping

Coghill Lake Cabin

CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Coghill Lake Cabin is situated in the Chugach National Forest, surrounded by forested terrain and nearby water bodies. The area experiences temperature highs around 60°F in summer and lows near 20°F in winter. Visitors can explore nearby attractions such as the Portage Glacier and the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.

Fee Info

Only one change per reservation for all Alaska cabins is allowed. Change is defined as a modification to the start or end date of the reservation; after one change has been made, if additional changes are desired, the customer must cancel the current reservation and re-book the new dates.

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Location

Coghill Lake Cabin is located in Alaska

Detail location of campground

Directions

This Cabin is not accessible via the road system. The cabin is located on the southwest shore of Coghill Lake, on the lagoon just before Coghill River, on the east side of College Fiord in Prince William Sound. Accessible via float plane (50 minutes from Anchorage or 60 minutes from Cordova). The lagoon has enough water to taxi a plane near the boardwalk by the cabin. The cabin can also be accessed by a three mile, brushy, primitive trail from Port Wells. Boats are not provided by the Forest Service.

Address

145 Forest Station Road, P.O. Box 129
Girdwood, AK 99587

Coordinates

61.0822222 N
147.8611111 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site

Site Types

  • Cabins

Features

For Campers

  • Reservable
  • Toilets
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Water Hookups

Contact

General Info

Reservations


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4.0

out of 5

1 Review

Reviewed Nov. 7, 2019

Beautiful scenery, challenging coho fishing

Coghill has an outstanding A-frame cabin and the view from the front porch is one of the best I have seen in visits to over 20 different USFS cabins in Alaska.  The view included 3,000-4,000 ft peaks covered with glaciers, and a beautiful lagoon right in front of the cabin. The flight there and back from Anchorage was incredible, we saw hundreds of glaciers, several massive ones. The area around Coghill is very swampy, and it was very buggy when we were there in the middle of Sept., all biting black flies, no mosquitos. 

the trail that supposedly exists to the estuary is overgrown, criss-crossed with bear trails,  hard to find, and very brushy where you do find it. We wondered why nobody has placed any trail markers on the trail from the cabin to College Fiord? I realize the USFS does not have the resources to maintain or improve the trail, but if it was marked regular use would help maintain the trail somewhat. But it also seems like the vegetation grows so fast there that nature is doing its best to obliterate any trail, and the many bear trails make it hard to figure out which trail is which.

When it rains the river downstream of the cabin is too large to cross, so you become very restricted in where you can fish downstream. We brought a 2.5 HP kicker motor, so we were able to explore all of the tribs that feed into the upper end of the the lake. 

we were fishing for silvers and our group caught very few during a week.  The place is very well known for sockeye, but they run in July and we were there in Sept.  the lagoon in front of the cabin and lake had about 20 harbor seals that were on constant prowl for silvers. The harbor seals were also in the river down below the cabin. with so many seals it is hard to imagine that the silvers ever have a chance to stack up anywhere without being scattered.  The cabin log book mentions the seals being there more than 20 years back, so they just seem to be a feature of this lake/lagoon system.  

The Coghill cabin was in excellent shape when we visited, and very clean thanks to the preceding group (the “Igloo Boys”). the area around the lake is incredibly beautiful!! the stove worked well but only has one heat setting (but that was not a problem).

THE ROWBOAT IS MISSING AN OAR, and really needs a new set of oars and oar locks so that the remaining oar can serve as a back up. The Igloo Boys improvised a shovel as a replacement for the missing oar, but it is only a matter of time before somebody drops the oar/shovel to the bottom of the lake and then they will have to row their way back to the cabin with only a single oar.  If you visit this cabin make arrangements with the USFS to get a new set of oars, or bring your own.  Without oars you will be very limited in where you can get to at this cabin.

SiteUSFS cabin
Month of VisitSeptember

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I reserve Coghill Lake Cabin in Alaska?

Coghill Lake Cabin is managed by the US Forest Service and requires advance reservations. The cabin can be booked through the Recreation.gov website or by calling the reservation line. Reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance, and it's advisable to book early, especially for summer months when demand is high. Contact the Chugach National Forest office for specific availability and current reservation policies if you have questions about securing your dates.

What amenities are available at Coghill Lake Cabin?

Coghill Lake Cabin features a distinctive A-frame design with a front porch offering spectacular views of 3,000-4,000 ft glacier-covered peaks and a beautiful lagoon. The cabin is rustic but comfortable, typical of USFS cabins in Alaska. Visitors should plan to bring all necessary supplies including sleeping bags, cooking equipment, food, toilet paper, and water treatment methods. The cabin provides basic shelter and sleeping platforms, but lacks electricity, running water, and modern conveniences.

What activities can I do while staying at Coghill Lake Cabin?

Visitors to Coghill Lake Cabin can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities in this pristine wilderness setting. The cabin's location provides excellent opportunities for fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing, and photography. The surrounding mountains and glaciers create a perfect backdrop for nature appreciation and exploration. The beautiful lagoon in front of the cabin offers water-based activities. During appropriate seasons, berry picking may also be possible. The spectacular views from the cabin's front porch make simply relaxing and taking in the scenery a worthwhile activity in itself.

How do I access Coghill Lake Cabin and what transportation options are available?

Access to Coghill Lake Cabin is primarily by floatplane, as it's located in a remote area not connected to the road system. Flights typically depart from Whittier or other nearby communities that offer air taxi services. The flight to the cabin offers stunning views of the surrounding wilderness. There are no road options available, and boat access is not typically mentioned as viable. Be sure to arrange your transportation well in advance with licensed air taxi operators familiar with the area.