This post is sponsored by our friends at Roanline, whose united by blue flannel is guaranteed to be the perfect answer to your cold-weather clothing needs.
Tent and hammock camping are great for minimizing the barrier between yourself and the great outdoors. But sometimes the weather calls for a hard-sided approach—especially when you’re in one of the last truly wild places in the United States, far above the lower 48 in rugged Alaska. These cozy cabins in the Frozen North are perfect for unplugging, enjoying solitude in nature, and getting deeply acquainted with a good book and a hot beverage.
Watch the Snow Fall from These 10 Cozy Cabins in Alaska
Forget cabin fever— once you’re holed up in one of these rustic cozy cabins, you won’t want to leave.
1. John Muir Cabin
John Muir Cabin / Image from the U.S. Forest Service
John Muir’s love of the Sierras is so well-documented that it’s easy to forget he was also smitten with Alaska’s glittering glaciers. He first visited Alaska in 1879 and later played a role in driving prospectors from San Francisco far north for the Klondike gold rush in 1896. Muir wrote of a trip he took in 1890: “The breakers from the deep Pacific, driven by the gale, made a glorious display of foam on the bald islet rocks, sending spray over the tops of some of them a hundred feet high or more in sublime, curving, jagged-edged and flame-shaped sheets.”
You can see the same awe-inspiring landscape for yourself at the John Muir Cabin. You’ll have to follow in Muir’s footsteps to get there by hiking or snowshoeing across 3.5 miles and 1,500 feet of elevation gain from the Spaulding Meadows/Auk Nu trailhead. The cabin is positioned above the Mendenhall Glacier with views of Juneau, Gastineau Channel, Auke Bay, the Chilkat Mountains, and Admiralty Island.
“The cabin at the end is cozy and the views of the mountains are spectacular,” writes The Dyrt camper Katie K. “You do not want to miss this. The boardwalks over the muskegs and the flora and fauna are unreal and so, so Alaska.”
Camp Here2. Control Lake Cabin
Control Lake Cabin / Image from The Dyrt camper Shawna M.
Remote is definitely a good word to describe Control Lake Cabin, which The Dyrt camper Shawna M. notes can only be reached by rowboat (unless you have a float plane). It’s smack in the middle of Prince of Wales Island, in the heart of the Tongass National Forest, a full 24-hour drive from Juneau.
You’ll need to pack in all of your own supplies, including bedding, but once you’re settled it will be hard to leave this haven for wildlife. Your neighbors are eagles, marten, mink, otter, Sitka black-tailed deer, and black bears. Unless you bring a group with you (there is room for six), you just might feel like you’re the only person on Earth.
Camp Here3. Byers Lake Campground
Byers Lake Cabin / Image from The Dyrt camper Robin F.
The Dyrt office collectively gasped when we saw The Dyrt camper Robin F.’s shot of the aurora borealis peeking through the window of one of the cabins on Byers Lake. Is there anything that says “cozy cabin” more than curling up in bed by a piping hot stove to watch the night sky do spectacular things? There’s a lot more to do than just keeping an eye out for the northern lights—but it would be understandable if you stuck to sky gazing in this dreamy spot.
Robin notes that Byers is a “great lake for fishing, swimming, and wildlife viewing (trumpeter swans, black bears, moose). The loop trail around the lake is a great short day hike, with a few cool bridges. From this trail, you can connect to Kesugi ridge trail.” As for which cabin you choose, Robin advises that “there’s no view of Denali from the campground or cabins 1 & 3, but the hike to the east side of the lake does, as well as cabin #2.”
Camp Here4. Juneau Lake Cabin
Juneau Lake Cabin / Image from the U.S. Forest Service on Flickr
Ten miles from the nearest trailhead, the list of ways to reach this Forest Service cabin are an adventure in and of themselves. You can’t get to Juneau Lake Cabin by car, but you can hike, bike, ski, snowmobile, fly, or saddle up your trusty horse. It’s also one of eight cabins along the 39-mile Resurrection Pass trail that climbs through the spruces and birches which make up the Chugach National Forest.
The Dyrt camper Katie K. writes that “this particular cabin was in amazing condition, and very clean. We loved every second of the Alaskan atmosphere here, complete with wildlife.” You can even try your hand at catching trout for dinner using the canoe that comes with the cabin or bring your own hunting gear. With so much to explore nearby, you’ll definitely work up an appetite.
Camp Here5. Bird Creek Campground
Image from The Dyrt camper Aimee H.
This spot goes to show that not all cabins in Alaska have to be remote to offer spectacular wildlife viewing. Get a real feel for the Alaskan way of life at Bird Creek Campground, which is also open to RV and tent campers in addition to those renting the cabins. The Dyrt camper Mari R. says that Chugach State Park “sits just south of Anchorage but you would hardly know it! Great to watch the fishing and it’s a convenient walk to a small store. We had some grizzly visitors and a moose pass right by our site.”
Bring your binoculars, because bears and moose aren’t the only creatures you’ll have a chance to spot. This cozy cabin overlooks an inlet where beluga whales have been known to visit, and where silver salmon run in the summer. The Dyrt camper Audrey P. suggests you bring your bike to ride “the Bird to Gird(wood) Trail. It’s 12-mile (one way) or 24 round trip, and a fairly flat elevation. If you make it all the way up to Alyeska Resort, treat yourself at the famous Bake Shop!”
Camp Here6. Upper Russian Lake Cabin
Image from The Dyrt camper Robin F.
This midcentury trappers’ charmer is a cozy cabin with room for eight. The Upper Russian Lake Cabin sits 9 miles from the Russian Lakes Trailhead on Snug Harbor Road or 12 miles from the Russian Lakes Trailhead located in Russian River Campground. A rowboat with oars is provided at the cabin, so bring along your fishing gear to take full advantage of the largest sport fishery in Alaska.
You’ll also have access to the Resurrection Pass Trail and be close to the stunning Russian River Falls, where bears come to feast on salmon in the summer months. In the winter, the backcountry skiing in the Kenai Mountains is a lot of fun, as long as you’re well-versed in avalanche preparedness. Whatever time of year you visit, pack plenty of layers. The cabin might be cozy, but outside it’s bound to get chilly. Outdoor apparel by Kavu like the Stewart Shirt Jacket or Stanwood Reversible Flannel will make sure you’re as ready for winter as all the cabins in Alaska.
Camp Here7. Red Bay Lake Cabin
Red Bay Lake Cabin / Image from The Dyrt camper Katie K.
Like many cozy cabins in Alaska, getting to Red Bay Lake isn’t just a practical journey, but part of the fun. The Dyrt camper Katie R. called her trip there “a stunning adventure.” She notes that “it’s a 3-hour drive from the Craig Klawock area to the trailhead. The trail is almost a full mile in length. Constructed from yellow cedar, the boardwalk is slippery but well-done. It winds through the woods, with a few short staircases and a bridge.”
Once you arrive at Red Bay Lake Cabin, you won’t want to leave. There are magical views of Red Bay Mountain and the smaller limestone peaks that surround it. You can relax to the sound of loons calling from the lake and spend an hour rowing across yourself. The Dyrt camper Katie K. has fond memories of staying there with a group of ten friends. “Can’t say enough about this pristine, quiet, perfect little escape.”
Camp Here8. Point Armargura Cabin
Point Amargura Cabin / Image from The Dyrt camper Shawna M. and the U.S. Forest Service
Situated on San Fernando Island, Point Armargura is close to the town of Craig. The Dyrt camper Shawna M. describes Point Armargura Cabin as “a great place to get away.” It’s also been given plenty of TLC. Shawna writes, “The cabin has been redone recently. Spacious, private, secluded beaches. Hammock for relaxation and plenty of beach to comb! Only accessible by boat, so you can see visitors coming.”
Although it was originally called Fish Egg, the town eventually was renamed for Craig Millar, who oversaw a fish curing operation that was one of the primary businesses in the area. Unsurprisingly, then, there’s lots of fishing to enjoy, with abundant salmon, halibut, and bottom fish. On land, there is also deer and bear hunting in the winter months. If you prefer a meal that takes a little less effort, planning, and luck, however, swing by the Dockside Cafe or The Craig Inn Bar for a bite and a tipple.
Camp Here9. Kenai Fjords National Parks Cabins
Kenai Fjords Cabin / Image from The Dyrt camper Liann W.
If the Kenai Fjords National Park are on your bucket list, you’ll love these cozy cabins right in the midst of all the action. Be prepared to truly unplug and utilize your wilderness skills. As The Dyrt camper Harry H. put it, these backcountry cabins are “only for the truly adventurous.” Considering it takes a two-hour boat ride or a 30-minute float plane flight from Seward to reach the Holgate Cabin and Aialik Bay Cabin, you’re also far from the nearest cellphone tower.
Once you see the ice calving off the glaciers, wander the spruce forests, alder thickets, and blueberry patches, and observe the sea otters and mountain goats frolicking, you won’t miss social media one bit. Bring along light, packable outerwear like the Cotopaxi Kusa Insulated Reversible Jacket. It’s made with llama fibers and Durable Water Repellent, so even if you get wet you can stay warm.
Camp Here10. Dale Clemens Cabin
Dale Clemens Cabin / Image from The Dyrt camper Robin F.
A lot of cabins in Alaska are pretty rugged, but this cozy cabin near Seward makes things easy. “The Dale Clemens cabin is one of everyone’s favorites,” explains The Dyrt camper Robin F. “The hike to the cabin isn’t too strenuous, and runs through beautiful lush temperate rainforest. It’s stocked with propane for heat, so you don’t have to haul in or scavenge for firewood. The cabin has plenty of sleeping room, plus a beautiful deck with views of glaciers and overlooks Resurrection Bay.”
It’s also right off the Lost Lake Trail. Grab brunch in Seward at The Cookery to give yourself fuel for the hike from the cabin and back. You can also go diving, heli-skiing, and on kayak tours of the Yukon coast. Afterward unwind and swap stories at Thorn’s Showcase Lounge, known for whiskey, or The Yukon Bar.
Camp HereRelated Campgrounds:
- K’esugi Ken Campground, Denali State Park, AK
- Seward Alaska RV Park, Seward, AK
- Eagle River Campground, Eagle River, AK
