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Cabins · Chugach State Park
Eklutna Lake cabins (Chugach State Park)
Five reservable State Parks cabins and a hut along Eklutna Lake, from drive-up to a 12-mile ski in.
- Season
- Year-round. Access changes with the seasons (see each cabin).
- Distance
- From drive-up and short walks to 3 mi (Yuditna) and 12 mi (Serenity Falls) on the Lakeside Trail. Kokanee can only be reached across the lake.
- Elevation
- Mostly lakeshore, so little gain. Check the source for each cabin.
- Cabins
- Dolly Varden, Rainbow Trout, Yuditna, Kokanee, and Serenity Falls Hut
- Booking
- reservealaskastateparks.com, up to 90 days ahead, plus a $4.50 fee. This system started Oct 1, 2026.
- Avalanche center
- CNFAC Chugach State Park weekend outlook
Overview
Alaska State Parks runs a group of public use cabins at Eklutna Lake, reached from Mile 26 of the Glenn Highway. They make an easy family overnight and a good staging point for bigger trips like the Eklutna Traverse.
State Parks changed reservation systems on October 1, 2026, and the cancellation rules changed with it. You can change or cancel up to 8 days before arrival, and inside 7 days there are no refunds.
Huts and cabins
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Dolly Varden Cabin
Drive-up in summer, and a 1/4 mi walk or ski in winter, at the Eklutna Lake picnic area. Up to 12 guests.
-
Rainbow Trout Cabin
Just south of Dolly Varden, a short walk from parking. Up to 8 guests. Wood stove, so bring your own wood.
-
Yuditna Cabin
3 mi up the Lakeside Trail at the mouth of Yuditnu Creek. Walk, bike, or drive in summer, and ski or snowshoe in winter. Up to 8 guests.
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Kokanee Cabin
On the southwest shore, with no road or trail. Paddle in summer, or ski or snowshoe across the frozen lake in winter. State Parks warns that wind builds waves fast and that people have died on the crossing.
-
Serenity Falls Public Use Hut
At mile 12 of the Lakeside Trail. Up to 13 guests. Wood stove.
Source: Alaska State Parks: Serenity Falls Public Use Hut · Alaska State Parks: fees by park facility
Rules, permits, and etiquette
- State Parks lists most Chugach-area cabins at $100/night. You need a permit to use any cabin, and using one without a permit carries a $50 fine for each day.
- Don't camp or pitch a tent within 300 ft of a public use cabin.
- Only dead and down wood can be burned. Check that the chimney is clear of snow before you light the stove in winter.
Access, trailheads, and fees
- Eklutna Lake: Take the Glenn Highway Mile 26 exit to Eklutna Lake Road. There's a $5 day-use fee, and the fee booth is near mile 9 of Eklutna Lake Road.
- Other Chugach State Park cabins: Bird Creek (Beluga, Black Bear, Bore Tide) and Eagle River Campground (Boreal Owl, Delgga, Ptarmigan), plus the Eagle River Nature Center cabin and yurts, which ERNC runs.
Hazards
- Lake crossings. Kokanee is reached over open water in summer and over ice in winter. Wind waves and thin ice have both caused deaths (State Parks).
- Overflow and cold. State Parks warns about overflow on frozen water and about hypothermia in every season.
- Avalanche terrain. Steep slopes rise above the valley, so check CNFAC's Chugach State Park outlook before going past the lake in winter.
- Bears. Bears are common around cabins. Keep food and trash secured.
Avalanche: before any snow-season trip, check our avalanche conditions page and the full CNFAC (Chugach State Park outlook).
Skills you need
- Basic camping, and wood-stove use
- Paddling or ice judgment for Kokanee
- Winter: avalanche awareness past the lake
Gear
State Parks cabins have wooden sleeping platforms. Bring a pad, sleeping bag, cook stove, water treatment, and your own firewood.
Our lists: Backpacking kit · Fire camp kit (axe and camp gear)
Map: huts, cabins, and trailheads
Cabin points from the GPS on each State Parks cabin page. Dolly Varden's page has no GPS, so its point comes from the State Parks facilities map layer. Basemap: USGS The National Map. Don't navigate with this map.