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Pass route / through-hike · Kenai Peninsula & Turnagain
Resurrection Pass Trail
About 39 miles from Hope to Cooper Landing, with eight reservable Forest Service cabins along the way.
- Season
- Year-round (USFS). Summer is easy to moderate, and winter is rated more difficult.
- Distance
- About 38.4–39 mi one way between the north and south trailheads (USFS), or a 31.7 mi trip if you exit on the 10 mi Devil's Creek Trail.
- Elevation
- The trail climbs from about 500 to 2,600 ft. USFS lists 2,100–2,200 ft of gain for each half.
- Cabins
- 8 USFS public use cabins
- Booking
- Reserve on Recreation.gov up to 180 days ahead. USFS cabin pages list $75/night plus a service fee.
- Avalanche center
- CNFAC (Summit Lake zone is the closest)
Overview
Resurrection Pass is a Chugach National Forest trail (No. 317) that crosses the Kenai Mountains between Hope and Cooper Landing. It's a classic 2–4 day trip in summer and a long ski or snowmachine route in winter.
The draw is the cabin chain. With eight cabins you can plan the whole trip under a roof, but every one is reservation-only, so book as early as the 180-day window allows.
Huts and cabins
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Caribou Creek Cabin
About 7 mi from the north trailhead.
Source: USFS: Caribou Creek Cabin
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Fox Creek Cabin
About 11.5 mi from the north trailhead. Sleeps 6.
Source: USFS: Fox Creek Cabin
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East Creek Cabin
About 14.5 mi from the north trailhead. Sleeps 6. Wood stove.
Source: USFS: East Creek Cabin
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Devil's Pass Cabin
At the Devil's Creek Trail junction: 22 mi from the north trailhead, 17 mi from the south. Sleeps 6. Oil stove, so bring #1 stove oil or kerosene.
Source: USFS: Devil's Pass Cabin
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Swan Lake Cabin
About 12.8 mi from the south trailhead. Sleeps 6.
Source: USFS: Swan Lake Cabin
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Juneau Lake Cabin
About 9.5 mi from the south trailhead.
Source: USFS: Juneau Lake Cabin
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Romig Cabin
About 9 mi from the south trailhead. Sleeps 6.
Source: USFS: Romig Cabin
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Trout Lake Cabin
About 7.2 mi from the south trailhead. Sleeps 6.
Source: USFS: Trout Lake Cabin
Rules, permits, and etiquette
- USFS says cabin use is by permit only. You need a reservation, and reservations can't be transferred through a third party.
- Check-in and check-out are at noon.
- Bring 2–5 days of extra supplies and a cook stove in case weather holds you longer than planned (USFS Devil's Pass page).
Access, trailheads, and fees
- North trailhead: From Hope Highway mile 15, take Resurrection Creek Road 4 mi. The last mile isn't plowed in winter.
- South trailhead: Sterling Highway mile 53.2, on the north side. USFS doesn't recommend the first 4 mi of the south end in winter. Use West Juneau Road instead.
- Devil's Creek Trail: 10 mi from Seward Highway mile 39. USFS doesn't recommend it in winter past mile 3 because of avalanche paths.
- Winter motorized use: It alternates by year. Winters that start in an even year are closed to motorized use except for qualified subsistence users, so winter 2026–27 is non-motorized. Pack and saddle stock are closed April 1 to June 30.
Hazards
- Avalanche paths. The north trail crosses 2 major avalanche chutes, at about mile 9.6 and mile 10 (USFS). Devil's Creek Trail has many avalanche zones past mile 3.
- Whiteouts and route-finding. Above treeline the trail is hard to follow after heavy snow, especially from East Creek to the pass.
- Thin lake ice. USFS warns winter travelers to judge over-ice travel near the lakes.
- Bears and moose. Black and brown bears and moose live along the trail.
- Water. Treat all surface water. USFS warns about Giardia.
Avalanche: before any snow-season trip, check our avalanche conditions page and the full CNFAC forecast.
Skills you need
- Multi-day backpacking or ski touring
- Winter: avalanche awareness and the ability to judge lake ice
- Bear-country camping and food storage
Gear
USFS cabins have bunks and a stove but no mattresses, bedding, cookware, or water. Bring the right fuel, because some cabins are wood and some are oil.
Our lists: Backpacking kit · Backcountry hunting kit (fall hunts)
Map: huts, cabins, and trailheads
Cabin points only, from the latitude and longitude on each USFS cabin page. Trailheads aren't plotted because USFS doesn't publish coordinates for them. Basemap: USGS The National Map. Don't navigate with this map.
- Caribou Creek Cabin: 60.78371, -149.67813 source
- Fox Creek Cabin: 60.72978, -149.70882 source
- East Creek Cabin: 60.70343, -149.75230 source
- Devil's Pass Cabin: 60.62155, -149.75220 source
- Swan Lake Cabin: 60.61500, -149.84127 source
- Juneau Lake Cabin: 60.57617, -149.87190 source
- Romig Cabin: 60.57040, -149.87564 source
- Trout Lake Cabin: 60.55131, -149.89580 source