Yuditna Cabin

The feel

It sleeps 6, with 8 as the maximum, on wooden sleeping platforms beside a wood heating stove, with chairs or benches and a table. A pit latrine is nearby.

The trail makes it a first overnight for families on bikes or skis. Moose, black and brown bear and bald eagles are common here, and Dall sheep graze the open slopes to the east.

What to expect

Layout and setting

Sleeps 6, maximum 8.

Check-in and stay

Check-in and check-out are at 12:00pm. The stay limit is 3 nights.

Fees and reservations

Reservable online through Alaska State Parks, up to 90 days out. The fee is on the Alaska State Parks fee page.

Dogs

Pets are allowed. Keep them under control at all times and clean up their waste.

Kids

The mostly flat trail suits families taking kids on a first bike-packing or ski-packing trip.

Hazards

Moose, black and brown bear on the trail. Lake levels change by season, and the lake has cold water and sudden white-capping waves, which matters if you paddle in.

Bathrooms and water

A pit latrine is nearby. Purify all lake water before using it.

Season and access

Open year-round. In summer the cabin is 3 miles up the Lakeside Trail from the Eklutna Lake trailhead, on foot, by bicycle, or by ATV Sunday through Wednesday from April 1 through November 30. In winter, ski or snowshoe in.

Mingo says

Ride or walk the lakeshore branch of the trail if you are not on an ATV, because it is the flatter one. Look for the turnoff past the 2 mile post.

Before you go

• Bring your own firewood for the stove; the cabin heats with wood only.
• Pitch tents on the beach a couple hundred yards south, since tenting is not allowed beside the cabin.
• Bring a way to purify lake water.
• Reservation help: call 1-844-351-9733, 9am to 5pm.

Written October 2026. Sources are listed at the end of this page.