Wickersham Creek Trail to Lee's Cabin

The feel

The Wickersham Creek Trail follows a forested ridgeline with good views of the Alaska Range and the White Mountains. It passes the Trail Creek Trail junction at approximately mile 6, then drops steeply for 2.5 miles. One more mile on the Trail Creek Trail brings you to Lee's Cabin, which has views of the White Mountains and the Beaver Creek drainage to the north.

Lee's Cabin is seven miles from the Wickersham Dome Trailhead and is the most visited cabin in the White Mountains cabin system. The BLM built it in 1991 for year-round use. It makes a long day or an overnight.

What to expect

Route and terrain

Hard, with 1833 ft of gain. The trail follows a forested ridgeline from the Wickersham Dome Trailhead, passes the Trail Creek Trail junction at approximately mile 6, and leads one mile up the Trail Creek Trail to the cabin.

Time

About 6.5 hours, a long day or an overnight.

Crowds and best time

Lee's Cabin is the most visited cabin in the White Mountains cabin system.

Parking

The Wickersham Dome Trailhead is at milepost 28 on the Elliott Highway, on the right driving north from Fairbanks. The trail begins at the east end of the trailhead.

Fees and passes

Lee's Cabin costs $42 a night, reserved through Recreation.gov.

Dogs

Pets are allowed at the cabin.

Hazards

The trail drops steeply for 2.5 miles past the Trail Creek Trail junction.

Cell signal

Limited cell phone coverage at the cabin.

Bathrooms and water

No running water at the cabin. It has an outhouse.

Season and access

Open to hikers year round. Temporary motor vehicle restrictions run through June 15.

Mingo says

Hikers on foot are not affected by the spring vehicle restriction, which runs through June 15. Cabin reservations open 45 days ahead, so plan your overnight dates early.

Before you go

• Check the trailhead status first: the Wickersham Dome Trailhead is closed October 1 through October 21, or until construction is complete.
• During the closure, use the alternative access at milepost 23.5 of the Elliott Highway, where the first half mile or so is a right-of-way easement through private property.
• Reserve Lee's Cabin on Recreation.gov at $42 a night; check-in and check-out are at 12:00 PM.
• Bring propane-compatible fuel for the lanterns and stoves, and bring firewood or be ready to cut your own.

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