ALASKA CABINS

Alaska has over 200 federal and state cabins for rent. They are located in every part of the state along alpine hiking trails, lakes, ocean shorelines, and rivers. No matter whether you like to fish, hunt, or just commune with nature, there’s a perfect place for you.

All are in wilderness locations where they can’t be reached except by boat, floatplane, or foot, so reasonable outdoor skills are important. You’re on your own once you get dropped off, so don’t forget to bring sufficient supplies. And, yes, there will always be bears, so carry a 30-06 rifle or something bigger, pepper spray, an emergency locator beacon, and a first aid kit, preferably one put together by your family doctor. Search and rescue has enough to do without you adding to their workload with silly mistakes.

There are lots more remote cabins scattered across Alaska that only the locals know about, and they’re available as well. They usually cost nothing but for the price to fly there. I often used an old trapper’s cabin in the Chugach Mountains that regrettably got washed away in a big flood, there’s another on Rock Lake in the Wrangell Mountains, and then there’s the oddest I’ve ever seen on the Alaskan Peninsula. All it takes is the ability to befriend an old-time Alaskan who has the smarts to know where they are and how to get there. The adjoining picture is of the weird one I mentioned, and notice the anchor ropes on its nearby shed. What does that tell you?

Adventuring in Alaska isn't as expensive and hard as you think. All you need to do is click on http://www.alaskacenters.gov/cabins.cfm and contact the appropriate agency.