Esker Stream Cabin

Summary

Esker Stream Cabin is located in Wrangell-St. Elias Preserve near Yakutat, offering seclusion and relaxation amidst mature spruce and birch. Visitors may explore and hike around the cabin, sea kayak, whale watch, and fish for subsistence or sport. The cabin has wooden bunks, an oil burning stove, and a rustic pit toilet. There may be opportunities to see bears, moose, wolves, whales, and shorebirds, or to visit nearby attractions, such as Malaspina and Hubbard Glaciers, or Russell Fjord Wilderness.

Overview

Built in 2002, Esker Stream Cabin is located near Yakutat, 20 miles across Yakutat Bay in the southern coastal region of Wrangell-St. Elias Preserve, offering seclusion and relaxation. The cabin is accessible by air via beach landing in a wheeled airplane and is dependent on tide and glacial ice conditions. There is no Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) identifier or landing strip, nor good tie-down area for private aircraft. The cabin is located at sea level, surrounded by mature spruce and birch, and may include opportunities to see bears, moose, wolves, whales and shorebirds. Access to the cabin requires a short but unimproved 0.34 mile walk with a stream crossing. Off-Road Vehicles (ORVs) are not allowed for recreational or subsistence use in the park or preserve in the Malaspina Forelands.  

Recreation

Opportunities for recreation include sea kayaking, whale watching, exploring and hiking around the cabin and the Esker Stream drainage, or walking on the beach southeast for three miles to Bancas Point. This is a remote, rugged area, dependent on tide and glacial ice conditions. Be sure you're familiar with backcountry safety before venturing out to hike. To learn more, visit the Backcountry Safety page on the park website.  

This cabin is located in the preserve, so sport and subsistence hunting is allowed. A State of Alaska hunting license is required, and if you are a subsistence hunter, a federal subsistence hunting permit may be required. Please refer to state and federal hunting regulations. ORVs are not allowed for recreational or subsistence use in the park and preserve in the Malaspina Forelands. Nearby Esker Stream is suitable for fishing. If you plan to fish, a State of Alaska fishing license is required. 

Facilities

The cabin has no running water or plumbing; water can be collected from nearby Esker Stream, a short easy walk from the cabin. In winter it is recommended to carry in potable water since the stream may be frozen. The cabin contains four twin-sized wooden bunks (sleeps four people), a table with benches and an oil burning stove. Heating oil is not provided; kerosene or K1 commercial grade fuel is recommended. There is also a porch and a rustic pit toilet that is not regularly maintained. Toilet paper is not supplied; please bring your own.  For more info, visit the Esker Stream Cabin page on the park website.

Natural Features

The cabin is surrounded by mature spruce and birch with Yakutat Bay nearby. The Malaspina Glacier is to the northwest of the cabin and other glaciers are located throughout the bay area, including the Hubbard Glacier. There are numerous streams, lakes, marshes and tidal flats in the area, and mountains of the Tongass National Forest can be viewed from across the bay.

Nearby Attractions

Although the cabin is remotely located, there may be opportunities to visit other attractions in Yakutat Bay, depending on your mode of transportation and experience level. The Malaspina and Hubbard Glaciers may be accessible, along with several other smaller glaciers. The Russell Fjord Wilderness of the Tongass National Forest is located across the bay from the cabin; all travel is dependent on tide and glacial ice conditions. 

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Charges & Cancellations

A $10 fee applies to change or cancel reservations.