Spencer Bench Cabin

Summary

Spencer Bench Cabin offers visitors the opportunity to stay in a 15x17-ft cabin nestled in the Chugach National Forest within view of the Placer River Valley, Spencer Lake, and Spencer Glacier. It provides access to a range of recreational activities year-round, including off-trail hiking, sightseeing, rock climbing, ice climbing, rafting, fishing, backcountry skiing, and snowmobiling. The cabin also provides a home away from home, with a kerosene heater, wooden bunks, a table with benches, and an outhouse.

Overview

Spencer Bench Cabin is located at 1,900 feet in elevation at the end of the Spencer Bench Trail.
The trail climbs away from the lake revealing breathtaking views of the Placer River Valley, Spencer Lake and the Spencer Glacier below. The cabin sits just below several alpine meadows with vegetation of low shrubs, grasses and summer wildflowers.


Spencer Bench Cabin is available for rent year round.  

Spencer Bench Cabin is available to rent on Recreation.gov from September 16th through May 31 annually.  

During the summer season, from June 1 through September 15th, the Alaska Railroad provides access to the area as well as reservations for Spencer Bench Cabin. To reserve the cabin during the summer season, please contact the Alaska Railroad at 800-544-0552.  Summer reservations go on sale on Feb.23 at 9am and generally sell out within hours.   

Please verify schedules at the Alaska Railroad website (www.alaskarailroad.com) prior to relying on the train for transportation.  

Outside of the core summer season, the Placer river valley (and Spencer Lake) is accessible via jet boat and float plane.  

Recreation

Spencer Bench provides a picturesque view into the heart of the Chugach National Forest. Although the Spencer Bench Trail currently ends at the cabin, the open alpine areas just above the cabin offer excellent off-trail hiking and sightseeing opportunities during the summer months. Glaciers and peaks around the cabin offer experienced climbers a challenging adventure.

For winter recreationists, this cabin provides an incredible base camp for backcountry skiing and snowmachine adventures. It takes an advanced skillset and knowledge of avalanche hazards to access this Cabin via skis or snowmachines in the winter. Some parties do opt to charter a ski plane or helicopter to provide quick and easy winter access. More information on avalanche hazards in this area can be found at the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center website (www.CNFAIC.org).  

Facilities

The cabin is a 15x17-foot, trapper-style cabin made entirely out of Alaskan yellow cedar. It can sleep six to eight people and offers a small kerosene heater, wooden bunks, a table with benches, fire extinguisher, and an outhouse. Electricity, water and fuel (kerosene) for the heater are not provided. Guests are responsible for supplying their own drinking water, kerosene for heater (Typically 1 gallon/ day is sufficient), a cook stove, flashlights or lanterns, bedding, mattresses, toilet paper, garbage bags, cookware, dishes and utensils. A creek is located near the cabin site but water should be treated before consumption.

Natural Features

Black and brown bears, wolves, lynx, wolverine and moose inhabit the area. Mountain goats, marmots, arctic ground squirrels and spruce grouse may be spotted on the terrain around the cabin. Crow berries and Salmon Berries are plentiful in the late summer, along with low-bush blueberries.

Nearby Attractions

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