Chugach / Unorganized Borough / Nellie Juan-College Fiord Wilderness Study Area / Chugach National Forest

Shrode Lake Cabin

Open — Open year-round and available for reservation. Winter access by float plane may be limited or impossible due to lake ice, which can persist as late as July. Contact local air taxi services for current ice conditions before booking winter or spring trips.

About

Shrode Lake Cabin provides a true backcountry experience in the Nellie Juan-College Fiord Wilderness Study Area of Chugach National Forest. The 16x20-foot cabin sits on the northeastern shore of Shrode Lake, surrounded by open grassy muskeg and evergreen forest with views of the lake and mountains. Accommodating up to 6 people, the cabin features a kerosene heating stove, wooden bunks, a table, and benches. Access requires careful planning. Float plane access takes 45 minutes from Anchorage or 55 minutes from Cordova, though ice on the lake can prevent landing from fall through early summer (sometimes as late as July). Boat access from Whittier covers 25 miles to Long Bay, followed by either a 1-mile hike from the tidal-dependent Long Bay trailhead or a 2-mile hike from Three Fingers trailhead that requires fording Shrode River. A third option involves a half-mile portage trail to carry a small watercraft, then a 2-mile paddle along the north shore. The Forest Service provides a small rowboat and oars for exploring Shrode Lake. Anglers can target sockeye salmon in mid-July, pink salmon from mid-July to mid-August, and silver salmon in late August in Long Bay, the lagoon, and connecting streams. Dolly Varden trout inhabit Shrode Lake. Wildlife includes black bears, Sitka black-tailed deer, waterfowl, and bald eagles. Winter visitors enjoy excellent cross-country and backcountry skiing. Guests must bring sleeping bags, sleeping pads, cook stove, kerosene fuel, cooking gear, utensils, water treatment, and toilet paper.

Directions

Not accessible by road. Float plane access is 45 minutes from Anchorage or 55 minutes from Cordova (ice conditions permitting). By boat, travel 25 miles from Whittier to Long Bay. From Long Bay trailhead (accessible only at very high tides with small boats), hike 1 mile to cabin. Alternatively, from Three Fingers trailhead (accessible by larger boats at the middle finger), hike 2 miles with a required Shrode River crossing. A third option uses a half-mile portage trail to carry a canoe, kayak, or packraft, then paddle 2 miles along Shrode Lake's north shore to the cabin.

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