Cabin rental · NPS · Lake Clark National Park & Preserve · Anchorage, AK

Joe Thompson Cabin

Come walk in the footsteps of an early 20th century trapper, prospector, and local woodworker with a stay in the Joe Thompson Cabin on the shores of Lake Clark in Lake Clark National Park.

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Joe Thompson CabinA rustic wooden table stands in front of a window to the outside. A wood stove sits next to it.Joe Thompson CabinA bunkbed sits in a corner next to the front door.
Photos courtesy of National Park Service · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Cabins1
This cabin is booked as a single unit on Recreation.gov. The booking page shows which dates are open and how far ahead they release. How the booking window works

Site guide

1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteShadeWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFiresRating
Joe Thompson CabinPartialLakefront4 / –YesPrime

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Amenities & rules

PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
Fees$45.00 dollars per night.

The cabin is rustic and accommodates up to three people. It is equipped with a wood stove, table and chairs and an outhouse nearby. Sleeping accommodations include wooden bunks -- with two twin size beds (bring your own pads). There is no electricity or running water at the cabin. Fresh water is available in the lake but must be treated. The cabin is equipped with a fire extinguisher and smoke detectors. There is no cell phone coverage at the cabin. There are no mooring buoys at this location. The cabin does not offer trash service; nor does the nearby community of Port. Alsworth. Air taxis may accommodate visitor trash for a fee in Anchorage or other surrounding communities.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Joe Thompson Cabin10°20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 0.70 inches of precipitation, 13.9 inches of snowFebruary: 0.85 inches of precipitation, 13.1 inches of snowMarch: 0.63 inches of precipitation, 12.1 inches of snowApril: 0.50 inches of precipitation, 7.2 inches of snowMay: 0.43 inches of precipitation, 0.8 inches of snowJune: 0.73 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 1.35 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 1.70 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 2.57 inches of precipitation, 0.3 inches of snowOctober: 1.32 inches of precipitation, 4.9 inches of snowNovember: 1.31 inches of precipitation, 17.3 inches of snowDecember: 0.98 inches of precipitation, 18.3 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 16.8°F averageFebruary: 22.5°F averageMarch: 25.1°F averageApril: 38.5°F averageMay: 48.6°F averageJune: 56.7°F averageJuly: 60.4°F averageAugust: 57.7°F averageSeptember: 49.7°F averageOctober: 38.1°F averageNovember: 26.7°F averageDecember: 20.7°F average0 in5 in10 in15 in20 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Port Alsworth, 36 miles from the recreation area point at 260 feet, station USC00507570 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 13 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 88 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

The cabin is 120 air miles from Anchorage and 14 miles from Port Alsworth. Visitors must arrange their own transportation. This cabin is accessible by float plane, water taxi, or private vessel. Kayakers with advanced skills can reach the cabin from Port Alsworth. There are no mooring buoys at this location.

Nearest townAnchorage, Alaska
AreaRecreation.gov lists no exact point for this campground. The recreation area is at 60.57° N, 153.56° W. Call the office before you drive.

Charges and cancellations

  • If I book this reservation today, what are my options to change or cancel?
  • Please remember that reservations at these facilities prevent other visitors from using these sites.
  • Changes
  • If your new stay dates are completely different from your original stay dates, there is a $10 change fee. There are no additional fees for adding or removing nights to your stay. Balances will adjust based on your new stay's nightly rate.
  • Cancellations
  • You may cancel the reservation any time before the date of your scheduled arrival. You will receive a refund for your stay, minus the following fees:
  • $10 cancellation fee
  • Any reservation fees (only if paid when booking)
  • Any previous change fees
  • Late cancellation penalties may also apply:
  • What is “Late”?
  • For cabins, a late cancellation applies starting from midnight 14 calendar days or fewer before your scheduled check-in.
  • Late Fee
  • In addition to the fees listed above, a late cancellation will also subtract your first night's recreation use fee from any refund owed. As of the expected check-in day, cancellations or changes to your stay are not possible through your account. It is at the facility's discretion to support additional Late Cancellations, No Show, or Early Departure updates – on-site personnel may not be able to a

Explore

Natural features

The Joe Thompson Cabin sits on the shore of Lake Clark, approximately 14 miles (22.5 km) north of Port Alsworth, Alaska. The cabin is set back in the forest with views of the lake. Streams and a developed trail are neearby.

Recreation

The cabin is an ideal location for kayaking, boating, fishing and wildlife viewing. Please refer to Alaska Department of Fish and Game for fishing regulations and license requirements. A trip up the nearby Portage Creek trail takes you above the treeline into the high country west of the lake for stunning views of the Aleutian and Alaskan Ranges.

Nearby

This is a remote backcountry cabin with the closest amenities available in Port Alsworth. The Portage Creek Trailhead is adjacent to the cabin.

Guidebooks for Alaska

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Joe Thompson Cabin?

Sites at Joe Thompson Cabin are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Joe Thompson Cabin?

$45.00 dollars per night.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Joe Thompson Cabin?

Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.

Source: Recreation.gov

What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Joe Thompson Cabin?

$10 cancellation fee

Source: Charges and cancellations

How many sites does Joe Thompson Cabin have?

1 site, including 1 cabin.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Joe Thompson Cabin?

Yes, pets are allowed at Joe Thompson Cabin. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Joe Thompson Cabin?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Joe Thompson Cabin?

The cabin is an ideal location for kayaking, boating, fishing and wildlife viewing. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Joe Thompson Cabin?

Anchorage, Alaska. This is a remote backcountry cabin with the closest amenities available in Port Alsworth.

Source: Getting there

Which national park is Joe Thompson Cabin in?

Joe Thompson Cabin is a Lake Clark National Park & Preserve campground. Entrance fees, alerts, and hours are on Park Atlas.

Source: Lake Clark National Park & Preserve