Cabin rental · U.S. Forest Service · Tongass National Forest · Juneau, AK

Sítʼ Yá Hítʼ Cabin

Sítʼ Yá Hítʼ translates to 'Face of the Glacier House.' It is situated on the shore of Mendenhall Lake, in view of the Mendenhall Glacier, about 13 miles from downtown Juneau. The site is a popular destination for viewing beautiful scenery and abundant wildlife. Hiking opportunities abound. This rustic retreat is open year-round as an overnight accommodation. The cabin is an ideal base for enjoying the serenity and beauty of Mendenhall Lake or participating in various recreational activities. The site can be accessed through the Mendenhall Campground or access trail depending on conditions. Winter weather may require a 1/2-mile trek on snowshoes or skis.

Cabin rentalReservable · Recreation.gov1 siteFrom $125 per nightPets okFires ok
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Sit Ya Hit CabinView of interior loftInterior view of cabin.Exterior view
Photos courtesy of Matt Maratea USFS, Matt Maratea- USFS · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Cabins with electric1
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

Amenities & rules

PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
Fees$125 per night

Cabin is essentially drive up between May 15th to September 15th when the campground is open for campers. Three to four parking spots reserved for cabin guests located at Site 17 with a short 50-yard walk on a packed gravel path to the cabin itself. During the off-season when the campground is closed (September 15th through May 14th), the cabin site can be accessed by walking the campground road or via a groomed ski trail when conditions allow. One parking spot will be reserved for cabin users in front of Skaters Cabin for winter access. During the summer season, the entrance gate of the campground is closed nightly from 10pm to 7am with the exit gate open 24 hours a day. Water faucets, accessible vault toilets, a dump station and trash dumpster are provided nearby, inside the Mendenhall Campground, as are two accessible flush toilets and shower facilities. This 16 ft. by 20 ft. pan-abode style cabin with a loft that sleeps six to ten people with a single and two double bunks downstairs and a fully open floor upstairs. Hooks have been installed upstairs to support hammocks. Please do not install additional screws, nails, or hooks anywhere inside or outside the cabin.

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

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Sítʼ Yá Hítʼ Cabin20°30°40°50°60°January: 6.56 inches of precipitationFebruary: 4.64 inches of precipitationMarch: 4.04 inches of precipitationApril: 4.61 inches of precipitationMay: 4.68 inches of precipitationJune: 4.91 inches of precipitationJuly: 6.38 inches of precipitationAugust: 8.90 inches of precipitationSeptember: 10.56 inches of precipitationOctober: 10.04 inches of precipitationNovember: 7.95 inches of precipitationDecember: 8.05 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 25.7°F averageFebruary: 28.3°F averageMarch: 31.9°F averageApril: 40.1°F averageMay: 48.1°F averageJune: 52.9°F averageJuly: 54.2°F averageAugust: 53.5°F averageSeptember: 48.3°F averageOctober: 40.5°F averageNovember: 32.1°F averageDecember: 28.1°F average0 in5 in10 in15 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Juneau Forecast Office, 1 mile from the campground at 106 feet, station USC00504103 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 81 inches a year.

Getting there

This campsite is approximately 13 miles from downtown Juneau. Access is via the Alaska Marine Highway or via Alaska Airlines. From the ferry terminal: turn right and travel 1.7 miles to DeHarts Store above Auke Bay marinas.

Nearest townJuneau, Alaska
Coordinates58.4135° N, 134.5823° W · Directions ↗

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 (per reserved site). 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 can 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”?
  • 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 My Reservations. 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 t

Explore

Worth a stop

Run the rapids down the Mendenhall River, take a helicopter to the top of the glacier, bicycle or hike in the area. Outfitters offer these services. Many trails can be accessed from the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center area, including East Glacier Trail, with an elevation gain of 400 feet, takes 2-3 hours roundtrip. Some of the shorter trails in this area include the 1.7 mile Nugget Falls Trail, where the waterfall drops 377 feet in two tiers onto a sandbar in Mendenhall Lake, the 1.5 mile Moraine Ecology Trail, and the.7 mile Trail of Time.

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.4 mi
    Mgra River Trail
    0.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.4 mi
    Aak'W Sit' (lake Glacier)
    0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.4 mi
    Tolch Rock Trail
    0.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.4 mi
    West Glacier Trail
    3.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.5 mi
    River Spur
    under 0.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.6 mi
    Mgra Old River Trail
    0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike

Trailheads within three miles

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

The campground is situated on the shore of Mendenhall Lake at about 100 feet elevation. Mendenhall Glacier lies to the north and the Mendenhall River flows on the east. On either side of the campground the mountains rise from 4,000 to 7,000 feet above the Mendenhall Glacier. The topography is relatively flat and open, consisting of glacial moraines, small lakes and ponds. Forbs and lichens, black cottonwood, Sitka alder, willow and mature spruce hemlock forests cover the area. The forest floor is dotted with blueberry bushes and mosses. At nearly 17 million acres, the Tongass National Forest covers most of Southeast Alaska and is the largest forest in the national forest system. The Tongass surrounds the Inside Passage, the network of waterways that buffer the jagged Alaskan Coast and a cluster of coastline islands. The Tongass offers visitors a chance to view wildlife, including eagles, bears and spawning salmon. Expansive vistas, including fjords, glaciers and mountain peaks fill the area. The Tongass is part of the world's largest temperate rain forest.

Recreation

The West Glacier Trail, with an elevation gain of 1,300 feet, can be hiked in 5-6 hours roundtrip. The trailhead is a half mile from the campground entrance by road or on the Aak'w Sit' Trail. The.4-mile Tolch Rock Trail is in this vicinity. The campground has several paths in it with interpretive signs relating facts about the area wildlife and environment. Winter season provides even more ways to recreate. The Mendenhall Campground is groomed when conditions allow for classic and skate skiing.

Guidebooks for Alaska

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Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Sítʼ Yá Hítʼ Cabin?

Sites at Sítʼ Yá Hítʼ 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 Sítʼ Yá Hítʼ Cabin?

$125 per night

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Sítʼ Yá Hítʼ Cabin?

Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Sítʼ Yá Hítʼ Cabin?

$10 cancellation fee

Source: Charges and cancellations

How many sites does Sítʼ Yá Hítʼ Cabin have?

1 site, including 1 cabin with power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there showers or a dump station at Sítʼ Yá Hítʼ Cabin?

Water faucets, accessible vault toilets, a dump station and trash dumpster are provided nearby, inside the Mendenhall Campground, as are two accessible flush toilets and shower facilities.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Sítʼ Yá Hítʼ Cabin?

Yes, pets are allowed at Sítʼ Yá Hítʼ Cabin. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Sítʼ Yá Hítʼ Cabin?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is there cell service at Sítʼ Yá Hítʼ Cabin?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE and AT&T 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at Sítʼ Yá Hítʼ Cabin?

The West Glacier Trail, with an elevation gain of 1,300 feet, can be hiked in 5-6 hours roundtrip. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Sítʼ Yá Hítʼ Cabin?

Juneau, Alaska. Run the rapids down the Mendenhall River, take a helicopter to the top of the glacier, bicycle or hike in the area.

Source: Getting there

What if Sítʼ Yá Hítʼ Cabin is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Mendenhall Campground (0.8 mi), Auk Village Campground (5.3 mi), and Bartlett Cove Campground (47.5 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby