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

Denver Caboose Cabin

This unique cabin is a refurbished 1960s railroad caboose that is retired from the White Pass and Yukon Railroad. It is an ideal base for outdoor enthusiasts who want to hike to the Denver Glacier. Access to Denver Caboose Cabin is via the White Pass and Yukon Railroad from May 1 to September 30. The cabin is closed to reservations in the off-season, since the surrounding area is owned by the railroad. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety and must bring several of their own amenities.

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Denver Caboose CabinCabin interior alternate viewView from the Denver Glacier Trail (trail starts at Denver Caboose Cabin)View of Denver Glacier from the Denver Glacier Trail (trail starts at Denver Caboose Cabin)
Photos courtesy of Matt Maratea, USFS, USFS · 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.

SiteShadePeople / vehiclesFires
J13Full6 / –Yes

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 12:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
FeesOnly one change per reservation for all Alaska cabins is allowed. Change is defined as a modification to the start or end date of the reservation; after one change has been made, if additional changes are desired, the customer must cancel the current reservation and re-book the new dates.

The cabin sleeps six people and contains a double bunk and four single bunks. This includes a bunk in the nicknamed "observatory penthouse" that has windows on all sides and an access ladder. Other amenities include a table with benches, an oil heater (#1 stove oil), food preparation space, a campfire ring and an outhouse. Water and electricity are not provided. Water is available from a nearby stream uphill from the cabin, but visitors should be sure to treat water before drinking or cooking with it ( water safety tips ). It is recommended that visitors bring their own water supply. One gallon of #1 stove oil will last about a day on the lowest heat setting. Other items to bring include sleeping bags, sleeping pads, a cooking stove, lanterns or flashlights, cookware, plates, utensils, food, toilet paper, garbage bags, a fire extinguisher and fire starter.

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

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Denver Caboose Cabin20°30°40°50°60°January: 2.65 inches of precipitation, 9.2 inches of snowFebruary: 1.98 inches of precipitation, 8.1 inches of snowMarch: 1.98 inches of precipitation, 8.6 inches of snowApril: 1.67 inches of precipitation, 1.5 inches of snowMay: 1.14 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 1.42 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 1.62 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 2.65 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 4.51 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 4.42 inches of precipitation, 1.1 inches of snowNovember: 3.42 inches of precipitation, 5.9 inches of snowDecember: 4.02 inches of precipitation, 10.5 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 24.7°F averageFebruary: 27.5°F averageMarch: 31.6°F averageApril: 41.2°F averageMay: 50.4°F averageJune: 57.0°F averageJuly: 59.1°F averageAugust: 57.4°F averageSeptember: 50.4°F averageOctober: 41.8°F averageNovember: 31.8°F averageDecember: 27.5°F average0 in5 in10 in15 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Skagway, 4 miles from the campground at 35 feet, station USC00508525 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 31 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 45 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

The cabin is approximately 5.5 miles north of Skagway along the East Fork of the Skagway River. The cabin is beside the railroad tracks at the Denver Glacier Trailhead. Access is via the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad from May 1 through September 30. Make reservations at least 24 hours in advance for train transportation.

Nearest townJuneau, Alaska
Coordinates59.5014° N, 135.2264° W · Directions ↗

Good to know

  • Heating oil is not provided, so visitors must supply their own.

Explore

Worth a stop

  • 0.1 mi
    Denver Trail
    3.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 1.4 mi
    Denver River Spur
    0.05 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.

Natural features

Denver Caboose Cabin offers excellent views of the East Fork Skagway River and the Sawtooth Mountains. It is surrounded by spruce and hemlock rainforest. Black bears and moose are common in this area ( bear safety information ). Mountain goats can frequently be seen with binoculars.

Recreation

A 4.5-mile trail to Denver Glacier starts at the cabin site. The trail follows a river and has many scenic overlooks. The nearby terrain is rugged and brushy.

Guidebooks for Alaska

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

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Denver Caboose Cabin?

Sites at Denver Caboose 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 Denver Caboose Cabin?

Only one change per reservation for all Alaska cabins is allowed. Change is defined as a modification to the start or end date of the reservation; after one change has been made, if additional changes are desired, the customer must cancel the current reservation and re-book the new dates.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Denver Caboose Cabin?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Denver Caboose Cabin have?

1 site, including 1 cabin.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Denver Caboose Cabin?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Denver Caboose Cabin?

A 4.5-mile trail to Denver Glacier starts at the cabin site. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Denver Caboose Cabin?

Juneau, Alaska.

Source: Getting there

What if Denver Caboose Cabin is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Dyea Campground (4.4 mi, first-come), Chilkoot Trail Camping Permits (4.4 mi, partly first-come), and Bartlett Cove Campground (76.4 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby