Upper Russian Lake Cabin
Upper Russian Lake Cabin is a rustic trapper style log cabin located on Upper Russian lake. It was recently refurbished to keep the old fashioned charm of the 1950s, when it was originally built. Its location provides good fishing and boating opportunities. Visitors enjoy exploring surrounding trails and viewing wildlife. The cabin can be accessed by hiking, biking, skiing, horseback, snowmobile, and floatplane. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Cabins | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Surface | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| S04 | Gravel | 8 / – |
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
| Fees | Reservations can be made the day of arrival or up to 180 days in advance, for three consecutive days maximum per person from May 15 to Aug. 31. Only one change per reservation for all Alaska cabins is allowed. |
The log cabin has bunk space for six and max. occupancy of eight people. It is equipped with counter space, table, benches and a wood stove for heat. An outhouse is also provided. Firewood can also be cut in the area, using the splitting maul and hand saw supplied at the cabin. Visitors will need to bring their own water for drinking, cooking and cleaning purposes. Water taken from streams and lakes must be treated or boiled prior to consumption. Visitors will also need to bring their own bedding and sleeping pads, flashlights, cooking gear, food, clothing and cooking utensils, among other necessities. All garbage and food must be packed out.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Access to the cabin is via the Russian Lakes Trail, 9 miles from the Russian Lakes Trailhead on Snug Harbor Road or 12 miles from the Russian Lakes Trailhead located in Russian River Campground. Winter parking for Upper Russian Trailhead is located at mile 9 of Snug Harbor Road. The last 3 miles of Snug Harbor Road are not plowed in the winter.
| Nearest town | Seward, Alaska |
| Coordinates | 60.3571° N, 149.8914° W · Directions ↗ |
Explore
Trails nearby
- 2.8 miAspen Flats Cabin Trail0.3 mi trail · hiking
- 3.2 miResurrection River Trail ↗17 mi trail · hiking
- 4.1 miStetson Creek Trail ↗4.6 mi trail · hiking
- 4.5 miUpper Russian Winter Route3.2 mi trail · snowmobile, snowshoe, ski
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Kenai Wilderness, which overlaps Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.
- inKenai Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Fish and Wildlife Service · 1,354,247 acres
- inKenai National Wildlife Refuge ↗National Wildlife Refuge · Fish and Wildlife Service · 1,943,006 acres
- inChugach National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 6,244,689 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Cooper Landing Historic DistrictHistoric district · Cooper Landing · 9.3 mi
- Cooper Landing Post OfficeBuilding · Cooper Landing · 9.4 mi
Natural features
The cabin is located south of Sterling Highway, set back from the north shore of Upper Russian Lake. It is surrounded by an open grove of giant cottonwood trees with views of the lake and mountains beyond.
Recreation
Visitors enjoy boating and fishing for Dolly Varden and rainbow trout on Upper Russian Lake. A rowboat with oars is provided at the cabin. In season, visitors hunt for moose, black and brown bears and wolves in the surrounding forest. Hiking, mountain biking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling (during open seasons only) are also popular in the area.
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 Upper Russian Lake Cabin?
Sites at Upper Russian Lake 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 Upper Russian Lake Cabin?
Reservations can be made the day of arrival or up to 180 days in advance, for three consecutive days maximum per person from May 15 to Aug. 31. Only one change per reservation for all Alaska cabins is allowed.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Upper Russian Lake Cabin?
Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Upper Russian Lake Cabin have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Upper Russian Lake Cabin?
Visitors enjoy boating and fishing for Dolly Varden and rainbow trout on Upper Russian Lake. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Upper Russian Lake Cabin?
Seward, Alaska.
Source: Getting there
What if Upper Russian Lake Cabin is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Cooper Creek South (8.7 mi), Russian River (9.2 mi), and Quartz Creek Campground (10.1 mi, partly first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby