Aspen Flats Cabin
Aspen Flats Cabin is a rustic cabin along the Upper Russian River of south-central Alaska. The rustic cabin has few amenities, but provides access to the great outdoors. There is great fishing in the adjacent Russian River and hiking and biking trails abound. Wildlife viewing is good in the area as well, though visitors should watch out for bears. The site can be accessed by hiking, biking, skiing and horseback. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| S05 | 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 cabin has bunk space for six and a maximum occupancy of eight people. It is equipped with counter space, table, benches, a wood stove for heat. A splitting maul and hand saw are available. An outhouse is provided. There is no electricity, potable water, mattresses, bedding, cooking utensils or cut firewood at the cabin. Visitors should bring sleeping bags and pads, cook stove, cooking gear and food. Water taken form the lakes or streams should be treated or boiled before consumption. 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, 12 miles from the Russian Lakes Trailhead on Snug Harbor Rd. or 9 miles from the trailhead located in Russian River Campground To get to the cabin follow the short cabin access trail, off the main trail. Refer to USGS topographic maps Seward B8 and Kenai B1.
| Nearest town | Seward, Alaska |
| Coordinates | 60.3693° N, 149.9748° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Fishing for salmon upstream of Russian River Falls is not permitted.Sockeye and coho salmon run the river from June to September.
Explore
Trails nearby
- under 0.1 miAspen Flats Cabin Trail0.3 mi trail · hiking
- 4.7 miBarber Cabin Trail1.7 mi trail · hiking, snowshoe, ski
- 4.8 miStetson Creek Trail ↗4.6 mi trail · hiking
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 · 9.5 mi
- Cooper Landing Post OfficeBuilding · Cooper Landing · 9.6 mi
Natural features
The cabin is south of the Sterling Highway on the Russian Lakes trail along the Russian River, between the Lower and Upper Russian Lakes. The surrounding area is flat to hilly with scattered spruce and cottonwood, and abundant mountain views. A variety of wildlife makes its home in the area, including moose, black and brown bears and wolves. Abundant berries in the area ripen in late July through September. For information on access and regulations pertaining to this cabin, trail conditions, safety precautions and outdoor safety and ethics, please contact the Seward Ranger District.
Recreation
Dolly Varden and rainbow trout can be found in the Russian River. The rivers in Alaska are extremely cold, so be prepared with dry clothing. A variety of trails and unexplored areas exist near the cabin. Hikers and bikers can explore varying terrain, including muskeg, meadows and high-canopied forest along the 21-mile Russian Lakes Trail. The trail is closed year-round to motorized vehicles from Russian River Campground to Upper Russian Lake Cabin; the remainder of the trail, between Cooper Lake Road and Upper Russian Lake Cabin, is open to motorized vehicles only from Dec. 1 to April 30. There is a high avalanche hazard on Russian Lakes Trail in winter; learn about avalanche safety.
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 Aspen Flats Cabin?
Sites at Aspen Flats 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 Aspen Flats 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 Aspen Flats Cabin?
Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Aspen Flats Cabin have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Aspen Flats Cabin?
Dolly Varden and rainbow trout can be found in the Russian River. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Aspen Flats Cabin?
Seward, Alaska.
Source: Getting there
What if Aspen Flats Cabin is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Russian River (7.9 mi), Cooper Creek South (8.5 mi), and Hidden Lake Campground (9.7 mi, partly first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby