Spencer Bench Cabin
Spencer Bench Cabin is located at 1,900 feet in elevation at the end of the Spencer Bench Trail. The trail climbs away from the lake revealing breathtaking views of the Placer River Valley, Spencer Lake and the Spencer Glacier below. The cabin sits just below several alpine meadows with vegetation of low shrubs, grasses and summer wildflowers. Spencer Bench Cabin is available for rent year round although winter recreation here requires an advanced skillset and knowledge of avalanche hazards to access this Cabin via skis or snowmachines in the winter. Some parties do opt to charter a ski plane or helicopter to provide quick and easy winter access.
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Cabins | 1 |
Site guide
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spencer Bench Cabin | No / – | 6 / – | Yes | Prime |
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
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
The cabin is a 15x17-foot, trapper-style cabin made entirely out of Alaskan yellow cedar. It can sleep six to eight people and offers a small kerosene heater, wooden bunks, a table with benches, fire extinguisher, and an outhouse. Electricity, water, toilet paper, and fuel (kerosene) for the heater are not provided. Guests are responsible for supplying their own drinking water, kerosene for heater (Typically 1 gallon/ day is sufficient), a cook stove, flashlights or lanterns, bedding, mattresses, toilet paper, garbage bags, cookware, dishes and utensils. A creek is located near the cabin site but water should be treated before consumption.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
During Summer months train transportation is required to reach the Spencer Whistlestop. To catch the train ( reservations required ) to the Spencer Whistle Stop, drive south from Anchorage on the Seward Highway to the Portage Rail Depot (Milepost 80) and check in at the Train station.
| Nearest town | Girdwood, Alaska |
| Coordinates | 60.7086° N, 149.0027° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Some years Spencer Bench Trail maintains snow coverage until July.
Explore
Trails nearby
- under 0.1 miSpencer Bench Trail3.1 mi trail · hiking, bike
- 1.1 miSpencer Glacier Trail3.1 mi trail · hiking, bike
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 Chugach National Forest.
- 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
- Alaska Central Railroad: Tunnel No. 1Structure · Seward · 4.2 mi
Natural features
Black and brown bears, wolves, lynx, wolverine and moose inhabit the area. Mountain goats, marmots, arctic ground squirrels and spruce grouse may be spotted on the terrain around the cabin. Crow berries and Salmon Berries are plentiful in the late summer, along with low-bush blueberries.
Recreation
Spencer Bench provides a picturesque view into the heart of the Chugach National Forest. Glaciers and peaks around the cabin offer experienced climbers a challenging adventure. For winter recreationists, this cabin provides an incredible base camp for backcountry skiing and snowmachine adventures. It takes an advanced skillset and knowledge of avalanche hazards to access this Cabin via skis or snowmachines in the winter. Some parties do opt to charter a ski plane or helicopter to provide quick and easy winter access. More information on avalanche hazards in this area can be found at the Chugach National Forest Avalanche Center website.
Nearby
The Placer River Valley and Spencer Lake developed Recreation area offers diverse recreational opportunities including easy hiking, rock climbing, ice climbing, rafting and fishing during the summer months. In the winter this area is popular with backcountry skiers and snowmobilers.
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 Spencer Bench Cabin?
Sites at Spencer Bench Cabin are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Spencer Bench Cabin?
Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Spencer Bench Cabin have?
1 site, including 1 cabin.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Spencer Bench Cabin?
Yes, pets are allowed at Spencer Bench Cabin. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Spencer Bench Cabin?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Spencer Bench Cabin?
Spencer Bench provides a picturesque view into the heart of the Chugach National Forest. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Spencer Bench Cabin?
Girdwood, Alaska. The Placer River Valley and Spencer Lake developed Recreation area offers diverse recreational opportunities including easy hiking, rock climbing, ice climbing, rafting and fishing during the summer months.
Source: Getting there
What if Spencer Bench Cabin is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop Group Campground (1.5 mi), Black Bear Campground (6.7 mi, first-come), and Williwaw Campground (6.9 mi, partly first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby