USDA Forest Service · Alaska
Laughton Glacier Cabin
USDA Forest Service · Alaska, United States
- Sites
- 1
- Hookups
- 1 no hookups
- Season
- May 1 to September 30
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 2,133 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Tongass National Forest
- Nearest town
- JUNEAU
- Address
- Juneau Ranger District, 8510 Mendenhall Loop Road, JUNEAU, AK, 99801
- Activities
- Backpacking, Camping, Hiking, Hunting, Wildlife Viewing
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Laughton Glacier Cabin is located 2 miles west of the Canadian border on the north side of the Sawtooth Mountains.
The site can be accessed by train, followed by a 1.5-mile hike. The White Pass and Yukon Railroad operates 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. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety and must bring several of their own amenities.
Recreation
The access trail to the cabin follows the Skagway River and leads hikers through lush rainforest. The trail continues beyond the cabin along the rocky banks of
Laughton Creek to Laughton Glacier. The total distance for this trail is three miles round-trip, with an elevation gain of 200-600 feet.
Mountain goat and bear hunting is possible in designated seasons with the proper permits.
Facilities
This 12 ft. by 14ft. cabin is pan-abode style and sleeps six people with two single and two double bunks. The cabin also has a table and benches, a broom, oil heater and an outhouse. A wooden cooler box for food storage is attached to the outside of the cabin and a fire ring is located out front.
Water and electricity are not provided. Water is available from the Skagway River, 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.
Heating oil is not supplied by the Forest Service. Visitors must provide their own #1 stove oil (one gallon lasts a day on the lowest heat setting), in addition to sleeping
bags, sleeping pads, a cooking stove, lanterns or flashlights, cookware, plates, utensils, food, toilet paper, garbage bags, a fire extinguisher and fire starter.
Visitors are expected to pack out trash, empty the cabinets and clean the cabin before leaving ( click here for more cabin details).
Natural Features
The area around the cabin is mountainous and covered with spruce and subalpine fir forest. Wildflowers bloom around the cabin in summer. The cabin overlooks the Skagway River and the Laughton Glacier is located nearby.
Moose, brown bears and black bears are common in this area ( bear safety information ).
Mountain goats can sometimes be spotted on the surrounding mountains.
Fees
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.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26° | 20° | -21° | 45° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 26° | 20° | -7° | 36° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 27° | 20° | -6° | 44° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 34° | 27° | 4° | 43° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 43° | 36° | 23° | 59° | 7 of 11 |
| June | 50° | 42° | 32° | 65° | 1 of 11 |
| July | 53° | 47° | 41° | 67° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 54° | 48° | 38° | 71° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 49° | 43° | 25° | 61° | 1 of 11 |
| October | 36° | 30° | 12° | 53° | 8 of 10 |
| November | 30° | 24° | -2° | 41° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 27° | 20° | -17° | 39° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Denver Caboose Cabin · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi · 1 sites
- Garden City RV Park · City, County & Regional Parks · 10 mi · 30 sites
- Dyea Campground · National Park Service · 10 mi · 22 sites
- Dyea Municipal Campground · City, County & Regional Parks · 10 mi
- Chilkoot Trail Camping Permits · National Park Service · 10 mi · 55 sites
All public campgrounds in Alaska · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.