USDA Forest Service · Alaska

Laughton Glacier Cabin

USDA Forest Service · Alaska, United States

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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

MonthTypical highTypical lowColdest nightHottest dayYears with a night below 32°F
January26°20°-21°45°11 of 11
February26°20°-7°36°11 of 11
March27°20°-6°44°11 of 11
April34°27°4°43°11 of 11
May43°36°23°59°7 of 11
June50°42°32°65°1 of 11
July53°47°41°67°0 of 11
August54°48°38°71°0 of 11
September49°43°25°61°1 of 11
October36°30°12°53°8 of 10
November30°24°-2°41°10 of 10
December27°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

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.