USDA Forest Service · Alaska
John Muir Cabin
USDA Forest Service · Alaska, United States
- Sites
- 1
- Hookups
- 1 no hookups
- Season
- Year-round
- Drinking water
- No
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Elevation
- 1,516 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 3
- Cell coverage
- AT&T weak · Verizon weak · T-Mobile 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, Birding, Camping, Cross Country Skiing, Hiking, Skiing, Snowshoeing, Wildlife Viewing
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
John Muir Cabin was built in 1980 and named after John Muir to commemorate the 100th anniversary of his visit to the Gastineau Channel area. This rustic cabin is open
year-round and offers spectacular views and plenty of recreational opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts.
The cabin is accessed by hiking, snowshoeing or skiing 3.5 miles from the Spaulding Meadows/Auk Nu trailhead off of Glacier Highway. The trail is partially planked and
winds through muskeg with a 1,500-foot elevation gain. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety and must bring several of their own
amenities.
Recreation
The Auk Nu Trail continues past the cabin toward Auke Mountain. Cross-country skiing is excellent in winter, with close access to Spaulding Meadows and an undeveloped
trail to Peterson Lake Cabin (map and compass are recommended). Skis or snowshoes are recommended in winter.
Facilities
This 15'x12' chalet-style log cabin has two double bunks on the first floor and two bunks that can sleep six on the second floor. Other amenities include a table with benches, wood stove, broom and dustpan, snow shovel, propane furnace and a ramp and hardened trail to the vault toilet. Propane is provided.
Water, firewood and electricity are not provided. Water is available from a nearby stream, but guests should be sure to treat water before drinking or
cooking with it ( water safety tips ). It is recommended that guests bring their own
water supply.
Cooking facilities are not available. Visitors should pack 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 and clean the cabin before leaving
( click
here for more cabin details).
Natural Features
The cabin sits in a subalpine meadow 1,550 feet above the Mendenhall Valley. This vantage point offers great views of Juneau, Gastineau Channel, Auke Bay, the Chilkat
Mountains, Admiralty Island and numerous ice field peaks.
Brown and black bears, deer and porcupines are common to the area (bear safety
information). A variety of bird species make their home here, including the bald eagle.
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 | 29° | 25° | -10° | 41° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 28° | 22° | -2° | 39° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 30° | 24° | 2° | 42° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 34° | 27° | 12° | 42° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 44° | 32° | 25° | 58° | 7 of 11 |
| June | 49° | 39° | 31° | 61° | 1 of 11 |
| July | 53° | 46° | 39° | 65° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 53° | 46° | 39° | 70° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 49° | 40° | 33° | 62° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 38° | 33° | 12° | 54° | 8 of 10 |
| November | 31° | 24° | 7° | 41° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 28° | 23° | -9° | 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
- Peterson Lake Cabin · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi · 1 sites
- Auk Village Campground · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi · 11 sites
- Mendenhall Campground · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi · 68 sites
- Sítʼ Yá Hítʼ Cabin · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi · 1 sites
- Windfall Lake Cabin · USDA Forest Service · 7 mi · 1 sites
All public campgrounds in Alaska · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-03-21. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.