USDA Forest Service · Alaska

Denver Caboose 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
413 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
Phone
907-586-8800
Activities
Camping, Hiking, Wildlife Viewing

1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.

About

Overview

This unique cabin is a refurbished 1960s railroad caboose that is retired from the White Pass and Yukon Railroad. It is an ideal base for outdoor enthusiasts who want to hike to the Denver Glacier.
Access to Denver Caboose Cabin is via the White Pass and Yukon Railroad 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. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety and must bring several of their own amenities.

Recreation

A 4.5-mile trail to Denver Glacier starts at the cabin site. The trail follows a river and has many scenic overlooks. The nearby terrain is rugged and brushy.

Facilities

The cabin sleeps six people and contains a double bunk and four single bunks. This includes a bunk in the nicknamed "observatory penthouse" that has windows on all sides
and an access ladder. Other amenities include a table with benches, an oil heater (#1 stove oil), food preparation space, a campfire ring and an outhouse.

Water and electricity are not provided. Water is available from a nearby stream uphill from the cabin, 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 provided, so visitors must supply their own. One gallon of #1 stove oil will last about a day on the lowest heat setting. Other items to bring
include 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

Denver Caboose Cabin offers excellent views of the East Fork Skagway River and the Sawtooth Mountains. It is surrounded by spruce and hemlock rainforest.
Black bears and moose are common in this area ( bear safety information ).
Mountain goats can frequently be seen with binoculars.

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
January32°25°-15°52°11 of 11
February31°25°-1°41°11 of 11
March34°26°-1°50°11 of 11
April40°33°10°49°8 of 11
May49°41°28°64°3 of 11
June56°47°38°72°0 of 11
July59°53°46°74°0 of 11
August60°54°44°79°0 of 11
September56°48°30°67°1 of 11
October42°36°17°60°7 of 10
November36°30°2°46°10 of 10
December33°26°-12°44°9 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.