USDA Forest Service · Alaska
Denver Caboose 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
- 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
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 32° | 25° | -15° | 52° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 31° | 25° | -1° | 41° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 34° | 26° | -1° | 50° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 40° | 33° | 10° | 49° | 8 of 11 |
| May | 49° | 41° | 28° | 64° | 3 of 11 |
| June | 56° | 47° | 38° | 72° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 59° | 53° | 46° | 74° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 60° | 54° | 44° | 79° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 56° | 48° | 30° | 67° | 1 of 11 |
| October | 42° | 36° | 17° | 60° | 7 of 10 |
| November | 36° | 30° | 2° | 46° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 33° | 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
- Garden City RV Park · City, County & Regional Parks · 4 mi · 30 sites
- Dyea Campground · National Park Service · 4 mi · 22 sites
- Dyea Municipal Campground · City, County & Regional Parks · 4 mi
- Chilkoot Trail Camping Permits · National Park Service · 4 mi · 55 sites
- Pullen Creek RV Park · City, County & Regional Parks · 5 mi
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.