Nugget Creek Cabin

Nugget Creek Cabin

Location: At the end of the 15 mile Nugget Creek Trail, accessed from the Kotsina Rd at mile 14.5 of the McCarthy Rd. Refer to USGS Maps: McCarthy 1:250,000; McCarthy 1:63,360 (C-8).
GPS Coordinates: 61.62612208, -143.713381467

Reservations: Required year-round and can be made six months in advance of the requested reservation dates. If you need to change your reservation dates on an existing cabin confirmation, you will need to cancel the reservation and submit a new one with the required contact information via the email address [e-mail]

For reservations of the Nugget Creek Cabin, please email (click on 'email' to complete form)
[e-mail]

Please provide the following REQUIRED information when you request a reservation, otherwise it could delay your request:

• Full name

• Mailing address

• Email address

• Phone number

• Name of cabin you would like to reserve

• Dates of the NIGHTS you would like to stay in the cabin

Access: Cabin can be reached from the 15-mile Nugget Creek Trail. The Nugget Creek trailhead is located on the Kotsina Road. The Kotsina Road turn-off is at mile 14.5 of the McCarthy Rd, on the north side of the road. The Kotsina Road is NOT marked, so be sure to pay attention to the mile markers. After about 2 miles on the Kotsina Road, the trailhead for Nugget Creek Trail is on the right. Parking at the trailhead requires permission and a small fee from the Chitina Native Corporation. Sometimes the Kotsina Road can be extremely rough and cars with low clearance will not be able to drive on it. If this is the case, we recommend that you turn around and park your car along the McCarthy Road. Please be aware that this will add two miles to your hike.

Cabin can be accessed by foot, horse, mountain bike, ATV (with a permit), or small airplane at a nearby gravel airstrip. Nugget Creek feeds into the Kuskulana River about 1/4 mile downstream from the cabin. Sometimes this creek runs high and may be difficult to cross. Be sure to stop in or call the Chitina Ranger Station or Kennecott Visitor Center for the latest trail conditions and information.

Description: This cabin is on the north side of Nugget Creek at about 3,000' elevation. There is no running water or plumbing. The cabin is 15 ft X 19 ft and contains:

• four standard twin wooden bunks (sleeps four people)
• a woodstove
• table and chairs
• a rustic pit toilet - Please bring your own toilet paper, as the toilet is not regularly stocked or maintained.

Occasionally we receive complaints about the conditions of this cabin. Please be aware that this is an older cabin and it is minimally maintained. There are no amenities. It is small and fairly dark inside. You should expect very rustic conditions. Please view this cabin as being basic indoor sleeping space.

Regulations: You must bring all personal belongings that you will require, including sleeping and dining equipment. Please clean the cabin and take all food and trash with you upon departure. Burying garbage is prohibited. Dogs are allowed, but please clean up after your pet. Please do not remove or relocate any artifacts or deface cabins or historic structures. There are numerous bugs in this area. Headnets and bug spray are strongly encouraged during June, July, and August.

Water & Firewood: Visitors may gather dead and down wood for firewood. Replenish any firewood stored in the cabin for the next user. Water can be obtained about 50 yds away from Nugget Creek.

Recreational Opportunities: The trail ends at the cabin, but there are opportunities to explore and hike beyond the cabin. This cabin is located in a remote, rugged area. Make sure you're familiar with backcountry safety before venturing out to hike. Visitors can do off-trail hiking to the terminus of the Kuskulana glacier. A trail extends for 1.5 miles beyond the cabin to access the old mine sites at the 3,800' elevation on the bench above Nugget Creek. Nearby Nugget Creek is not suitable for fishing and there are no other lakes or streams nearby. If you find a place to fish, a State of Alaska fishing license is required. This cabin is located in the park, so sport hunting is not allowed. Subsistence hunting is allowed, which is limited to local, rural residents. Both a State of Alaska hunting license and a Federal Subsistence Hunting Permit are required. Please refer to state and federal hunting regulations. This cabin is a very popular cabin. Plan to bring camping supplies in case the cabin is already being used when you arrive. Snowmachines are allowed on the trail, provided that at least six inches of snow covers the ground. Recreational ATV use is allowed on this trail - a permit is required. You can obtain a permit from the Wrangell-St. Elias Visitor Center or Chitina Ranger Station.

Airstrip: 900' gravel airstrip, approximately 200 yards from the cabin.

 

Nugget Creek Cabin Map