Trail River Cabin

Recreation

Enjoy fishing for Dolly Varden and rainbow trout from the banks of Kenai Lake or the nearby Trail River. When the winds are calm, boating on Kenai Lake can be a fantastic way to enjoy your time at the Trail River Campground. Or explore many of the hiking trails that nearby Moose Pass has to offer.

The Trail River Cabin provides beach access to Kenai Lake. Many people enjoy fishing, collecting driftwood, skipping rocks and walking along the beach. The view of the mountains surrounding Kenai Lake is gorgeous. Snow is present in the high peaks and avalanche chutes until the end of August.

Trout fishing can be very productive from the beach at Trail River Campground as well as at many nearby streams. The lake is home to Dolly Varden, rainbow trout and lake trout. Although trout fishing is open year-round in Kenai Lake, special restrictions apply within 1/4 mile of inlet streams. Kenai Lake is not open to salmon fishing. Anglers are required to have a State of Alaska Fishing license and obey all regulations. Fishing equipment is not provided and permits are required to fish or hunt in the state, click here to learn more about Alaska Department of Fish & Game regulations.

Within a one-mile radius of the campground entrance, are five trails: Falls Creek Trail, Crown Point Mine Road, Ptarmigan Creek Trail and Vagt Lake Trail. All of these trails run roughly east-west and provide access to the Iditarod National Historic Trail (INHT) which runs north-south. The INHT is an ongoing project to build a '"southern trek" connecting Seward (Mile 0 of the Iditarod Trail) to Eagle River (north of Anchorage). Currently, sections of this trail are still under construction, and several bridges are missing. However, links between Falls Creek Trail and Ptarmigan Lake Trail as well as between Vagt Lake Trail and Crown Point Mine Road make loop hikes possible. Click here for maps and recreation opportunity guides.

The Falls Creek OHV Trail is a half mile north of the entrance road. This steep trail provides good views of Kenai and Lower Trail Lakes and is deal for hikers and experienced OHV enthusiasts. Click here for more i nformation about motorized vehicle use on the Chugach National Forest.

A second option for motorized recreation is the Crown Point Mine Road. This trail is located one mile north of the campground entrance road at the end of Mine Road. This historic mining road leads above tree-line and provides great views.

South of the entrance road is the Ptarmigan Creek Campground. This campground is also the location of Ptarmigan Creek Trail as well as a day use area with a fish-viewing platform where you can view spawning salmon in the late summer and fall. Ptarmigan Creek trail steadily gains elevation as it follows Ptarmigan Creek to Ptarmigan Lake. A round trip to the lake and back is seven miles.

In the winter, the campground is closed and the campground's entrance road and loops are groomed for freestyle and Nordic skiing.

Facilities

The two-story log cabin has bunk space for seven and a maximum occupancy of eight people. It is equipped with counter space table, benches and a wood stove for heat. A splitting maul and hand saw are available. An vault toilet is located 400ft from the cabin in the campground loop.

There is no electricity, mattresses, bedding, cooking utensils or cut firewood at the cabin. Visitors should bring sleeping bags and pads, a cook stove, cooking gear and food.

Potable water is located in the campground and must be hauled to the cabin. Trash should be disposed of in the dumpsters located in the campground or the transfer station located at mile 24 of the Seward Highway. Potable water and trash disposal are only available when the campground is open during the summer season.

Natural Features

The Trail River Cabin is located on the edge of Kenai Lake nestled in woods of hemlock. cottonwood, sitka spruce, and aspen. The Chugach National Forest covers the eastern half of the Kenai Peninsula and extends around Prince William Sound. It covers over 5 million acres and is characterized by jagged mountains, deep fjords, glacier-fed rivers, and dense forests. This rich natural area supports many miles of productive fishing streams as well as wildlife populations.

Brown bears and black bears are often spotted in the area. Click here to learn more about staying safe in bear country. Make your campsite less attractive to bears by practicing good Leave No Trace practices and learn more about outdoor safety and ethics .

Nearby Attractions

Trail River Cabin is located close to many tourist destinations. Within the Seward Ranger District, many world-class trailheads and day use areas await discovery. The newly-remodeled Seward Ranger District Information Office, is one mile south on Ranger Station Spur. There, friendly forest service employees can help you gather information, interpret the local ecology, purchase area maps, and offer advice about the Chugach National Forest.

From this campground, possible day trips include wildlife viewing in Kenai Fjords National Park, rafting down the Kenai River, and a visit to Portage Glacier. Portage Glacier, is located in Portage Valley, a 14-mile isthmus that connects the Kenai Peninsula to mainland Alaska. Glacial remnants that can be seen today are Explorer, Middle, Byron, Burns and Shakespeare glaciers. Portage Valley is also home to the Begich Boggs Visitor Center, a world-class visitor center with a full-time interpretive staff and exhibits ready to inspire and explain the natural area.