Openings · last 7 days
11
Booking reality
11 cancellations opened here in the last 7 days
01 · Cancellation Intelligence · the openings record · file CS-232972
When Mckinley Trail Cabin reopens
Mckinley Trail Cabin's proprietary openings record: every reservation that came back, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
11
Openings · last 90 days
11
Only 11 openings in the last 90 days: not enough recent activity for a reliable pattern. A free Campsite Sniper alert watches around the clock instead, and pings you the moment one opens.
02 · Availability Outlook · next 6 months · of 1 sites
Where the open windows are
13.1% of the next six months is already booked. 159 of 183 site-nights remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Next 6 monthsBooked13.1%
Open site-nights159 / 183
Weekday openings90
Weekend openings69
Weekdays hold 57% of what's left. Weekend inventory is the scarce asset, and the first thing a cancellation alert wins back.
Open dates by month
Aug 2026 – Feb 2027October holds the most room. 31 of 31 site-nights are still open there.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 1| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 1 | Last site |
| SUN Sep 6 | 1 | Last site | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | Fully booked | |
| Thanksgiving | THU Nov 26 | 1 | Last site |
| FRI Nov 27 | 1 | Last site | |
| SAT Nov 28 | 1 | Last site | |
| Christmas | THU Dec 24 | 1 | Last site |
| FRI Dec 25 | 1 | Last site | |
| New Year | THU Dec 31 | 1 | Last site |
| FRI Jan 1 | 1 | Last site |
Labor Day is the squeeze. Mon Sep 7: zero of 1 sites. The loosest holiday night still holds 1.
Best-availability sites
Most open dates · 6 mo| Site | Open dates |
|---|---|
| C07 | 159 |
The one most open sites in the current snapshot. Pair a bookable date with a free alert to cover everything else.
Next windows
As of Aug 7, 2026 snapshotNext open dateFri · Aug 7
Next open weekendFri · Aug 7
The next bookable night is Aug 7; the first open weekend starts Aug 7. Everything past that is where an alert earns its keep.
Stays and site detail
159 open site-nights across 1 site at Mckinley Trail Cabin, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 4 2-night, 4 3-night, 3 7-night openings where a single site is free for every night — soonest Aug 7 at site C07.
Every site with availability (1)
| Site | Max RV | Hookups | Open dates | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C07 | 0 ft | None | 159 | 131 nights | Aug 7, Aug 8, Aug 9, Aug 10, Aug 11, Aug 12, Aug 13, Aug 14, Aug 15, Aug 16, Aug 17, Aug 18 +147 more |
About Mckinley Trail Cabin
Overview
Located just off the Copper River Highway in the Chugach National Forest, McKinley Trail Cabin offers guests year-round recreation and relaxation. Although the cabin isn't in the remote wilderness, it makes a good base camp for exploring the Copper River Delta and the surrounding areas. Fishing, hiking, hunting and wildlife viewing are within the vicinity.
Access to the cabin is by motor vehicle. The trailhead to the cabin is located at Mile 21 of the Copper River Highway. The cabin is approximately 80 yards from the road on the McKinley Lake Trail. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.
Recreation
For hikers and anglers wanting to explore the area, McKinley Trail provides access to nearby lakes and a historical mining site.
Approximately 1.25 miles from the McKinley Trail trailhead is the junction for the Pipeline Lakes Trail, which wanders through muskeg meadows and spruce-hemlock forests below steep mountainsides. In the spring, brown bears can be seen grazing on the new grass on the south-facing slopes.
The trail also reaches McKinley Lake and McKinley Lake Cabin, about 2.25 miles from the trailhead. The trail meets the shoreline of the lake at both its southern end, and at the cove at its upper area. Hiking approximately a quarter-mile beyond the cabin, visitors will find remnants of the Lucky Strike Mine. Rusting machinery, pipes and a collapsed tunnel are the most obvious evidence of the mine site.
The closest fishing area to the McKinley Trail Cabin is just across the highway in the upper part of Alaganik Slough. The highway is a two-lane dirt road with anywhere from 10 to 75 vehicles per day. Coho salmon move into the slough with the high tides downstream. In late August and September, they start moving up the slough to the spawning grounds, passing near the cabin. Other coho salmon fishing spots are found in the area as well.
Hunters can take advantage of a long hunting season in the surrounding national forest. Bear season occurs during spring and fall, while deer season begins in late summer and lasts through late fall.
Facilities
The 12-by-14 log cabin is equipped with wooden bunkbeds that sleep up to six guests. The cabin is furnished with a table, a wood stove for heat and an outdoor pit toilet. The cabin does not have running water, electricity or cut firewood. Visitors must bring their own supply of drinking water and firewood. Visitors must bring food, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, a cook stove, matches, cooking gear, lanterns or flashlights, toilet paper, a first aid kit and garbage bags. All trash and food must be packed out, and visitors are expected to clean the cabin before leaving.
Natural Features
McKinley Trail Cabin is located at the start of the McKinley Lake Trail in a dense spruce and hemlock forest. Steep mountainous terrain surrounds the area.
Guests will be treated to an abundance of wildlife near the cabin. Waterfowl, Sitka blacked-tailed deer, moose, black and brown bear find habitat in the surrounding forest and nearby lakes. Learn more about bear and moose safety in Alaska.
1 siteNo hookupsMax party 6
Getting there
Access to the cabin is by motor vehicle and a short walk from the McKinley Trail trailhead. From Cordova, drive 21 miles east on the Copper River Highway. The trailhead for the cabin is located at mile 21. The cabin is approximately 80 yards from the road on the McKinley Lake Trail.
Po Box 280, Cordova, AK 995741 (907) 424-7661
BoatingCampingFishingHikingHuntingWildlife Viewing
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-232972 · facility + sites
Photo gallery
Roll CS-232972 · Mckinley Trail Cabin · Cordova AK8 frames · facility + sites
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Mckinley Trail Cabin?
Mckinley Trail Cabin's single site books up months ahead on Recreation.gov; most openings come from cancellations. Pick a site on the map to see its 6-month calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert to get notified when one opens. You still complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this campground for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
This page is rebuilt from a fresh snapshot of public Recreation.gov availability roughly hourly (current snapshot: Aug 7, 2026 01:17 UTC). Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
How often do cancellations open here?
In just the last 7 days, 11 reservations came back at Mckinley Trail Cabin, 11 over 30 days and 11 over the last 90. "Sold out" rarely means sold out.
Can I get a multi-night stay at Mckinley Trail Cabin?
4 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Aug 7 at site C07. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which month has the most availability at Mckinley Trail Cabin?
October 2026, with 31 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 31.
When is the next open date at Mckinley Trail Cabin?
As of the Aug 7, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Fri, Aug 7 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Aug 7. Cancellations can open earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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