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A dark green Toyota pickup with a roof tent parked in tall dry grass as mist closes in.

National Park Service cabin or lookout

Kenai Fjords National Park Cabins

National Park Service cabin or lookout in Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska. 21 feet. 18.8 miles from Seward.

Reserve on Recreation.gov
Managed by
National Park Service Kenai Fjords National Park
Elevation
21 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
2 2 cabin non-electric
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov

Overview

Holgate and Aialik Bay Cabins are rustic public use cabins. The cabins are accessible only by a two-hour boat ride or a 30-minute float plane flight from Seward; there are no roads to the cabins. The cabins are open from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend and booking starts January 1st.

Holgate Cabin is located on the northeastern shore of Holgate Arm in Aialik Bay. The cabin sits on a small bluff above a cobble beach. There are spectacular views of Holgate Glacier from the cabin's front porch.

Aialik Bay Cabin is located on a five-acre lease on Port Graham Corporation land, at the upper end of Aialik Bay. It is within the heart of the coastal backcountry of Kenai Fjords National Park. You will be able to enjoy views of tidewater glaciers.

Reservations are limited to a maximum of three nights per group per cabin within the calendar year. Groups are limited to a maximum of six people per cabin.

Occupancy begins and ends at noon.

Recreation

Both cabins are ideal locations for kayaking, boating, fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing. It is possible to see black bears, seabirds, sea otters, mountain goats, and other marine mammals. There can be excellent berry picking in the open spruce forest that surrounds the cabins. Please refer to Alaska Department of Fish and Game for fishing regulations and license requirements.

Facilities

Holgate Cabin contains three wooden bunk beds that sleep up to six people, a work counter, table with chairs, propane heater (propane provided), fire extinguisher, and smoke detector.

Aialik Bay Cabin contains two wooden bunk beds that sleep up to six people, a work counter, table with four chairs, propane heater (propane provided), fire extinguisher, and smoke detector.

It is important to note:

The cabins are rustic, approximately 16' x 20' (5m x 6 m).

There is no electricity or running water at the cabins. Fresh water is not always accessible and must be treated.

There are toilet structures where disposable toilet kits must be used (environmentally- friendly human waste disposal system). Toilet kits are provided and must be packed out.

There is no cell phone coverage in the backcountry.

There are no mooring buoys at the beach.

Natural Features

Both cabins are situated just above sea level and are surrounded by alder trees, blueberry, and salmonberry bushes.

Holgate Cabin : The surrounding terrain is open spruce forest. The view of Holgate Glacier is spectacular and you can hear sounds of calving ice from the glacier. The cabin is surrounded by alder trees, blueberry, and salmonberry bushes.

Aialik Bay Cabin : The cabin is located near the north end of a deep, sheltered fjord. It is across the bay from Aialik Glacier. The surrounding terrain is flat, with young spruce forests, alder thickets, and a long cobble beach.

Nearby Attractions

Both cabins are in Aialik Bay. From Holgate Cabin explore nearby Pedersen Lagoon and Quicksand Cove by kayak or boat.

From Aialik Bay Cabin enjoy views of Pedersen Glacier and Aialik Glacier. Abra Cove is north of the cabin and can be accessed by kayak or boat.

The description, directions and fees are the National Park Service’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • camping
  • fishing
  • wildlife viewing

The land around Kenai Fjords National Park Cabins

The ringed pin is this cabin or lookout; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Nearest campgrounds

Camping near

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated February 25, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.

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