Crow Pass Cabin is located about 500 yards off the Crow Pass Trail, which follows part of the former supply route for the Iditarod Trail. The trail is popular destination for its historic sites, stunning scenery and wildlife watching opportunities.
The cabin is an ideal stop for visitors hiking the entire length of the trail, which takes an estimated two to three days, or for visitors interested in a good base camp for mountain climbing or backcountry skiing in the area.
The site is only available for rent from June through October due to elevated avalanche danger during the winter and spring months. Please note, hazardous avalanche conditions may exist in this area as early as October and well into June some years. Getting there requires a 3-mile hike from the Crow Pass Trailhead off Crow Creek Road with an elevation gain of 2.1 ft. The trail may have snow October through mid-June. There is a small stream crossings to navigate just before the Cabin. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities including sleeping pads, sleeping bags, cook stove, toilet paper, pots and utensils as well as some form of water purification. More information on avalanche hazards in this area can be found at the Chugach NF Avalanche Center website (www.CNFAIC.org ). If accessing this cabin in late fall or early summer, please be prepared for winter conditions and/ or potential avalanche hazards affecting the route in along the Crow Pass Trail.
Activities & Attractions
Nearby
Hiking
Year-round
Mountain Biking
Year-round
Skiing
Winter
Year-round
Hiking
Nearby
Mountain Biking
Nearby
Winter
Skiing
Nearby
Seasonal information
2026
(Current year)
2026 Season availability
Current season
Operating hours and availability for the current season.
Upcoming seasons
Planned operating dates for future seasons to help you plan ahead.
Past seasons
Historical operating dates from previous years for reference.
Closed periods
View dates when this campground is temporarily closed during the season.
The Crow Pass Cabin offers a unique and enjoyable experience, with many guests appreciating its great condition and the effectiveness of the stove. While deep snow and weather conditions can pose challenges, such as inaccessible trails and outhouses, visitors still find the hiking experience beautiful and rewarding. Overall, guests express a desire to return, hoping for better weather and improved access next time.
We loved our time at the crow pass cabin. We stayed three nights at the end of August. We brought kerosene and used the full two gallons for heating the cabin in the morning and for a couple hours before bed. Plenty of room for four to sleep, two on the main floor and two in the loft.
We were not able to access the cabin due to deep snow and avalanche danger. We checked in with the Glacier Ranger District office several days before our reservation and the ranger simply stated they had no idea what the condition of the trail was up to the cabin or if we would be likely to access it. Absolutely zero information. On day of our reservation trail to cabin was still impassable without crampons etc.
The cabin is super cool! Especially when the stove won’t stay lit 😬. I would definitely go back again. Hopefully we’d have better weather next time and the stove would be working properly. I’ve been on that hike before (to Raven Glacier) from the Girdwood side trailhead. It’s a great hike and really beautiful. This trip however was howling winds and driving rain. We still enjoyed it and were thankful it wasn’t colder weather!
The cabin is super cool! Especially when the stove won’t stay lit 😬. I would definitely go back again. Hopefully we’d have better weather next time and the stove would be working properly. I’ve been on that hike before (to Raven Glacier) from the Girdwood side trailhead. It’s a great hike and really beautiful. This trip however was howling winds and driving rain. We still enjoyed it and were thankful it wasn’t colder weather!
There were a few patches of snow on the hike up but mostly clear on the low route. The pass still has a few feet of snow but water was still easily found near the cabin. The outhouse was not accessible due to ice and snow build up on the inside. The stove works well and each gallon of heating oil lasted about 16 hours. Nordic stoves come with the regulator pre-set for #1 heating oil. You can get heating oil at the essential one on international airport road, it is 1/5th the cost of kerosene. Diesel can also be used but you will get better performance out of heating oil.
There were a few patches of snow on the hike up but mostly clear on the low route. The pass still has a few feet of snow but water was still easily found near the cabin. The outhouse was not accessible due to ice and snow build up on the inside. The stove works well and each gallon of heating oil lasted about 16 hours. Nordic stoves come with the regulator pre-set for #1 heating oil. You can get heating oil at the essential one on international airport road, it is 1/5th the cost of kerosene. Diesel can also be used but you will get better performance out of heating oil.
The cabin was in great condition! The outhouse was inaccessible due to 5 ft of dense wet snow so plan accordingly. The stove works very well. We used about 3 gallons of kerosene for the two nights we were there. There was still a decent amount of snow on the hike up the pass, including a couple of recent avalanches. We took the lower trail and had little issue other than some post holing. We were glad to have brought snowshoes so we could explore around the cabin more freely. Overall it was worth the trek!
The cabin was in great condition! The outhouse was inaccessible due to 5 ft of dense wet snow so plan accordingly. The stove works very well. We used about 3 gallons of kerosene for the two nights we were there. There was still a decent amount of snow on the hike up the pass, including a couple of recent avalanches. We took the lower trail and had little issue other than some post holing. We were glad to have brought snowshoes so we could explore around the cabin more freely. Overall it was worth the trek!
Helpful
Location & Directions for Crow Pass Cabin
145 Forest Station Rd. P.O. Box 129, Girdwood, AK 99587 United States
The cabin is located near Crow Pass in the Chugach Mountains, 3 mi from the Crow Pass Trailhead. Cabin users can expect to encounter small stream crossings during wet periods.
Access: At mile 90, AK-1 S/Seward Highway (35 mi south of Anchorage). ...
The cabin is located near Crow Pass in the Chugach Mountains, 3 mi from the Crow Pass Trailhead. Cabin users can expect to encounter small stream crossings during wet periods.
Access: At mile 90, AK-1 S/Seward Highway (35 mi south of Anchorage). Turn left onto paved road leading to Mt. Alyeska Resort (Alyeska Highway). After 2 mi, turn left onto Crow Creek Road. Trailhead is at end of road (7 mi) and parking is available. Refer to USGS Map, Anchorage A6.
The cabin is accessible via AK-1 S/Seward Highway, located approximately 35 miles north of the cabin near Anchorage. From there, the route continues onto Alyeska Highway leading to Crow Creek Road, which provides access to the trailhead.