Crescent Saddle Cabin

TL:DR - if you go in April or May, you may get stopped by avalanches and you will 100% need skis, not snowshoes. Definitely go from the crescent lake side, not carter lake.
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Seeing the review about bad snow conditions, we brought snow shoes and went over a week earlier in May than the other reviewer. Same problem but the lake was mostly still frozen. We passed the people who stayed there the night before who suggested we walk on the melting lake (yeah no). The Carter Lake side is basically impassible in May. We made it 5.5 mi (1 mi from the cabin) and the entire side was blocked top to bottom with an avalanche. That was 9 HOURS into our hike so we slept under a tree about mile 5. Burned from the sun reflection day 1; ripping winds and drizzle day 2. Heard the cabin is nice though and the stove is apparently awesome. We will be back one day when there is no snow.

TL:DR - if you go in April or May, you may get stopped by avalanches and you will 100% need skis, not snowshoes. Definitely go from the crescent lake side, not carter lake.
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Seeing the review about bad snow conditions, we brought snow shoes and went over a week earlier in May than the other reviewer. Same problem but the lake was mostly still frozen. We passed the people who stayed there the night before who suggested we walk on the melting lake (yeah no). The Carter Lake side is basically impassible in May. We made it 5.5 mi (1 mi from the cabin) and the entire side was blocked top to bottom with an avalanche. That was 9 HOURS into our hike so we slept under a tree about mile 5. Burned from the sun reflection day 1; ripping winds and drizzle day 2. Heard the cabin is nice though and the stove is apparently awesome. We will be back one day when there is no snow.

The boat is always missing. Hiking 11 mi to a cabin that is advertised as having a boat and then finding it gone kind of ruins a fishing trip. Reading the guest log, this is an ongoing issue for years now. Won’t be returning.

The boat is always missing. Hiking 11 mi to a cabin that is advertised as having a boat and then finding it gone kind of ruins a fishing trip. Reading the guest log, this is an ongoing issue for years now. Won’t be returning.

Our sole purpose of this hike was to fish for grayling on June 22 and the morning of June 23 before the noon check-out time. To our dismay, there was no row boat as advertised. We didn’t stay the night and returned to the trailhead. Very disappointed.

Our sole purpose of this hike was to fish for grayling on June 22 and the morning of June 23 before the noon check-out time. To our dismay, there was no row boat as advertised. We didn’t stay the night and returned to the trailhead. Very disappointed.

We took the Crescent Saddle Trail side. The primitive trail was not easy and hard to follow in certain marshy areas. It was a challenge but a lot of fun. The cabin itself is on a beautiful spot. It’s one of the older cabins around but has all of the amenities. The tools at the cabin could use some love as they are dull or rusted but all in all we had a wonderful experience. Thank you!

We took the Crescent Saddle Trail side. The primitive trail was not easy and hard to follow in certain marshy areas. It was a challenge but a lot of fun. The cabin itself is on a beautiful spot. It’s one of the older cabins around but has all of the amenities. The tools at the cabin could use some love as they are dull or rusted but all in all we had a wonderful experience. Thank you!

A word to the wise on this one: time the season perfectly if wanting to avoid snow. We came last few days of May, and the snow was the perfect combination of depth and slushiness to make travel (even if we had snow shoes) impossible over through Carter Lake to the cabin. We had to change plans and take a plane to a break in the ice on the lake. From what many in the cabin log wrote, July and later have such tall grass and devils club that the trail takes twice as long with lots of losing the trail.

That said, the location of this cabin is absolutely gorgeous. We didnt see any animals, but plenty of evidence of moose, brown bear, and sheep or goats from the snow prints. Lots of wood around and someone who had clearly brought a chainsaw left a bunch of wood rounds to chop. Cabin is tiny but that means its easy to heat on the small stove.

Gear: there are two hacksaws, one handsaw, a maul, a broom, oars, but don't look for the boat. From the cabin log, the boat went missing a couple years ago (maybe at the bottom of the lake).

A word to the wise on this one: time the season perfectly if wanting to avoid snow. We came last few days of May, and the snow was the perfect combination of depth and slushiness to make travel (even if we had snow shoes) impossible over through Carter Lake to the cabin. We had to change plans and take a plane to a break in the ice on the lake. From what many in the cabin log wrote, July and later have such tall grass and devils club that the trail takes twice as long with lots of losing the trail.

That said, the location of this cabin is absolutely gorgeous. We didnt see any animals, but plenty of evidence of moose, brown bear, and sheep or goats from the snow prints. Lots of wood around and someone who had clearly brought a chainsaw left a bunch of wood rounds to chop. Cabin is tiny but that means its easy to heat on the small stove.

Gear: there are two hacksaws, one handsaw, a maul, a broom, oars, but don't look for the boat. From the cabin log, the boat went missing a couple years ago (maybe at the bottom of the lake).