Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Cabins

- We backpacked to the cabin via the Pollard Horse Trail. It's not easy online (and in fact quite confusing) to find out where the actual start/parking is for the Pollard Horse Trail. For example, the wildlife Refuse website (https://www.fws.gov/refuge/kenai/map?trail=pollard-horse-trail), shows the trail beginning at the border of the Wildlife Refuge, but there is no road to that location; it's a about a mile+ from the road. However, we called the staff at the Wildlife Refuge office and they were VERY helpful and explained it all to us. So, call before you go.
- The trail itself is easy to follow, though there were dozens of down trees across the trail. My guess is that routine trail maintenance hadn't happened yet this summer, But, it still was a relatively easy hike, with no big elevation gain or loss.
- The cabin looks like a dump from the outside but it is actually quite nice inside - pristine clean and set up nicely. One of the websites says there are two bunk beds, but that's not correct. There are two knee-high wood platform beds that can each hold two people if they don't mind squeezing close to each other. Otherwise, more comfy for two people total.
- I saw some write ups about how there are spaces between the logs of the cabin walls, and mosquitos can enter. Yes, there are some spaces in the walls, but we had no problem with mosquitos - even though there were lots of them out in the forest on the way to the cabin.
- The stove works great. Be careful as it can really heat up the cabin, even with just a little wood burning.
- As for wildlife, we didn't see any except birds and mosquitos. We've learned that the wildlife refuge is a place for people to hunt and kill wildlife, not a refuge (safe of safety) .
- Overall, though, we had a great time. Look up the cabin's history before you go - both its old history about the nurses in the 1940s, and also the more recent history of serving as a life saver for some people whose boat swamped in the lake,

- We backpacked to the cabin via the Pollard Horse Trail. It's not easy online (and in fact quite confusing) to find out where the actual start/parking is for the Pollard Horse Trail. For example, the wildlife Refuse website (https://www.fws.gov/refuge/kenai/map?trail=pollard-horse-trail), shows the trail beginning at the border of the Wildlife Refuge, but there is no road to that location; it's a about a mile+ from the road. However, we called the staff at the Wildlife Refuge office and they were VERY helpful and explained it all to us. So, call before you go.
- The trail itself is easy to follow, though there were dozens of down trees across the trail. My guess is that routine trail maintenance hadn't happened yet this summer, But, it still was a relatively easy hike, with no big elevation gain or loss.
- The cabin looks like a dump from the outside but it is actually quite nice inside - pristine clean and set up nicely. One of the websites says there are two bunk beds, but that's not correct. There are two knee-high wood platform beds that can each hold two people if they don't mind squeezing close to each other. Otherwise, more comfy for two people total.
- I saw some write ups about how there are spaces between the logs of the cabin walls, and mosquitos can enter. Yes, there are some spaces in the walls, but we had no problem with mosquitos - even though there were lots of them out in the forest on the way to the cabin.
- The stove works great. Be careful as it can really heat up the cabin, even with just a little wood burning.
- As for wildlife, we didn't see any except birds and mosquitos. We've learned that the wildlife refuge is a place for people to hunt and kill wildlife, not a refuge (safe of safety) .
- Overall, though, we had a great time. Look up the cabin's history before you go - both its old history about the nurses in the 1940s, and also the more recent history of serving as a life saver for some people whose boat swamped in the lake,

Nice pristine cabin We were there early in the summer (May), before fishing season, and only one other person in the lake the whole time we were there.

Nice pristine cabin We were there early in the summer (May), before fishing season, and only one other person in the lake the whole time we were there.

This was our first time back since the fire. We spent some time wandering in the burn area. We saw willow and aspen saplings coming up. We also saw Caribou tracks. We are looking forward to seeing how things will grow back.

This was our first time back since the fire. We spent some time wandering in the burn area. We saw willow and aspen saplings coming up. We also saw Caribou tracks. We are looking forward to seeing how things will grow back.

Was the most relaxing Mother’s Day I’ve ever had.

Was the most relaxing Mother’s Day I’ve ever had.

The cabin is very spacious and comfortable. It was nice to have the firewood available.
The lake was just beginning to thaw when we were there. Later on it will be fun to play on the lake and cook outside.
Beautiful view!!

The cabin is very spacious and comfortable. It was nice to have the firewood available.
The lake was just beginning to thaw when we were there. Later on it will be fun to play on the lake and cook outside.
Beautiful view!!