Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Cabins

Great cranberries and gorgeous views. The seven lakes trail was root bound but a good hike.

Never made it to the cabin because of bad weather both days. The people that had the cabin reserved before us were stuck over there so we couldn't go to the cabin anyway.

Never made it to the cabin because of bad weather both days. The people that had the cabin reserved before us were stuck over there so we couldn't go to the cabin anyway.

We stayed at the Kelly Lake cabin. It was great! The location is in the 2019 wildfire area, but there are still some trees around the cabin. This was my first time at the cabin, and here are some things I learned: the cabin is a 1/2 mi walk from the parking lot (not a 1/4 mi like the website states), the trail is narrow and has lots of roots (hard to pull a cart on it), the row boat leaks, no GCI cell service, and you can hear the Highway noise at the cabin. But here are some great things: the lake is beautiful and calm, we saw loons and swans, there’s hiking available, there were tons of cranberries to pick, the outhouse is adorable, the fire pit grill lifts up so you can access the logs in the fire easily, and this was the cleanest public use cabin I’ve ever been to. We had a great time!

We stayed at the Kelly Lake cabin. It was great! The location is in the 2019 wildfire area, but there are still some trees around the cabin. This was my first time at the cabin, and here are some things I learned: the cabin is a 1/2 mi walk from the parking lot (not a 1/4 mi like the website states), the trail is narrow and has lots of roots (hard to pull a cart on it), the row boat leaks, no GCI cell service, and you can hear the Highway noise at the cabin. But here are some great things: the lake is beautiful and calm, we saw loons and swans, there’s hiking available, there were tons of cranberries to pick, the outhouse is adorable, the fire pit grill lifts up so you can access the logs in the fire easily, and this was the cleanest public use cabin I’ve ever been to. We had a great time!

We had a great time in the cabin we stayed in.
It was lake side and beautiful.

We had a great time in the cabin we stayed in.
It was lake side and beautiful.

"Our" Kelly Lake cabin was clean when we arrived. Loved that it came with saw, ax, hatchet for processing firewood. We enjoyed the provided row boat as well and rowed around the island in the morning to the sound of loons. We hiked to Engineer Lake and enjoyed that we could see the area lakes better after the fire.
Staying at Kelly Lake cabin was a highlight of our Alaska trip.
Bill and Julie from Michigan

"Our" Kelly Lake cabin was clean when we arrived. Loved that it came with saw, ax, hatchet for processing firewood. We enjoyed the provided row boat as well and rowed around the island in the morning to the sound of loons. We hiked to Engineer Lake and enjoyed that we could see the area lakes better after the fire.
Staying at Kelly Lake cabin was a highlight of our Alaska trip.
Bill and Julie from Michigan

A beautiful cabin and wonderful stay! Plan on hiking your gear in as it was too windy to safely use the rowboat for supplies when we arrived. The hike was short though so we just returned to the car for a second trip. Also, there is plenty of downed wood near the cabin you can cut up if you don't want to carry firewood. The stove was wonderful and kept the cabin cozy. We will be going back for sure! No cell phone coverage at the cabin but had some coverage about 0.5 mi from the cabin so you could contact someone in an emergency. You may want to bring an inReach or sat phone just in case though.