Caribou Creek Trail National Park Service 

U.S. Department of the Interior

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve 

Access: Trailhead located at Mile 19.5 on the north side of the Nabesna Road. Parking is located at mile 

18.9, on the north side of the road. 

Distance: Total round-trip is approximately six miles. 

Time: Allow three hours for the round-trip and more time to do some exploring. 

Maps: Trails Illustrated, Nabesna 1:63,360 (C-5) 

Difculty: Easy to Moderate. Total elevation gain: 800’ 

Highlights: Roadside access, spectacular scenery, solitude, easy trail hiking. There are a wide variety of 

wildfowers along the trail. Look for blue bells, prickly rose, monkshood and Alaska cottongrass among the 

wolf, bear, moose and other animal tracks. 

Route: The trail proceeds in a northeast direction towards the hills. The trail is an ATV route, and as such 

there are some muddy areas where you may be required to walk of the trail. The beginning of the trail goes 

through the valley bottom with low tundra vegetation. Views are great. As the trail continues, the forest 

surrounds the trail with spruce, alder, willow and wildfowers. After two miles, Caribou Creek frst crosses 

the trail- look directly across the creek to see where the trail continues on the other side of the creek. The 

trail will cross the creek 3-4 more times before you reach the cabin. 

Hazards: None of the creek crossings are difcult, though the level of the water changes with the season 

and persons crossing should use caution, especially if it has been raining. 

Notes: At the end of the trail there is a public use cabin that can be reserved by email at 

wrst_info@nps.gov. At the cabin, game trails continue into the surrounding hills and there are ridge lines 

behind the cabin that provide even more spectacular views of the surrounding landscape. 

Revised 3/2015 EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICATM
National Park Service Caribou Creek Cabin U.S. Department of the Interior

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve 

Location: At the end of a three mile hike on the Caribou Creek Trail, located at Mile 19.5 Nabesna Road. Refer to 

USGS maps: Nabesna 1:63,360 (C-5) 

Reservations: Required year-round. Please email us at wrst_info@nps.gov to reserve. Reservations can be made six 

months in advance to the date. The maximum stay in the cabin is 7 days in a 30 day period. 

Access: This cabin is accessible from the Nabesna Road. Cabin is located at the end of the Caribou Creek Trail, 

which is a three mile hike. Caribou Creek trailhead is located at mile 19.5 on the north side of the Nabesna Road. 

Parking is available at mile 18.9. In the springtime months or after it’s rained, the trail may be extremely muddy. 

Recreational ATV use is not allowed at this time (trail is closed to recreational ATV use until it is repaired.) Be sure to 

stop in or call the Slana Ranger Station for the latest trail conditions and information. 

Description: The cabin sits nestled between ridges with breathtaking views of the valley south towards Mount Sanford, Mount Wrangell, and the Tanada peaks. There is no running water or plumbing. The cabin is small and includes: 

• two twin sized wooden bunks (sleeps two people)

• a wood stove

• a table

• a porch

• a rustic pit toilet - Please bring your own toilet paper, as the toilet is not regularly stocked or maintained.

Regulations: You must bring all personal belongings that you will require, including sleeping and dining equipment. 

Please clean the cabin and take all food and trash with you upon departure. Burying garbage is prohibited. Dogs are 

allowed, but please clean up after your pet. Please do not remove or relocate any artifacts or deface cabins or historic 

structures. There are numerous bugs in this area. Headnets and bug spray are strongly encouraged during June, July, 

and August. 

Water & Firewood: Visitors may gather dead and down wood for frewood. Replenish any frewood stored in the 

cabin for the next user. Water can be obtained from Caribou Creek, a short easy walk northwest of the cabin. 

Recreational Opportunities: The trail ends at the cabin, but there are opportunities to explore and hike the ridges 

behind the cabin. This cabin is located in a remote, rugged area. Make sure you’re familiar with backcountry safety 

before venturing out to hike. In winter, it is not recommended to go of trail as you hike to this cabin, as there may be 

traplines set. Nearby Caribou Creek is not suitable for fshing and there are no other lakes or streams nearby. If you 

fnd a place to fsh, a State of Alaska fshing license is required. This cabin is located in the preserve, so sport and subsistence hunting is allowed. Subsistence hunting is limited to local, rural residents. A State of Alaska hunting license 

is required and, if you are a subsistence hunter, a federal subsistence hunting permit may be required. Please refer to 

state and federal hunting regulations. This cabin is very popular during the summer and is often used during hunting season, so reserve as early as possible. Snowmachines are allowed on the trail, provided that at least six inches of 

snow covers the ground. Recreational ATV use is not allowed at this time (trail is closed to recreational ATV use until 

it is repaired.) 

- Caribou Creek Cabin 

Airstrip: none

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