Take an amazing nature hike up one of the most spectacular valleys on the Kenai Peninsula to experience the wonder of the Russian River Falls and watch (season dependent) salmon battle the falls trying to get upstream. FAX: (907) 743-9476, Office Hours:
Spencer Bench Cabin is located at 1,900 feet in elevation at the end of the Spencer Bench Trail, climbing away from the lake revealing breathtaking views of the Placer River Valley, Spencer Lake and the Spencer Glacier below. Watch Queue Queue Be extremely careful approaching the Spencer Glacier's exposed face; massive chunks of … Dates Available: June 1 – September 15, 2020 Of course any glacier can be accessed. Supervisor's Office
Spencer Bench Trail: This 3 mile-long continuously climbing trail begins at Mile 2 on the Spencer Glacier Trail, gains approximately 2,000 feet in elevation, has modest 15 percent grades due to some 30 switchbacks, and takes you to the ridge-top Spencer Bench and cabin. The Spencer Bench Cabin is the newest cabin on the Chugach National Forest, sitting at an elevation of 1,900’ with breathtaking views of the Placer River valley and Spencer Glacier … The boat launch on Spencer Lake is a quick drive down a down former mining road. From the Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop, cabin users will hike 2.4 miles along the Spencer Glacier Trail around the north side of the lake to reach the signed trailhead for the Spencer Bench Trail. Updated November 2020, Visit Spencer Glacier on the Whistle Stop Train was originally written in June 2017. Although the Spencer Bench Trail currently ends at the cabin, the open alpine areas just above the cabin offer excellent off-trail hiking and sightseeing opportunities. Don't Move Firewood: Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by purchasing firewood near your destination and burning it on-site. On the hike you will learn about the flora, fauna and local history of this glacial valley. This 5.4-mile trail leads from the Alaska Railroad's Spencer Glacier whistle stop to a beautiful public use cabin perched atop the obvious ridge north of the whistle stop. The cabin sits just below several alpine meadows with vegetation of low shrubs, grasses and summer wildflowers. Glaciers and peaks around the cabin offer experienced climbers a challenging adventure. Once we made it to Spencer Glacier we put on our crampons. Spencer Iceberg and Placer River Float Regardless of age or physical ability, you’ll get to experience picture-postcard Alaska with … Winter users must access the Cabin with this in mind and plan accordingly. 161 East 1st Ave., Door 8
This is a result of USGS elevation data not updated to take in recession of the glacier. The cabin sits just below several alpine meadows with vegetation of low shrubs, grasses and summer wildflowers. The cabin sits at an elevation of 1,900’ at the end of the Spencer Bench Trail, climbing away from the lake revealing breathtaking views of the Placer River valley and Spencer Glacier below. To book, call Alaska Railroad reservations at 800.544.0552. Access is by the Alaska Railroad whistle stop, and we exited by packrafting the Placer River. Check into your cabin after tour. Price: $250 Duration: 3.5+ hours with about 2 hrs riding Activity: Ride a snowmobile along mountain lined river valleys about 20 to 30 miles round trip to blue ice of Skookum or Spencer Glaciers. Mountain biking the Spencer Bench Trail at Spencer Glacier is a pretty cool adventure - fun riding, insanely stunning views, alpine walking and exploring, and beautiful camping! The cabin sits at an elevation of 1,900’ at the end of the Spencer Bench Trail, climbing away from the lake revealing breathtaking views of the Placer River valley and Spencer Glacier below. Get up close to picturesque icebergs at Spencer Glacier lake after your scenic train ride on the AK Railroad’s Glacier Discovery Train. Mountain goats, marmots, arctic ground squirrels and spruce grouse may be spotted on the terrain around the cabin. 145 Forest Station Road Spencer Bench Cabin is located at 1,900 feet in elevation at the end of the Spencer Bench Trail, climbing away from the lake revealing breathtaking views of the Placer River Valley, Spencer Lake and the Spencer Glacier below. Black and brown bears, wolves and moose inhabit the area. Also note that the ending climb shown on the route profile is false; you don't gain 300-feet riding across the lake. Take the Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop Train in Alaska. Glacier Discovery Train: daily scheduled service begins July 3, 2020, Forest Service Home | USDA.gov | recreation.gov | Recreation Customer Service Standards | USA.gov | Whitehouse.gov, Plug-Ins | FOIA | Accessibility Statement | Privacy Policy | Important Notices | Information Quality, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/chugach/recreation/camping-cabins/recarea/?recid=81559&actid=101, Glacier District Snowmobile Area Closures, Chugach National Forest Offers Virtual Services, Alaska Department of Fish & Game Licensing, During the Alaska Railroad passenger season (June-September), the Spencer Bench Cabin can be reserved through the Alaska Railroad by calling the, Per night price is $85. Please pack out ALL trash, food and supplies! Girdwood, AK 99587
The cabin can accommodate 6-8 people and offers wooden bunks, a table with benches, fire extinguisher, snow shovel, a broom and an outhouse. Spencer Glacier Iceberg Float Your experienced raft guides will meet you at the Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop. ︎ Spencer Bench Cabin is AMAZING This is by far the best cabin I've stayed at in Alaska! Located on a bench high above Spencer Glacier and its lake, the view from the 15-foot by 17-foot cabin is stunning. 15' x 17' trapper-style cabin with wooden bunks (no mattresses), table, counter, kerosene heater, fire extinquisher, and separate outhouse. When the cabin is rented through, cabin and outhouse are designed to be accessible. On Site Facilities It ain't gonna happen. Girdwood, AK 99587 Between October 1 and April 30 the office is closed from 12 -1 pm
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A real girl’s guide to Spencer Glacier, it’s cabin and off trail exploration: Took the train to the Spencer Glacier to embark on an epic 20.5 mile hiking adventure. Accessing the Cabin View panoramic mountain & glacial landscapes on a 7-mile scenic river float down the pristine Placer River. The Spencer Bench trail is an arduous 3 mile switchback trail that climbs 1800 vertical feet and terminates at a foot bridge. 1 bath. The area is open to overnight use by either staying at the Spencer Bench Cabin (5.4 mile hike), dispersal camping outside the Developed Recreation area, or in the group campground. Spencer Lake Iceberg & Glacier Tour. Follow signs that direct you the last 300 yards to the cabin site. Check with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for more information on species and hunting seasons. One of the top reasons why Spencer Glacier should be your choice. After a safety briefing, you’ll load up and float across Spencer Lake, getting up close to icebergs and taking in panoramic views of Spencer Glacier. Spencer Glacier was our third glacier tour in two days, but it was anything but ho-hum. at the Alaska Railroad. Belong anywhere with Airbnb. Rate per night: $85. A creek is located near the cabin site but water must be treated before consumption. The Spencer Glacier Cabin, owned by the Forest Service, is the latest addition to the area, which is increasingly popular. Spencer Bench Cabin is available to rent on Recreation.gov from September 16 through May 31 annually. Disembark at the Spencer Glacier Whistlestop, and gear up for an exploration of the iceberg-choked Spencer Lake and points beyond. BTW, we had the entire lake and glacier to oursevles! This amazing tour suitable for all ages and abilities starts with an easy hike from the Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop along the banks of the Placer River down to Spencer Lake. The area offers a myriad of recreational opportunities including hiking, rock climbing, ice climbing, boating and fishing during the summer months. Location: Portage Alaska trailhead is 50 miles south of Anchorage, 10 miles south of Girdwood around mile 78 Seward Highway. The newest cabin on the Chugach National Forest, located at 1,900' elevation overlooking Spencer Glacier. The cabin is a 15x17-foot, trapper style cabin made entirely out of Alaskan yellow cedar. Crunch crunch crunch I went on the ice! (907) 288-3178. Updated about 4 years ago. P.O. Spencer Bench Cabin access is via a Spencer lakeside trail about 4 miles from the lake to the cabin. For more information visit. You probably ended up here because you were looking to visit Spencer Glacier, but the tours to Spencer Glacier are, let’s face it, pretty expensive. Seward, AK 99664
©2020 Alaska Railroad. Rent the Spencer Bench Cabin. The trail leads to Spencer Lake for spectacular glacier viewing. 145 Forest Station Road
In the winter this area is popular with backcountry skiers and snowmobilers. The main trail to the Spencer Glacier overlook is a little over one mile and offers a truly breathtaking view of the ice structure. Reservations Family Reunion in Alaska. Spencer Glacier “Ice to Ocean”. Spencer Bench provides a picturesque view into the heart of the Chugach National Forest. Find unique places to stay with local hosts in 191 countries. Booking for the 2020 Summer Season will open February 19 at 9:00 am Alaska time. The Spencer Bench hiking trail is usually, but not always, snow-free by mid-June. The Spencer Bench trail is an arduous 3 mile switchback trail that climbs 1800 vertical feet and terminates at a foot bridge. I would love to see the average tourist get to Exit Glacier or Spencer Glacier. Chugach Adventures’ was the original guide service at Spencer Glacier pioneering the area since 2001. The Chugach National Forest is a 6,908,540-acre (27,958 km 2) United States National Forest in south central Alaska.Covering portions of Prince William Sound, the Kenai Peninsula and the Copper River Delta, it was formed in 1907 from part of a larger forest reserve.The Chugach includes extensive shorelines, glaciers, forests and rivers, much of which is untouched by roads or trails. Our trip began with a short train ride from the station in Portage (which is not really a town anymore), but the Glacier Discovery train actually sets out from Anchorage. During the summer season, from June 1 through September 1… Cordova, AK 99574
Bring cook stove, cooking utensils and all items you'll need to be comfortable, including during the hike up 1,800' over 5 miles, from the Spencer Whistle Stop Train station. From the Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop, cabin users will hike 2.4 miles along the Spencer Glacier Trail around the north side of the lake to reach the signed trailhead for the Spencer Bench Trail. The Glacier Discovery Train provides daily service to the Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop from late-May through mid-September. The Spencer Bench Cabin is the newest public use cabin in the Chugach National Forest. P.O.Box 280
(907) 424-7661, Glacier Ranger District
Recreation Opportunities At 1,900 feet in elevation, this new, trapper-style cabin features what may be one of the most spectacular overlooks in Alaska—with an airliner view of glacier and river valley yawning right off the deck. For cabin stays from late May to mid-September, the Spencer Bench Cabin can be reserved through the Alaska Railroad by calling 800.544.0552. Guided Hike to Russian River Falls. The outpost village of Polebridge, Glacier Park International Airport, and the quaint mountain town of Whitefish are all within a short and picturesque 30 minute drive. The cabin sits just below several alpine meadows with vegetation of low shrubs, grasses and summer wildflowers. May 16, 2020 - Rent from people in Spencer Glacier, AK from $20/night. (907) 743-9500
From your cabin door, you are a 15 minute drive to the entrance of Glacier Park in West Glacier and the gateway town of Columbia Falls. 15' x 17' trapper-style cabin with wooden bunks (no mattresses), table, counter, kerosene heater, fire extinquisher, and separate outhouse. This facility is located in an extremely remote and wild area; before making a reservation, users should be aware of bear, water, and weather safety (including cold), Recreating in Alaska can present both obvious and hidden dangers; please be aware of your surroundings and be prepared for extended stays in the event of poor weather, Inclement weather may cause an unexpected extension of the trip; It is recommended that users bring extra supplies to last 2-5 days, Access to Spencer Bench cabin crosses several potentially hazardous avalanche paths. Since we had cabin reservations, our hike was only half complete. For cabin stays from mid-September to late May, reservations can be made at www.Recreation.gov. Electricity, water and fuel for the heater are not provided. It sleeps 6 to 8, with wooden bunks, table and outhouse. Pack it in Pack it out! The newest cabin on the Chugach National Forest, located at 1,900' elevation overlooking Spencer Glacier. Sign up with your email and we'll keep you posted on what's going on There is a 1.7 mile trail that extends from Spencer Lake to Spencer Glacier. Well designed with switchbacks, the pathway gains about 1,800 feet over roughly three miles. It's a 3 mile hike up 1800-1900' of endless switchbacks but the views are amazing. Guests are responsible for supplying their own drinking water, kerosene for heater (1 liter will last about 4 hours), a cook stove, flashlights or lanterns, bedding, mattresses, toilet paper, garbage bags, cookware, dishes and utensils. Spencer / Skookum Glacier Snowmobile Tour. 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Cordova Ranger District
These are thoughts you might not find in travel books and come from the many years we have spend in Glacier starting well before our purchase of the cabin in 2006. Contact the Forest Service for more information: Glacier Ranger District Hiking to the cabin from the Whistle Stop usually takes between 2-5 hours. Drop offs generally meet at 9:30 AM and 5:30 PM with Spencer Lake pickups at 10:30 AM or 6:30 PM. Spencer Bench Cabin. This video is unavailable. Anchorage, Alaska
The Bear Cub Cabin. The Gulf Coast Environment: Perhaps one of the more wild and remote locations within the Alaska Public Use Cabin System, these two cedar-constructed cabins are located in a thin strip of land bordered by Cape Suckling to the west and Cape Yakataga to the east, the immense Bering Glacier to the north and the dynamic Gulf of Alaska to the south. All Rights Reserved. After about a quarter of a mile the trail narrowed and headed uphill. Glacier Access to Spencer Glacier is via the toe of Spencer Glacier for those with prior glacier and ice climbing experience. 612 Second Street
Alpine meadows just above cabin offer excellent off-trail exploring; nearby creek for water. 33599 Ranger Station Spur (mile marker 23.5)
Public. 15' x 17' trapper-style cabin with wooden bunks (no mattresses), table, counter, kerosene heater, fire extinquisher, and separate outhouse. 907-783-3242. Motorized vehicles are not allowed on the trails. To get onto Spencer Glacier you would either need a helicopter ride or an overnight at the campground since there is no way you could get onto the glacier and back again within the alloted time you have for a day trip. Built by Alaskan gold miners in the early 1900’s, the Bear Cub Cabin was reconstructed in 2016. There’s something special about hiking on the ice with metal spikes and feeling like you can climb the world. Alpine meadows just above cabin offer excellent off-trail exploring; nearby creek for water. Spencer Bench Cabin sleeps 6 … You can extend your hike further around Spencer Lake, but this is only recommended for fast hikers since you need to be back to the station before the train departs at 4:30 p.m. Stenger Glacier Cabin – VRBO # 194695 This website is my effort to answer the commonly asked questions you might have about Glacier and the surrounding area. The newest cabin on the Chugach National Forest, located at 1,900' elevation overlooking Spencer Glacier. Hunting is possible, but the activity is tightly regulated in this area with limited permits available. The Spencer Bench Cabin is the newest public use cabin in the Chugach National Forest. Box 129
Alpine meadows just above cabin offer excellent off-trail exploring; nearby creek for water. (907) 783-3242, Seward Ranger District
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