By:
Submission
Beach River Cabin offers guests a remote lodging experience on Montague Island in southcentral Alaska. Situated 200 yards south of Beach River on the Gulf of Alaska, the cabin offers guests year-round recreation and relaxation. Fishing, hunting, kayaking, beachcombing and wildlife viewing are within walking distance of the facility. Access to the cabin is by wheeled plane only on the beach at low tide from Anchorage, Cordova or Seward. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.
Anglers will find that Montague Island is a prime fishing location. Coho salmon start showing up at the mouth of Beach River in mid-August, while pink salmon enter the system in mid-July. Fishing at the mouth of the river gives anglers the chance to catch the fish straight from the ocean when they're at their strongest and freshest. Montague Island has been referred to as "The Land of the Giants" by sport fishing enthusiasts, producing a variety of fish over 100 pounds, including a 350-pound halibut caught in 2007.
Hunters can take advantage of a long hunting season in the surrounding forest. Bear season occurs during spring and fall, while deer season begins in late summer and lasts through late fall.
The intertidal beach adjacent to the cabin is open for public use below mid-level high tide. Contact the Cordova Ranger District for a detailed map of land ownership in this area. Since the cabin is on the Gulf of Alaska and the open ocean, the beach is a good place for beachcombers to search for glass Japanese fishing floats and other sea-borne treasures.
This 12x14-foot rustic, pre-cut cedar log cabin is equipped with wooden bunks that sleep up to six guests. Other amenities include a table, benches, wood and oil stoves for heat, a rainwater catchment barrel and an outdoor pit toilet.
Firewood may be available, but the supply cannot be guaranteed. Visitors are asked to be conservative with wood and use their cook stoves for cooking.
Water and heating oil are not provided at the cabin. Visitors need to bring their own supply of water and #1 stove oil. Any water collected from natural sources must be boiled or treated before using.
Visitors must bring food, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, a cook stove, matches, cooking gear, lanterns or flashlights, toilet paper, a first aid kit and garbage bags. All trash and food must be packed out, and visitors are expected to clean the cabin before leaving.
Montague Island is in the Gulf of Alaska at the entrance to Prince William Sound. The cabin sits in a mature spruce tree stand approximately a half-mile from the intertidal beach landing area.
The area is defined by a thick spruce and hemlock forest, and an understory of shrubs and grasses. The pebble-strewn shoreline offers expansive views of the water and surrounding mountains.
Wildlife in the area abounds, including migratory waterfowl, Sitka black-tail deer and brown bear ([bear safety](http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=livingwithbears.bearcountry)).
Beach River Cabin is only accessible by wheeled plane on the beach at low tide from Anchorage, Cordova or Seward. Travel time is 40 minutes southwest of Cordova, 45 minutes east of Seward. [Click here](http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/noaatidepredictions/NOAATidesFacade.jsp?Stationid=9454574) for local tide information.
Only one change per reservation for all Alaska cabins is allowed. Change is defined as a modification to the start or end date of the reservation; after one change has been made, if additional changes are desired, the customer must cancel the current reservation and re-book the new dates.
We had our wedding reception in the lodge 20 years ago and loved it. Finally returned for an overnight with our kiddos to celebrate the anniversary. It was even prettier than I remembered. There's practically no information to be found online but as of August 2021 the lodge had an outdoor fire pit that may be locked up when fire danger is high, a large deck with three picnic tables and a view of the lake, insert fireplace with wood and two sleeping futons (we were told they are missing one so there may be three again as there was long ago), dining table to seat six, full kitchen with full size refrigerator, oven/stove, dishwasher, microwave, toaster and coffee pot plus pans, dishes, silverware, and cleaning supplies, washer & dryer (bring your own detergent), full bathroom with shower and towels (bring your own shampoo). Finally, there's a loft you access through a pull-down ladder in the kitchen that can sleep at least six kids. There are gym mats up there but I recommend bringing your own sleeping pads. You'll also need to bring your own sleeping sheets/blankets/pillows for both loft and futons. Between the forced-air heat and fireplace you won't be chilly. We had a really fun overnight; we walked the trails around the lake and down the boardwalk to the lake then spent the evening playing games and reading. There are two more cabins you can access via boardwalks. You can't see in so I don't know the sleeping arrangements but they appear to have electricity but no water. At the end of the boardwalk are two very clean pit toilets. The whole area (except the sleeping loft) is accessible to wheelchairs with ramps and wide doors. Highly recommend this area for fun and gorgeous views
We'd heard about this place from our neighbors and it was as great as they'd said. We rented at the end of August and the Eagle River parks and rec department was easy to work with and responsive when we called for info. Located on a shallow, small lake, the cabin has a solid and wide dock that is calm and pleasant and a boat launch and plenty of parking for cars.
Note that when you rent the cabins, you don't have exclusionary rights to the dock or launch it access road/parking.
The main lodge has a full kitchen with stove, microwave, fridge, dishwasher, and sink. There also a washer and dryer in that kitchen area. The large bathroom has a wide shower, toilet, and sink. All accessible for wheelchairs.
There's forced air heating but with locked controls set fairly low. But the wood stove really keeps things warm.
Inside there is a table with seating for 6, the couches to seat 4 that also fold down into futon double beds, a fire place stocked with wood, and folding banquet tables and chairs on a rack for more seating. We had 20 people there that night and it was comfortable.
There's also a loft with sleeping mats, comfortable for the 4-5 kids we put up there but not great for adults.
The deck has 3 picnic tables (note: no grill) and there's an outdoor fire pit area with seating for 6-9.
Rental fees were $350 for the main lodge, with $50 for each of the two auxiliary cabins linked by boardwalks to the main lodge. Each cabin sleeps 4 on long, comfortable cots and have wood stoves for heat, though we had trouble getting both cabins' stoves to draw properly. We didn't use them and were plenty warm at night with sleeping bags. It could be a problem in winter though.
We had a great time and plan on coming back. Note that Parks and Rec say that if your party has more than 20, guests should use the outhouse instead of the inside bathroom toilet, saying that the septic system can't handle huge groups.
These photos all come from the info email that Parks and Rec sent me.
