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Crescent Saddle Cabin offers a remote and secluded place to stay in the Kenai Mountains of southeastern Alaska. It is difficult to access, but rewards visitors with spectacular views of the surrounding region. Winter travel is recommended only for those with experience in the backcountry.
This site can be accessed by hiking, skiing, snowmobile and floatplane. Not recommended for horseback or bikes. Visitors are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety, and must bring several of their own amenities.
Fishing on Crescent Lake is very popular for grayling. A rowboat with oars is available at the cabin, but life jackets and fishing equipment are not provided.
In season, visitors hunt for moose, black and brown bears and Dall sheep.
Hiking, horseback riding, cross country skiing and snowshoeing are also popular activities. There is extreme avalanche danger on the Crescent Creek Trail in winter and early spring. The primitive trail around Crescent Lake crosses several avalanche chutes and should not be used in the winter.
The cabin has bunk space for six and a maximum occupancy of eight people. It is equipped with counter space, table, benches and a wood stove for heat. A splitting maul and hand saw are available. An outhouse is also provided.
There is no electricity, potable water, mattresses, bedding, cooking utensils or cut firewood at the cabin. Visitors should bring sleeping bags and pads, a cook stove, cooking gear and food. Water taken from the lakes or streams should be treated or boiled before consumption.
The cabin is located south of Sterling Highway on the Crescent Lake Trail. It overlooks Crescent Lake, at an elevation of about 1,450 feet. The cabin is set back from the lake, amid a scattered forest and lots of wildflowers in the warmer months.
In addition to avalanche danger, high winds may sweep across the lake, causing danger for small boats and planes. For more information on access and regulations pertaining to this cabin, trail conditions, safety precautions and [outdoor safety and ethics](https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/r10/recreation/safety-ethics), please contact the Seward Ranger District.
Access is by trail, 7 miles from the Carter Lake Trailhead at milepost 34 of the Seward Highway or (10.7 miles from the Crescent Creek Trailhead, from milepost 45 on Sterling Highway, take Quartz Creek road 3.2 miles to the Crescent Creek Trailhead. Cabin is also accessible by floatplane.
Winter travelers need to be able to evaluate [avalanche](http://www.cnfaic.org/) and over-ice travel conditions. Refer to USGS maps Seward B7, C7 and C8. [Maps](http://ask.usgs.gov/to_order.html) are available online or by calling the Seward Ranger District at 907-288-3178.
Learn more about [Carter Lake](https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/chugach/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=6651&actid=51) and [Crescent Creek](https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/chugach/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=6656&actid=51).
Reservations can be made the day of arrival or up to 180 days in advance. 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.
If you cancel a cabin reservation within 14 days of your scheduled arrival date, you will be charged the $10 service fee and forfeit the first night's recreation use fee. No-shows, early departures, or cancellations after the scheduled arrival date are not entitled to a refund. Cancellations for single night use for Alaska cabins will not be assessed a service fee.
