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Laughton Glacier Cabin is located 2 miles west of the Canadian border on the north side of the Sawtooth Mountains. The site can be accessed by train, followed by a 1.5-mile hike. The White Pass and Yukon Railroad operates from May 1 to September 30. The cabin is closed to reservations in the off-season, since the surrounding area is owned by the railroad. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and safety and must bring several of their own amenities.
The access trail to the cabin follows the Skagway River and leads hikers through lush rainforest. The trail continues beyond the cabin along the rocky banks of Laughton Creek to Laughton Glacier. The total distance for this trail is three miles round-trip, with an elevation gain of 200-600 feet. Mountain goat and bear hunting is possible in designated seasons with the proper permits.
This 12 ft. by 14ft. cabin is pan-abode style and sleeps six people with two single and two double bunks. The cabin also has a table and benches, a broom, oil heater and an outhouse. A wooden cooler box for food storage is attached to the outside of the cabin and a fire ring is located out front. Water and electricity are not provided. Water is available from the Skagway River, but visitors should be sure to treat water before drinking or cooking with it ( water safety tips ). It is recommended that visitors bring their own water supply. Heating oil is not supplied by the Forest Service. Visitors must provide their own #1 stove oil (one gallon lasts a day on the lowest heat setting), in addition to sleeping bags, sleeping pads, a cooking stove, lanterns or flashlights, cookware, plates, utensils, food, toilet paper, garbage bags, a fire extinguisher and fire starter. Visitors are expected to pack out trash, empty the cabinets and clean the cabin before leaving ( click here for more cabin details).
The area around the cabin is mountainous and covered with spruce and subalpine fir forest. Wildflowers bloom around the cabin in summer. The cabin overlooks the Skagway River and the Laughton Glacier is located nearby. Moose, brown bears and black bears are common in this area ( bear safety information ). Mountain goats can sometimes be spotted on the surrounding mountains.
Access is via a 14-mile ride on the White Pass and Yukon Railroad between May 1st and September 30th to the Glacier whistle stop, followed by a 1.5-mile hike on a Forest Service trail. Make reservations at least 24 hours in advance for train transportation. Rate information and reservations are available by calling the railroad at (800) 343-7373.
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.
It said we need the stove oil to heat up the cabin but we didn't know what stove oil was. Luckily the coleman camp fuel works also. The stove oil is #1 diesel. We were at Haines the night before and I asked 5+ people and only 2 of them could tell me it is #1 diesel and we should be able to buy it from gas station. Unfortunately the gas stations were already closed and we ends up getting the coleman camp fuel from Outfitter Sporting Goods. I still don't know what is #1 diesel as the gas station sells #2 diesel for car and truck.
The cabin is maintain by camper like us and it is clean. There is a stove inside (where you use it for heating also), so you could bring pan and pot to cook. There are instruction for the stove and visitor log books from previous campers. They provide useful information.
There is a maul to split wood for the fireplaces outside. There is another fireplace near the river so that you could keep yourself warm sitting near the river. There are firewood near the cabin but it is getting less and less. We couldn't find the wooden box for food storage so you might want to use an alternative solution like hanging your food high using a rope or something. There are small streams nearby so if you have water filtering equipment, you don't have to bring that much water.
We didn't see any bear near it when we were there but we saw a porcupine in the morning. The glacier is nice and there is enough time to hike up to the base and stand at the bottom of the glacier, just make sure you pick a safe path to do so.
The bugs doesn't bite us, I guess there isn't enough human around as their food source so they don't even bother trying to bite us.
Like they said in Alaska, make sure you come prepared. There is no cell phone signal and no one will be around at night to help you out.
Other than that, it is a nice experience in wilderness and we really enjoy it
