At the edge of the Kenai Peninsula lies a land where the ice age lingers.
Nearly 40 glaciers flow from the Harding Icefield, Kenai Fjords' crowning
feature. Wildlife thrives in icy waters and lush forests along the fjords once
carved by the vast expanse of ice. Today, shrinking glaciers bear witness to
the effects of our changing climate.

At the edge of the Kenai Peninsula lies a land where the ice age lingers. Nearly 40 glaciers flow from the Harding Icefield, Kenai Fjords' crowning feature. Wildlife thrives in icy waters and lush forests along the fjords once carved by the vast expanse of ice. Today, shrinking glaciers bear witness to the effects of our changing climate.

## Overview

Holgate and Aialik Bay Cabins are rustic public use cabins. The cabins are
accessible only by a two-hour boat ride or a 30-minute float plane flight from
Seward; there are no roads to the cabins. The cabins are open from Memorial
Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend and booking starts January 1st.

**Holgate Cabin** is located on the northeastern shore of Holgate Arm in
Aialik Bay. The cabin sits on a small bluff above a cobble beach. There are
spectacular views of Holgate Glacier from the cabin's front porch.

**Aialik Bay Cabin** is located on a five-acre lease on Port Graham
Corporation land, at the upper end of Aialik Bay. It is within the heart of
the coastal backcountry of Kenai Fjords National Park. You will be able to
enjoy views of tidewater glaciers.

**Reservations are limited to a maximum of three nights per group per cabin
within the calendar year. Groups are limited to a maximum of six people per
cabin.**

Occupancy begins and ends at noon.

## Recreation

Both cabins are ideal locations for kayaking, boating, fishing, hiking, and
wildlife viewing. It is possible to see black bears, seabirds, sea otters,
mountain goats, and other marine mammals. There can be excellent berry picking
in the open spruce forest that surrounds the cabins. Please refer to Alaska
Department of Fish and Game for fishing regulations and license requirements.

## Facilities

**Holgate Cabin** contains three wooden bunk beds that sleep up to six people,
a work counter, table with chairs, propane heater (propane provided), fire
extinguisher, and smoke detector.

**Aialik Bay Cabin** contains two wooden bunk beds that sleep up to six
people, a work counter, table with four chairs, propane heater (propane
provided), fire extinguisher, and smoke detector.

It is important to note:

  * The cabins are rustic, approximately 16' x 20' (5m x 6 m). 

  * There is no electricity or running water at the cabins. Fresh water is not always accessible and must be treated. 

  * There are toilet structures where disposable toilet kits must be used (environmentally- friendly human waste disposal system). Toilet kits are provided and must be packed out. 

  * There is no cell phone coverage in the backcountry. 

  * There are no mooring buoys at the beach. 

## Natural Features

Both cabins are situated just above sea level and are surrounded by alder
trees, blueberry, and salmonberry bushes.  
  
**Holgate Cabin** : The surrounding terrain is open spruce forest. The view of
Holgate Glacier is spectacular and you can hear sounds of calving ice from the
glacier. The cabin is surrounded by alder trees, blueberry, and salmonberry
bushes.  
  
**Aialik Bay Cabin** : The cabin is located near the north end of a deep,
sheltered fjord. It is across the bay from Aialik Glacier. The surrounding
terrain is flat, with young spruce forests, alder thickets, and a long cobble
beach.

## Nearby Attractions

Both cabins are in Aialik Bay.

  * From **Holgate Cabin** explore nearby Pedersen Lagoon and Quicksand Cove by kayak or boat. 
  * From **Aialik Bay Cabin** enjoy views of Pedersen Glacier and Aialik Glacier. Abra Cove is north of the cabin and can be accessed by kayak or boat.

<h2>Overview</h2>
Holgate and Aialik Bay Cabins are rustic public use cabins. The cabins are accessible only by a two-hour boat ride or a 30-minute float plane flight from Seward; there are no roads to the cabins. The cabins are open from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend and booking starts January 1st.Holgate Cabin is located on the northeastern shore of Holgate Arm in Aialik Bay. The cabin sits on a small bluff above a cobble beach. There are spectacular views of Holgate Glacier from the cabin's front porch. Aialik Bay Cabin is located on a five-acre lease on Port Graham Corporation land, at the upper end of Aialik Bay. It is within the heart of the coastal backcountry of Kenai Fjords National Park. You will be able to enjoy views of tidewater glaciers. Reservations are limited to a maximum of three nights per group per cabin within the calendar year. Groups are limited to a maximum of six people per cabin.Occupancy begins and ends at noon.<h2>Recreation</h2>
Both cabins are ideal locations for kayaking, boating, fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing. It is possible to see black bears, seabirds, sea otters, mountain goats, and other marine mammals. There can be excellent berry picking in the open spruce forest that surrounds the cabins. Please refer to Alaska Department of Fish and Game for fishing regulations and license requirements.<h2>Facilities</h2>
Holgate Cabin contains three wooden bunk beds that sleep up to six people, a work counter, table with chairs, propane heater (propane provided), fire extinguisher, and smoke detector. Aialik Bay Cabin contains two wooden bunk beds that sleep up to six people, a work counter, table with four chairs, propane heater (propane provided), fire extinguisher, and smoke detector.It is important to note:<ul><li>The cabins are rustic, approximately 16' x 20' (5m x 6 m). </li><li>There is no electricity or running water at the cabins. Fresh water is not always accessible and must be treated. </li><li>There are toilet structures where disposable toilet kits must be used (environmentally- friendly human waste disposal system). Toilet kits are provided and must be packed out. </li><li>There is no cell phone coverage in the backcountry. </li><li>There are no mooring buoys at the beach. </li></ul><h2>Natural Features</h2>
Both cabins are situated just above sea level and are surrounded by alder trees, blueberry, and salmonberry bushes.
 
Holgate Cabin: The surrounding terrain is open spruce forest. The view of Holgate Glacier is spectacular and you can hear sounds of calving ice from the glacier. The cabin is surrounded by alder trees, blueberry, and salmonberry bushes. 
Aialik Bay Cabin: The cabin is located near the north end of a deep, sheltered fjord. It is across the bay from Aialik Glacier. The surrounding terrain is flat, with young spruce forests, alder thickets, and a long cobble beach.
<h2>Nearby Attractions</h2>
Both cabins are in Aialik Bay. 
<ul>
<li>From Holgate Cabin explore nearby Pedersen Lagoon and Quicksand Cove by kayak or boat.
</li><li>From Aialik Bay Cabin enjoy views of Pedersen Glacier and Aialik Glacier. Abra Cove is north of the cabin and can be accessed by kayak or boat. 
</li></ul>

Kenai Fjords National Park does not add on a reservation fee for our cabins

Exit Glacier with fireweed in the foreground at Kenai Fjords National Park

Exit Glacier with fireweed in the foreground  at Kenai Fjords National Park

The front door of Aialik Public Use Cabin

Glacier Carved Peaks at Kenai Fjords National Park

Glacier-carved peaks at Kenai Fjords National Park with the bay in the foreground

Kenai Fjords National Park Cabins

An aerial view of Aialik cabin surrounded by spruce trees

Aerial View of  cabin

The entrance to the Exit Glacier Area of Kenai Fjords National Park.

Kenai Fjords entrance sign on the road with Exit Glacier in the background.

**BEAR UPDATE: 21 MAY 2026**

There is evidence of significant bear activity in the vicinity and visitors
are reminded to always practice bear safety. This includes:

  * maintaining awareness of your surroundings using all your senses (best practice is not to wear ear buds or headphones in the wilderness)

  * keeping bear spray easily accessible at all times (NOT inside your pack!) 

  * knowing how to use your bear spray

  * making noise while traveling and hiking in groups

  * keeping all scented items (food, trash, hand sanitizer, deodorant, toothpaste, etc.) contained in bear-proof containers

BEAR UPDATE: 21 MAY 2026There is evidence of significant bear activity in the vicinity and visitors are reminded to always practice bear safety. This includes:<ul><li>maintaining awareness of your surroundings using all your senses (best practice is not to wear ear buds or headphones in the wilderness)</li><li>keeping bear spray easily accessible at all times (NOT inside your pack!) </li><li>knowing how to use your bear spray</li><li>making noise while traveling and hiking in groups</li><li>keeping all scented items (food, trash, hand sanitizer, deodorant, toothpaste, etc.) contained in bear-proof containers</li></ul>

Participate in the long history of human powered travel along the Kenai Peninsula coast.

Kayaker Views Aialik Glacier

A stroll to Glacier View provides a nice overlook of Exit Glacier as part of a 1 mile accessible walk.

Exit Glacier View

Bear Glacier is the largest of nearly 40 glaciers that flow from the Harding Icefield.

Bear Glacier Aerial

Kayakers enjoy the spectacular scenery in the fjords in Aialik Bay.

Aialik Bay Kayakers

Flightseeing over the Harding Icefield provides amazing opportunities to view glaciers, like Bear Glacier, from a different perspective.

Above Bear Glacier

A humpback whale breaches in Kenai Fjords National Park

Humpback Whale Breach

Kenai Fjords National Park

Views from the Harding Icefield Trail offer a window to past ice ages.

The Harding Icefield

Learn from Exit Glacier's retreat with a park ranger

Exit Glacier Park Ranger

View captivating sea stacks, playful wildlife, and calving glaciers along Kenai Fjords' rugged coast.

Spire Cove

Keep an eye up high for mountain goats making their home on precarious terrain

Mountain Goat

Wildflowers bloom all along the lower trails at Exit Glacier.

Fireweed Exit Glacier Area

Humpback whales cooperatively bubble net feed on the bounty of the fjords in summer.

Bubble Net Feeding

Orcas make their way along the Kenai Fjords coast in summer.

Kenai Fjords National Park

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Kenai Fjords National Park Cabins