Lee’s Cabin
Quick Facts:
Drive time from Fairbanks: 1 hour
Mileage: 13 miles out-and-back
Elevation gain: ~1,800 feet
Activity: Ski/hike/fat bike
Recommended time: 1 night
Reservations and fees required here
The White Mountains are a Fairbanks gem that you could spend weeks exploring. There’s 10+ public use cabins that can be accessed from the Wickersham Dome trailhead, depending on how much time and energy you have. Lee’s Cabin is one of the most popular as it’s the closest to the trailhead. Therefore, you will need to make sure to reserve it as soon as possible, and reservations open exactly 1 month in advance. The cabin has bunk beds, wood stove, propane cooking stove, propane lantern, table, ax, saw, and outhouse for you to use, and I surprisingly had phone service with AT&T. There is sometimes pre-cut firewood available, but I wouldn’t depend on it. Dead trees are 1+ miles away from the cabin, so it may be difficult to cut your own if it’s cold and dark. Make sure to also bring your own propane for the stove and lantern.
The trail itself has a lot of uphill on the way to the cabin. Starting at the Wickersham Creek Trail, you immediately start gradually ascending. I was planning on fat biking, but the 4” of new snow overnight made me opt for classic cross-country skis with a pulk sled dragging behind me. I was the only one on the trail for the first couple miles, and then a snow machine passed me and packed down the new snow all the way to the cabin. It flattens out for a bit with views of the mountains. Then, you arrive at a long & steep uphill section that may have you cursing under your breath. After continuing past that, you take a right onto Trail Creek Trail, and then Lee’s Cabin will be just under a mile on your left. There is some signage along this trail. Just remember that it’s mostly downhill on the way back out!
