Overview Spencer Bench Cabin is located at 1,900 feet in elevation at the end of the Spencer Bench Trail. The trail climbs away from the lake revealing breathtaking views of the Placer River Valley, Spencer Lake and the Spencer Glacier below. The cabin sits just below several alpine meadows with vegetation of low shrubs, grasses and summer wildflowers. Please note: some years Spencer Bench Trail maintains snow coverage until July . For current trail conditions call the Glacier Ranger District at (907) 783-3242. Spencer Bench Cabin is available for rent year round although winter recreation here requires an advanced skillset and knowledge of avalanche hazards to access this Cabin via skis or snowmachines in the winter. Some parties do opt to charter a ski plane or helicopter to provide quick and easy winter access. From May 25th through September 15th 2024, the Alaska Railroad provides access to the area via the Glacier Discovery Train. Please verify schedules and book train tickets at the Alaska Railroad website prior to relying on the train for transportation. Outside of the core summer season, the Placer river valley (and Spencer Lake) is accessible via jet boat and float plane.
Source: rec_gov · last verified 2026-05-19