CHELLE LAKE, AK

Chelle Lake Airstrip is a remote backcountry landing strip managed by the National Park Service within Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve in Alaska, situated in the northwest corner of the park near Mt. Drum.

The airstrip is an extremely rough 800-foot gravel strip with no FAA identifier. Light aircraft can reach it from Gulkana in about 20 minutes, and air taxi services are available for those without their own aircraft.

The cabin and airstrip sit on 44 acres of public land completely surrounded by private land owned by the Ahtna Native Corporation. Visitors who wish to hike or explore beyond the immediate cabin area must obtain a permit from Ahtna before going, as boundaries are not clearly marked.

The cabin is located on the east shore of Chelle Lake in a mixed spruce forest on the west slope of Mt. Drum at an elevation of about 3,200 feet. The setting offers spectacular views of Mt. Drum and its descending glaciers, with low alpine tundra terrain nearby. The area is known for very high winds that can arrive with little warning, and strong downdrafts from the mountain are a serious consideration for pilots and campers alike.

No reservations are required — the cabin is available first-come, first-served with a maximum stay of 7 days in any 30-day period. It sleeps four people and includes a woodstove, kitchen area, and a rustic pit toilet, but has no running water or plumbing. Water can be drawn from Chelle Lake but must be treated. Fishing, off-trail hiking toward Mt. Drum, and wildlife viewing — including bison in the Dadina drainage — make it a popular fly-in destination for Alaska backcountry enthusiasts.