This is the cabin to kick off the quest! Staying at the Brent’s Beach cabin was somewhat of an impromptu decision, but it turned out to be an excellent one, and it was a great experience.
We stayed in mid April, and happened to catch a weather window that made it feel like summer. The skies were clear, blue, and it was hot. It made for an amazing weekend, and really showcased the beautiful views from the beach.
To read about some of the other cabins we’ve visited, and the experiences check out the Cabins page.
Location
Sitka Alaska is the nearest town to the Brent’s Beach Cabin. The cabin itself is located 10 miles west of Sitka on Kruzof Island, which is about a 35 minute boat ride (depending on weather).
Price
As of 2022, the Brent’s Beach cabin costs $55 a night. Some cabins have different prices for different seasons, but this one is the same year round. There is also a $9 reservation fee. You can reserve the cabin here.
About the Brent’s Beach cabin
Brent’s Beach Cabin is a single room cabin that has 4 bunk beds. There is a wood burning stove, and when we were there the woodshed was fully stocked. There is also an axe and maul to split wood.
There is an outhouse nearby that was in good shape, and a small supply of toilet paper (something you shouldn’t count on being there).
The cabin has a nice counter area to prepare meals, as well as space outside if the weather permits.
Our Trip to Brent’s Beach
The first thing I want to say is how grateful I am to have such incredibly supportive friends. I started talking about this project in tandem with planning a trip back to Alaska. As soon as I did, my friends started booking cabins and laying the groundwork for checking a few off the list.
After some last minute schedule shuffling and planning, we made the decision to spend the night out there my first weekend back in Sitka. My friend Brian wasn’t able to stay the night, so he generously offered to play water taxi, spending the day out there then returning the next day to pick us up.
The weather could not have been any better…it was abnormally hot and the water was almost flat. We made it to the cabin around noon, and the first thing we noticed were the millions of herring eggs on the beach. This was just after spawn, so the remnants were everywhere.
We unloaded the boat and Brian tied off to the mooring buoy. After he paddled back in we enjoyed the sun, had a beer, and changed into flip flops…just like Mexico.
The cabin was in great shape, and we took some time to explore the area nearby. We inspected the outhouse, the woodshed, and all of the other “add ons” including a net hammock, a fire pit with benches, and some neatly curated stumps for a table.
The area had a lot of character. Everything told a story about previous users. The trinkets left outside, to the supplies and spare food items left behind, they all had a history.
In front of the cabin is a huge sand beach, perfect for walking around barefoot. We played some bocce ball up and down the beach for a while, enjoying the incredible view looking back at Baranof Island.
Once Bocce was done, it was time to see if we could pick up any King Salmon trolling the waters nearby. We loaded back into the boat and went around to an area my friend recommended. We did a few drags but soon decided to call it a day.
Sunset was amazing, and the light created a beautiful glow on the snowcapped peaks across the water. That night we had a fire, which for me is a luxury. Being from Colorado, it’s rare to not be in the middle of a fire ban just about anywhere in the state. The same concerns don’t apply here.
There was a small chance for the northern lights that night and it was clear. We looked for a while, and got up in the middle of the night again but no luck. The moon, however, was extremely bright.
It was another beautiful day the next morning. We cooked some breakfast and I practiced flying the drone. We packed up and cleaned the cabin, trying to leave it nicer than we found it.
Once we were all packed up Will, who also stayed the night, suggested we do some beach clean up while we waited for Brian to pick us up. It’s amazing how pristine a place can look from afar, but still have ocean trash everywhere on the beaches. We filled up 2 trashbags before Brian’s boat came into view.
Overall, the trip was a perfect way to start, and it strengthened the goal of visiting all these unique places.
