Highly porous and strong cellulose aerogels were prepared by gelation of cellulose from aqueous alkali hydroxide/urea solution, followed by drying with supercritical CO2. Their morphology, pore structure, and physical properties were characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption measurements, UV/Vis spectrometry, and tensile tests. The cellulose hydrogel was composed of interconnected fibrils of about 20 nm wide. By using supercritical CO2 drying, the network structure in the hydrogel was well preserved in the aerogel. The results are preliminary but demonstrate the ability of this method to give cellulose aerogels of large surface areas (400–500 m2 g−1) which may be useful as adsorbents, heat/sound insulators, filters, catalyst supports, or carbon aerogel precursors. No lightweight when it comes to strength: Highly porous and strong cellulose hydrogels are obtained by dissolution of cellulose in aqueous alkali–urea solution followed by regeneration from various solvents. Drying the hydrogels gives rise to cellulose aerogels (see photo, right) which may be useful, for example, as catalyst supports.