Established Camping
Black Bear Campground
About
National Forest
Chugach National Forest
Overview
This location is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you may be able to pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app, and the Scan and Pay feature. If this option is available, you will need to first download the free Recreation.gov mobile app https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app prior to your arrival as some remote areas have limited or no cellular service.
Recreation
Wildlife viewing includes moose, brown and black bears, mountain goats, lynx, bald eagles, and salmon. The Trail of Blue Ice that stretches almost the entire length of Portage Valley can be reached from the campground. From this trail you can acces the Williwaw Nature Trail, Williwaw Fish Viewing Platform, Moose Flats Area, Begich Boggs Visitor Center, Byron Glacier Trail, and Portage Glacier Cruises. Portage Lake, at the head of the valley, allows access for kayaking and packrafting.__
Facilities
Vault toilets, picnic tables, and bear boxes are provided at Black Bear Campground. Campsites are nicely separated, but no electric hookups are available.
Natural Features
Black Bear campground sits in the stunning Portage Valley in the Chugach National Forest.
contact_info
This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (907) 782-3242.
Nearby Attractions
Begich Boggs Visitor Center lies at the head of Portage Valley where you can learn about glaciers and Alaska. The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is located on near the intersect of the Seward Higway and Portage Highway. Here you can see all different kinds of Alaskan wildlife. Portage Glacier Cruises offers the chance to ride a boat and get up close to Portage Glacier.__
Location
Black Bear Campground is located in Alaska
Directions
At mile post 78.9 of the Seward Highway, turn onto the Portage Highway. Drive 3.7 miles and the Black Bear Campground will be on your right.__
Coordinates
60.788454 N
148.888759 W
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Stay Connected
- WiFiUnknown
- VerizonUnknown
- AT&TGood
- T-MobileUnknown
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Phone Service
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Alcohol
LegendWarnings: wind, water, and wildlife
This campground has all three warnings, sometimes. There is a really nice boardwalk and the drive to this campground is great. This is a smaller campground with only 12 sites that are not suitable for RVs. If you are in an RV look at the williwaw campground instead. It is centrally located between Anchorage and the Peninsula but has so many things to offer. Trip through the Whittier tunnel is a definite. If you are a hiker Byron glacier in good weather is decent hike. If you have kids and even if you don’t then the Wildlife Conservation Center of Alaska is great way to get close to the biggest animals Alaska has to offer. During the autumn and winter this campground is still open but not maintained. Toilets may not be available so bring your own TP and prepare to pack out all your trach. Cell Service: No Internet: No 2020 Cost: $14 Distance from Anchorage: 55 Bug Factor (1 minimal to 10 too many to enjoy): 5 if it gets sunny the bugs come out
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LegendBeautiful Fun
Beautiful little spot, often overlooked for Williwaw Campground. We spent the weekend here and it was great. The canpground back up against the Trail of Blue Ice and has east access to all the Portage Vallet jas to offer. Nice open sites, the only downside is some road noise. We were happy to have not gotten into Williwaw as it is very grown up and hard to see and we did have a bear come through one night but we were able to see him. He passed through no issue just getting to the creek and fish. Wonderfully clean bathrooms serviced twice a day. The campgound jost at Williwaw also cover payment pickup for Black Bear.
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ScoutSecluded with great access to water
It seems as though people don’t know about this one and it’s so nice. We felt alone in a beautiful place. And in such a pretty area!
ScoutGreat campground. Heavily treed
This is our go to campground every summer. There are restrooms, water, trash cans, bear proof food boxes. Sites are spacious.
ScoutNice campground in the woods with traffic noise!
Beautiful camp sites in thick wooded areas. Watch for mosquitos (like everywhere in Alaska!) and be prepared for plenty of road noise echoing off the valley walls.
GuideAdequate campground
If you're camping in Portage Valley, expect rain! This whole area (Portage and Girdwood) is classified as a rain forest so everything is wet most of the time. It's a few miles down the road (on the right) leading to Portage Glacier and Whittier. The campground is small with only about 11 sites, and the road/pads are not paved. Each site has a campfire ring and wooden picnic tables - most are pretty mossy! Hand pump for water is available. Sites are fairly close together and I wouldn't recommend them for larger campers or motorhomes. No camp host at this site. Head on over the Williwaw Salmon Viewing Area when the fish are running. And check out the Begich-Boggs Visitors Center to learn all about glaciers, local wildlife and history of the Portage area. If you can't get into Williwaw (just down the road) then this is a good alternative.
TravelerGreat for kids
This is a nice place to get away with the kids.there are trails to ride bikes and play in the river. Kids like to throw rocks in the water
