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Upper Skilak Lake Campground - Kenai National Wildlife Refuge

CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Upper Skilak Lake Campground, near Kenai-Cook Inlet, Alaska, is a stunning spot for those who crave a true wilderness experience. With picturesque views of the lake and surrounding forest, it’s a prime location for camping, fishing, and wildlife watching.

The campground offers a mix of tent and RV sites, with some right on the water's edge. Visitors often mention the bear-proof food storage, which is a must in this area known for its active bear population. As one camper noted, “The stunning lake view and access made the campsite worth dealing with the bugs and bears.”

For outdoor activities, you can hike the nearby trails or take a stroll around the expansive lake. Many campers have enjoyed fishing and boating, making the most of the beautiful scenery. Just be prepared for the occasional bug and keep an eye out for wildlife, as black and grizzly bears are frequent visitors.

While the campground has its quirks, like some less-than-stellar bathroom facilities, the overall experience is enhanced by the breathtaking views and the sense of adventure. Whether you're here for a weekend or a longer stay, Upper Skilak Lake Campground is a fantastic choice for those looking to immerse themselves in nature.

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Location

Upper Skilak Lake Campground - Kenai National Wildlife Refuge is located in Alaska

Detail location of campground

Directions

Hidden Lake Campground is located at mile 3.6 Skilak Lake Road, most easily accessed from the east entrance of Skilak Lake Road (mp 58) off of Sterling Highway (AK Highway 1). Skilak Lake Road is gravel until you reach the paved campground road. Seasonal muddy conditions can be expected in late April and early May, depending on snowpack and other hydrologic conditions. Contact refuge staff at 907-260-2820 for current road conditions, especially if bringing large or heavy recreational vehicles early in the summer. Conditions typically improve quickly and Skilak Lake Road is usually accessible from mid-May through the summer by 2WD highway vehicles and recreation vehicles without difficulty.

Coordinates

60.45833 N
150.1945 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Connectivity

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Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Firewood Available
  • Reservable
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Water Hookups
  • Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info

Reservations


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4.5

out of 5

7 Reviews

Reviewed Jun. 18, 2024

Campsite and gorgeous views were worth dealing with the bugs for for

The stunning lake view and access made the campsite worth dealing with the bugs and bears.

We arrived at Upper Skilak Lake Campground on a sunny Friday afternoon and managed to get the last site available. The campground was packed, including all the RV sites. We ended up in one of the walk-in tent sites. There are a total of 10 walk-in tent sites, with six right on the lake and the rest just a short walk away.

Each campsite is equipped with bear-proof storage for food, which is essential considering the active bear presence in the area. There is enough space for two tents, and the fire pits are new with adjustable grill racks, which made cooking easy. Buckets were provided to safely extinguish fires.

The campsites are a short walk from the parking lot, involving a small hill, except for one (maybe two) handicap-accessible site that offers easier access.

During our stay, we saw black bears and grizzly bears every day. Bear scat was common on the trails and beach, adding to the sense of adventure but also requiring constant vigilance regarding food storage and safety.

The park rangers were friendly and stopped by our site each night to check in and talk about bear sightings. However, one morning, a ranger accompanied by a few volunteers walked into our site while we were eating, which felt somewhat invasive.

The main downside was the state of the bathrooms. They were extremely dirty, with one stall that didn’t lock and another that had no toilet paper. The smell was terrible, and overall, the facilities were not well-maintained.

By the time we left on Monday, we were the only campers remaining, which offered a peaceful end to our stay.

Overall, Upper Skilak Lake Campground offers a beautiful location and a genuine wilderness experience, the poor condition of the bathrooms and significant amount of bugs were the only drawback.

Be prepared for bears and lots of bugs. The lake, the trails, and experience were definitely worth the trip.

Site5
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Upper Skilak Lake Campground - Kenai National Wildlife Refuge by Samantha F., June 18, 2024
  • Review photo of Upper Skilak Lake Campground - Kenai National Wildlife Refuge by Samantha F., June 18, 2024
  • Review photo of Upper Skilak Lake Campground - Kenai National Wildlife Refuge by Samantha F., June 18, 2024
  • (6) View All
Reviewed Aug. 14, 2020

Great campground fills up fast

It is a bumpy road to get to this campground. Skilak road is spotty on maintenance. The decimation from the swan lake fire is still very apparent.

If you can find a spot take it.

  • Review photo of Upper Skilak Lake Campground - Kenai National Wildlife Refuge by Tanya B., August 14, 2020
  • Review photo of Upper Skilak Lake Campground - Kenai National Wildlife Refuge by Tanya B., August 14, 2020
  • Review photo of Upper Skilak Lake Campground - Kenai National Wildlife Refuge by Tanya B., August 14, 2020
  • (7) View All
Reviewed Aug. 13, 2020

Road out here is not well maintained

This is a great campground but you have to go slow in an RV. There are two sides of the road you can come from and either is rough. I highly recommend walking around the lake. It is huge and beautiful and plenty to do if you have watercraft of any kind.

  • Review photo of Upper Skilak Lake Campground - Kenai National Wildlife Refuge by Tanya B., August 13, 2020
  • Review photo of Upper Skilak Lake Campground - Kenai National Wildlife Refuge by Tanya B., August 13, 2020
  • Review photo of Upper Skilak Lake Campground - Kenai National Wildlife Refuge by Tanya B., August 13, 2020
  • (9) View All
Reviewed Oct. 4, 2019

Outdoor Heaven

Fishing, hiking, boating galore. Paved pads with gorgeous sites some right on the water. Tent sites at $5 a night and Standard sites for camper and RV's run $10. This beautiful lake was hit by the Swan Lake fire this year and the campgound has been closed, however we drove through last weekend and the campground survived the fire! Still nicely surrounded with trees for privacy we were very happy to see it undamaged.

  • Review photo of Upper Skilak Lake Campground - Kenai National Wildlife Refuge by Shadara W., October 4, 2019
  • Review photo of Upper Skilak Lake Campground - Kenai National Wildlife Refuge by Shadara W., October 4, 2019
  • Review photo of Upper Skilak Lake Campground - Kenai National Wildlife Refuge by Shadara W., October 4, 2019
  • (10) View All
Reviewed May. 2, 2018

Upper Skilak Lake

Quick visit while exploring the Kenai peninsula. Clean sites. Lots of bear scat! Have bear spray and keep you food in designated bear proof containers at campground. Close to plenty of lakes and hiking trails.

Month of VisitAugust
Reviewed Jun. 28, 2016

Amazing views and hikes

This is a great campground for hiking and views. We also saw a lot of wildlife. A lot of the people said the fishing was good but we didn't have too much luck.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Upper Skilak Lake Campground - Kenai National Wildlife Refuge have RV hookups?

According to TheDyrt.com, Upper Skilak Lake Campground - Kenai National Wildlife Refuge has water hookups.

What is the elevation of Upper Skilak Lake Campground - Kenai National Wildlife Refuge?

Upper Skilak Lake Campground - Kenai National Wildlife Refuge is located at 253 feet.

Are fires allowed at Upper Skilak Lake Campground - Kenai National Wildlife Refuge?

Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Upper Skilak Lake Campground - Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

Does Upper Skilak Lake Campground - Kenai National Wildlife Refuge have wifi?

No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Upper Skilak Lake Campground - Kenai National Wildlife Refuge does not have wifi.

Is there cell phone reception at Upper Skilak Lake Campground - Kenai National Wildlife Refuge?

According to campers on TheDyrt.com, there is no coverage for AT&T, no coverage for T-Mobile, and no coverage for Verizon.

How hard is it to get a campsite at Upper Skilak Lake Campground - Kenai National Wildlife Refuge?

Some campers book as far as 6 months in advance, so on high-demand weekends it can be very difficult to get a campsite at Upper Skilak Lake Campground - Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Upper Skilak Lake Campground - Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, try setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Upper Skilak Lake Campground - Kenai National Wildlife Refuge?

There are 25 campsites at Upper Skilak Lake Campground - Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts