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Best Tent Camping near Badger, AK

96 Reviews

The wilderness surrounding Badger, Alaska offers several tent camping options within the Chatanika River watershed and nearby trail systems. Upper Chatanika River State Recreation Area provides established tent campsites with basic amenities, while more primitive tent camping can be found along Summit Trail and Quartz Creek Trail. BLM Cripple Creek offers tent-only camping from June to November, with sites positioned for privacy despite the relatively small camping area. Backcountry tent camping opportunities extend into the surrounding hills and mountains, with walk-in tent sites available at Wickersham Creek Trail Shelter and Summit Trail Shelter.

Most tent campgrounds in the region feature minimal development, with dirt or gravel pads and limited amenities. Upper Chatanika River State Recreation Area provides toilets, picnic tables, and designated fire pits with wood sometimes already stacked at sites. Campers noted that mosquitoes can be abundant, particularly in summer months. BLM Cripple Creek offers vault toilets but no drinking water, requiring tent campers to bring their own supplies. The primitive tent sites along trails like Table Top Mountain Loop typically have no facilities, fires are often prohibited, and campers must practice Leave No Trace principles. The camping season generally runs May through September, with some sites accessible into November depending on snow conditions.

Tent campsites in the region offer varying levels of privacy and natural settings. According to reviews, Upper Chatanika River sites provide good spacing between campers despite being one of the more popular areas. Several camping spots are positioned right along the river, allowing tent campers direct water access. One visitor reported that "campsites have good spacing between them for privacy," though noting it was "the most crowded site we have been to up here." The area also offers seasonal berry picking on nearby hillsides during August and early September. For those seeking more solitude, primitive tent camping on gravel bars west of the established campground provides greater seclusion, though 4WD vehicles are recommended for access. Walk-in tent sites at trail shelters offer backcountry experiences with minimal facilities but maximum wilderness immersion.

Best Tent Sites Near Badger, Alaska (9)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Badger, AK

96 Reviews of 9 Badger Campgrounds

  • Samantha M.
    Jun. 15, 2020

    Birch Lake State Recreation Site

    Great swimming area for kids

    This was a parking lot style camping with 17 parking spots. There are a few walk-in tent sites on site as well. If you are military there are quite a few options for cabins and more sites but you need permission to enter. There were picnic tables, fire pits, a dock, and shared grassy area for this campground. There’s a rental place near by for water toys which makes a great day on the water for kids. I would choose this place to swim over Harding Lake this summer due to high waters at Harding. The mosquitoes were bearable but be prepared for back to back camping and zero privacy. The lake is stocked with fish and you can see plenty swimming around as soon as you look in the water. Bathrooms on site. Make sure to bring your own firewood. Passing the Air Force base on your way to the campground is so cool if you get to see a take off on your way!

  • M
    Sep. 18, 2018

    Cripple Creek Campground

    Lovely little BLM campground

    The BLM has some of the nicest campgrounds in Alaska, and this one is no exception. There are 12 sites with plenty of space between, although they're small for large RVs and trailers (it was perfect for my teardrop trailer). The sites are not directly on the Chatanika River, but you can hear the river running in the background and there is a trail that runs along the riverbank between the campground and the day use area. There are a few walk-in tent sites between the main campground and the river, as well.

    Like other BLM facilities it's cleaned and well-maintained, and there are signs up showing local wildlife. Each camping spot has a fire pit and picnic table, and there is a pump to get untreated water near campsite 7. Because it's only about an hour from Fairbanks it doesn't get much traffic from people passing through, although it can get busy during hunting season.

  • Stacey C.
    Aug. 28, 2018

    River Park Campground

    Great wooded campground!

    We've been here twice. Once in late August in 2014 and again in July 2016. We were delighted how this campground (in a city) feels like wilderness. In late Aug it was getting cooler and sparsely populated. In July, it was pretty crowded but the camp sites aren't right on top of each other and there is foliage around. The flush toilets, drinking water and picnic tables was great. It's close to supermarkets too.

    While we only have good things to say about our stay in August, There were some shady people hanging around in July just kind of...lingering. There were 3 of us and all felt that our cars/tents were being scoped out occasionally. Perhaps that was the case, or perhaps we were just paranoid but throwing it out there so you all know that opportunists seem to be lurking about here.

  • Shari G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 12, 2022

    Chena Hot Springs Resort

    Forest Camping + Hot Springs = Heaven!

    Chena Hot Springs offers a full resort experience with hotel rooms, cabins, restaurants, and a host of activities including soaking in the infamous hot pools. It also offers camping with and without electrical hook-ups in either creek side privacy or open lot RV parking. It is a world-famous destination with shuttle buses to and from Fairbanks daily. You will meet people from all over the world. 

    Camping and soaking are charged separately, as are any extra experiences like the Ice Museum (glad I did it, not sure I would again).  Vault toilets, rubbish and recycling bins, and potable water are all available in the campsite, flush toilets and showers are a part of the pool/hot springs facility. Hiking, biking, boating and fishing are all available close by in addition to the experiences offered by the resort. 

    The nearest services for groceries are about 45 miles back down the road toward Fairbanks, or North Pole, AK. We camped in the primitive area, which was lovely, forested and right along the creek, but the opportunity for solar power collection was limited by the trees, so plan ahead.  We parked in the main lot for awhile to recharge, then took our rig back into the campground.  Worked well!

  • Samantha M.
    Jun. 15, 2020

    Harding Lake State Recreation Area

    Mosquitoville

    This was a nice campground with a friendly couple hosting. The spaces were spaced out with privacy trees. I think we scored one of the best spots number 11. The mosquitoes were unbearable outside and in 73 degree weather you needed to be completely covered. The water was so high that the only water play area was the boat launch area. The kids still had a great time but I would check the water level before coming back. There is a dump station, water, and plenty of bathrooms throughout the campground. It is a party campground for water activities so expect noise well after 2am. There are no electric hookups. The closest store is about 10 minutes down the road and has your basic essentials. There are other lakes to visit within an hour radius which makes this a fun location. There is a baseball/soccer field on site which was a lot of fun for the children to run off so energy and it wasn’t very buggy. The water pump was turned off due to Covid19. There’s a water toys rental by the boat launch that offers paddle boats, canoes, kayaks, and paddle boards $25/2 hours or $35 for all day. They are only open Friday-Sunday or by appointment.

  • Andrew V.
    May. 23, 2023

    Harding Lake State Recreation Area

    Fantastic and Clean Campground, Great for Kids

    Harding Lake State Recreation Area is a shady and scenic site about twenty minutes from North Pole. The lesser-known and elder cousin of the many water-themed state recreation areas that trace the Richardson Highway from Fairbanks to Delta Junction.

    This large and accommodating campground boasts a boat launch into Harding Lake, a baseball field, a large group recreation area near the water, a self-guided nature trail, a trailer dump site, and unpotable bulk water--along with various bathrooms with trash receptacles. 

    Our family of 5 tent camped in May and had a fantastic weekend. The sandlot-reminiscent baseball field was a rare and magical find that suited our family's wiffleball addiction perfectly. It's like wandering through a moss grove and emerging into a boreal. baseball field. A subarctic Field of Dreams. I also hit two first-pitch homeruns off my 9 and 5 year old--which may or not be related to the magic of this field--but I choose to believe.

    The spacious and thoughtfully-designed campground certainly feels beyond its prime--old, unserviceable water pumps (perhaps not yet operable for the season); aspen saplings dotting the baseball infield; and many downed spruces over the nature trail. The posted maps are a little outdated. However, the campground boasted some of the cleanest bathrooms I've ever seen, anywhere-with a very friendly on-site host who came by to chat and kept the facilities in pristine condition.  The camping spots are well-placed along the loop to allow for varying degrees of privacy between sites.

    Mosquitoes are everywhere in springtime Alaska--please let me know when you find a campground in a birch forest without them. That said, bring all the bug repellant and preventative measures you can muster. I was swarmed by a biblical cloud of man-eating Culicidae when we first pulled in--but they soon dispersed and only became annoying for intermittent periods. 

    Overall this was a magnificent campground, quiet and clean, with plenty for the kids to do. Fantastic and memorable experience.

  • Samantha M.
    May. 30, 2020

    Lower Chatanika State Recreation Area

    Well maintained, great ATV trails

    My first thought when we drove into the campground was wow, this is nicely maintained. We had just stayed at Whitefish Campground about 2 miles away and driving into Olnes Pond Campground was beautiful. The electronic option to pay here is the first time I’ve seen that in Alaska. The pond is stocked with rainbow trout but we were a little too early in the season on this visit May 29, 2020. There a nicely sized pond in the middle of the campground and the camping sites are situated around the entire pond. There were day visitors who brought paddle boards and kayaks to enjoy the weather on the pond. People say you can swim in this pond put be weary of duck/swimmers itch. There are picnic tables, bathrooms, trash cans, and lots of grassy area to just enjoy a day visit. This seemed more as a party spot sort of camping oppose to enjoy the view and relax so be ready to hear ATVs and friendly conversations late at night. I would definitely come back with a kayak and fishing pole once the pond is stocked for the children to enjoy a relaxing day on the pond.

  • MickandKarla W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 7, 2025

    Fairbanks / Chena River KOA

    One of the Best KOAs We've Stayed

    For once in a long time on our journey through Alaska, the campground (CG) was not right off the highway. We followed our RV GPS to the Badger Road exit and found the CG tucked back from the main road. Check-in was busy but quick. We were assigned pull-through site 133D with full hookups and 50 AMP. This site has special routing instructions—staff had us drive a few hundred yards down Old Badger Road, which runs adjacent to the CG, to enter through the back KOA gate. From there, it was an easy approach into our site. Site 133D is a KOA Patio site with a deluxe Trex deck, outdoor furniture, propane fire pit, and a Weber propane grill with tools. The gravel pad was long enough for our 40’ toy hauler and F450, with room to put down our rear patio. On arrival, the CG WiFi was unusable, but we got an email update that they were working on it. A later speed test showed 4.97 Mbps download—good enough for email and light browsing. Starlink worked but was slower than usual in this area despite a clear sky view. We got one bar on both Verizon and T-Mobile. This is a well-run KOA, with staff constantly mowing, cleaning, and maintaining the grounds. During our stay, several RV caravans came through—they had their own designated area and even buses for tours. The CG has spaces for all types of campers, from tents to big rigs. There’s a laundry facility, two fenced dog parks, swing benches by the river, and plenty of space to walk your dog. All in all, this is one of the best private CGs we’ve stayed at. If you need a great vet while in the area, we highly recommend Dr. Dawn Brown at North Pole Veterinary Hospital. They are an AAHA accredited clinic and we’ sure all the vets are great, but we definitely had a wonderful experience with Dr. Brown during our appointment with our two Braque's. The CG made an excellent base for exploring the Fairbanks area.

  • Tanya B.
    Oct. 26, 2020

    Ski Loop Trail

    Gravel pit north of this trailhead

    There are a number of trail heads in the area. Any large gravel area is available for camping. Please rent that large rigs use these areas so please park in a space that allows them to pull around.

    Lots of hiking near by but there are no picnic tables or restrooms.

Guide to Badger

Tent camping near Badger, Alaska centers around the Steese Highway corridor with camping sites located at elevations between 800-1,100 feet. The area experiences significant temperature fluctuations with summer highs reaching 80°F and winter lows dropping well below -40°F. Most campgrounds operate seasonally from late May through September, with access becoming difficult after the first significant snowfall.

What to do

Wildlife viewing opportunities: The wilderness surrounding the Quartz Creek Trail offers chances to spot moose, caribou, and various bird species. "Great area to stop at use all trails for route," notes Joe C., highlighting the trail's navigational challenges.

Berry picking expeditions: Late summer visits to Table Top Mountain Loop Trail provide access to blueberry and cranberry patches on higher elevations. According to Joe C., you should "definitely use all trails next time" when navigating this area, suggesting preparation is key.

River activities: The Chatanika River offers fishing and swimming opportunities during warmer months. At Upper Chatanika River State Rec Area, campers can "get right up to the river" as Megan B. mentions, making it convenient for water-based recreation.

What campers like

Private camping spots: Despite being relatively close to Fairbanks, the Upper Chatanika River State Rec Area offers good site separation. Megan B. notes, "The campsites have good spacing between them for privacy," making it suitable for those seeking some seclusion.

Pre-stacked firewood: Some campsites come ready for evening campfires. Riley N. observed that "A lot of spots had wood stacked at them already and had picnic tables and fire pits," reducing preparation needs for new arrivals.

Shelter options: For hikers seeking more substantial protection, Wickersham Creek Trail Shelter provides basic cabin-style accommodations. Though Joe C. cryptically mentioned, "Honestly I thought of Stephen King at this spot," suggesting a rustic, isolated setting.

What you should know

Mosquito preparation: Insect protection is essential during summer months. Megan B. warns that the "biggest downside was TONS of mosquitoes" at Upper Chatanika, a common issue throughout the region.

Navigation challenges: Most trail systems require proper navigation tools. At BLM Cripple Creek, Joe C. found it was "Not at all what I had imagined," indicating trail conditions may differ from expectations.

Limited facilities: Most campgrounds offer only basic amenities. Cripple Creek provides vault toilets but no drinking water, while trail shelters typically have no facilities at all, requiring self-sufficiency.

Tips for camping with families

Start with established sites: The most family-friendly option is Upper Chatanika River State Rec Area with its designated sites and bathroom facilities. Riley N. mentioned they "drove to the very back and found a spot in the river," suggesting waterfront sites are available for families.

Pack extra layers: Even summer temperatures can drop significantly at night. Temperature swings of 30-40 degrees within 24 hours are common, requiring appropriate clothing for children.

Plan shorter hikes first: For families new to the area, Summit Trail Shelter provides an accessible introduction to backcountry camping. Joe C. calls it a "Cool place to relax for a bit," making it suitable for shorter family excursions.

Tips from RVers

Size restrictions: Most campgrounds in the area have limited space for larger vehicles. Upper Chatanika can accommodate smaller RVs and camper vans but is not suitable for big rigs.

River access considerations: Some riverside spots at Upper Chatanika can accommodate RVs, but access requires careful navigation. The "spots in the back" mentioned by Riley N. often have better river access but more challenging approaches.

Prepare for primitive conditions: No hookups are available at most campgrounds in this region. Bring sufficient water, manage waste properly, and prepare for self-contained camping when visiting with an RV.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Badger, AK?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Badger, AK is Upper Chatanika River State Rec Area with a 3.7-star rating from 3 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Badger, AK?

TheDyrt.com has all 9 tent camping locations near Badger, AK, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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