Tent camping near Cooper Landing, Alaska centers around primitive forest sites on the Kenai Peninsula at elevations ranging from 300-1200 feet. The camping season typically runs from late May through early September, with summer temperatures averaging 60-75°F during days and dropping to 40-50°F at night. Most tent sites require campers to bring or filter their own water and use bear-proof food storage containers.
What to do
Glacier hiking: Access the Harding Icefield Trail from Exit Glacier Campground for a challenging day hike with 3,000 feet of elevation gain. "After hiking the Harding ice field, I camped here. It was perfect! Prime location after a long hike, clean & free," reports one camper.
Kayaking: Launch from the boat dock at Lower Skilak Lake Campground to explore the lake's rocky shores and mountain views. A camper shares: "Bring a kayak or other watercraft!! Nice hiking trails nearby, nothing too strenuous."
Wildlife viewing: Set up at Tonsina Point for coastal wildlife sightings including eagles, harlequin ducks and marine mammals. "Woke up to eagles, harlequin ducks and glacier views. Kept our food in the bear bins as there are frequent bear sightings," notes a visitor.
Fishing: Cast for salmon and trout near Crescent Creek, which offers food storage lockers and creek-view sites. The area provides "great fishing on the lake or in the rivers nearby for some salmon," according to campers familiar with the region.
What campers like
Remote locations: Crescent Creek offers secluded tent sites with significant privacy. "Small campground only 9 sites, no host so pack in your wood. This poor campground needs some road work, lots of pot holes and short sites so large rigs won't fit here," a camper explains.
Natural soundscapes: Tent campers at Coeur D'Alene appreciate the tranquil atmosphere enhanced by flowing water. "There's a little stream that flows by the campground, which is nice to fall asleep to," one camper notes about the experience.
Walk-in privacy: Coeur D'Alene Campground features walk-in sites with minimal amenities but maximum seclusion. A camper describes it as "nice little campground with small amt of campsites, not really suitable for large groups or RVs so it's nice and quiet."
Wilderness immersion: Chugach Backcountry Camping provides primitive tent sites with no facilities. "Just below Anchorage on the way to Seward is the Chugach state park and forests... there are also some backcountry spots you can just walk to," notes a camper.
What you should know
Bear safety requirements: Tonsina Point at Caines Head mandates proper food storage due to frequent bear activity. The campground provides "two bear bins for food with two picnic tables that has an overhead shelter roof. Great on rainy days."
Weather preparedness: Nighttime temperatures drop significantly even in summer. Coeur D'Alene Campground "is at quite an elevation so is chilly at night and early morning even in the summer," advises a camper.
Transportation options: Some camping areas require special transportation planning. Tonsina Point offers dual access methods: "You have two options for getting here: 1. Hiking in... It is very important to check the tides... 2. Water taxi, which we did on the way back. The water taxi that we took was priced was $50 one-way."
Limited or no cell service: Most tent camping areas lack connectivity. Lower Skilak Lake has "no cell signal so bring a book," according to a camper who visited the area.
Tips for camping with families
Child-friendly hiking: Hope Alaska Backcountry Sites offer accessible tent camping without long hikes. "There are so many options to backcountry camping and you don't even have to walk very far. You can drive down and camp at the pull offs."
Accessible glacier viewing: Exit Glacier provides trails suitable for younger children. "My 5 and 7 year olds did the walk just fine from parking lot to the glacier (maybe 20 min). There is a one mile wheelchair accessible trail loop with views of the glacier."
Food storage solutions: Communal food storage areas help families manage bear safety protocols. Exit Glacier Campground requires that "you are not allowed to store food at your campsite but there is a communial storage area for these items."
Bug protection: Pack insect repellent and head nets, especially for early summer trips. One camper warns: "There wasn't any wind and the mosquitos were INSANE! Bring your bugspray and a headnet."
Tips from RVers
Size limitations: Spencer Whistle Stop and nearby areas have restrictions for larger vehicles. Many roads to tent sites are unsuitable for RVs, with campers noting "RVs are not recommended on this road."
Generator etiquette: Campers emphasize considerate noise management at Lower Skilak Lake: "please don't run your rv generator all night and watch tv. Please, enjoy the silence and appreciate this place on earth; for yourself and your fellow campers."
Solar options: Some Lower Skilak Lake sites provide better positioning for solar setups. A camper notes: "There are a few spots great for solar and Starlink. Others are in trees."
Bridge weight limits: Roads to Crescent Creek cross multiple single-lane bridges with weight restrictions: "You pass over three one lane bridges with a max of 10 tons allowed," making access impossible for many larger RVs.
