14 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Tent camping near Girdwood, Alaska spans primitive backcountry areas to walk-in tent campsites within Chugach National Forest. Primitive tent campsites are available at Chugach Backcountry Camping for those seeking a wilderness experience, while Coeur D'Alene Campground offers walk-in tent sites with basic amenities. Spencer Whistle Stop provides another tent camping option that can be accessed by the Alaska Railroad between July and September.
Most tent campsites in the region require campers to be self-sufficient. Facilities are minimal, with only some locations offering vault toilets and bear-proof food storage containers. Sites at Coeur D'Alene Campground include picnic tables and toilets described by visitors as "the nicest wood panels ever stuck to a plastic port-a-potty." Walk-in tent areas are generally located a short distance from parking areas but require carrying all gear. Many locations permit fires in designated rings when seasonal restrictions aren't in place. Water sources are limited, so tent campers should pack in their drinking water or bring filtration devices for nearby streams.
The tent camping around Girdwood offers remarkable solitude compared to more developed areas. Forested sites provide natural screening between campsites and shelter from wind and rain. Sites deeper in the woods tend to have fewer mosquitoes than those adjacent to water. Trails accessible from tent campgrounds lead to alpine views, glaciers, and wildlife viewing opportunities. Backcountry tent camping areas require proper bear precautions, including secure food storage and awareness of bear activity. A camper noted, "This is bear county so bring your bear bells," highlighting the importance of wildlife awareness while tent camping in this region.
"The bugs are pretty heavy right next to the river but deep in the woods are are very few. Great place for exploring. Walk in campsites are very close and have bear proof food storage."
"It's walk in, but not far from the car. The vault toilets have been clean every time we've come up. The campsite is at quite an elevation so is chilly at night and early morning even in the summer."
"You can pitch a tent on the deck, or sleep under the heated overhang. You can also get a private cabin if you’d like, or find a quiet place in other places on board."
"This is the state of Alaska's public ferry system and runs from Bellingham, WA to Dutch Harbor, AK."
"There are two group campsites that must be reserved through the Alaska Railroad 800.544.0552."
"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. RVs are not recommended on this road."
"Well maintained trails but a walk to the cabin or yurts. Accessible by foot year around. No horses or bikes allowed on trails. Tent camping along the Crow Creek Pass Trail."
from $85 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $35 - $65 / night
Check Availability"This spot is located in beautiful Prince William Sound, approximately an hour boat ride from Whittier, Alaska."
"Beautiful lake/mountain scenery though. Sometimes you will see Bald Eagles, Trumpeter Swans, Loons, and other kinds of wildlife."
"Couple little trails that hike around the lake. Bathrooms. Also has a couple mile service trail/off road trail that is a fun little drive. 4WD ONLY."
Legend2020 has modified service. July 3rd - September 7th.
There are two group campsites that must be reserved through the Alaska Railroad 800.544.0552.
Clean restroom facilities Bear proof food storage Picnic tables Fire ring
Just remember pack it in pack it out on the train.
Also available for a great day hike. At a $132 a person it is not a cheap hike.
LegendCampground: Portage – Williwaw So many nice things about this campground and the other portage campgrounds. I always like to give the warnings but hope this does not keep you from coming here. Be prepared for WIND. I mean big wind. Bring extra stakes if you are tent camping. Be prepared for rain, lots of rain. Be prepared for wildlife encounters. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen black bear along this road. 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. Cell Service: No Internet: No 2020 Cost: $18-$28 Max stay: 14 days Distance from Anchorage: 55 Best sites: Premium sites $28 – 20, 21, 30, 34, 41, 50, 57 Also good are spots 24, 25, 26, and 38 Bug Factor (1 minimal to 10 too many to enjoy): 5 if it gets sunny the bugs come out
GuideThe 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.
LegendAlthough there is no no alcohol allowed this campground is just pure cool. Quiet times from 10pm to 8am, they have a dump, day use area, tons of trails, and fire rings. There are several loops to choose from with a paved RV section up top. Sherrod loop is only 30 feet but much more secluded than above but with no hookups. Pull throughs sites above with over 87 sites total including the paved and dirt road ones. 4 pavilions with a playground and dog station.
LegendTrails to hike or play on the lake! This campground is situated with access to Eklunta Lake and boy is that perfect. Tons of campsites to choose from both double, single and handicapped. First come, first served. Fire rings, tables, restrooms, firewood for purchase ($15) and camp host. Two sets of walk in tent sites with food lockers also available. Well water available too. Come spend a weekend exploring Eklunta Lake!
GuideThis campground really has everything when it comes to a state campground. You want water access on a glacial lake? How about numerous hiking, biking skiing and horse trails? Are you looking for updated amenities including a table and fire pit, onsite bathrooms, bear proof dumpster, bear proof food storage, and a well for fresh water (no showers though) and even kayak rentals on site? Do you need large campsites with a reasonable amount of privacy instead of setting up your tent on top of someone else's? Eklutna is the spot. It is technically located within the Municipality of Anchorage about 30 minutes from down town. There is no cell service out there, so you can say goodbye to the rest of the world on your way up the mountain road. In addition, there are forest service cabins for rent that are located down one of the major trails, for even more privacy, and a different kind of adventure. Just a mile from the campground is a cute little ice cream shop for a sweet treat on hot summer days.
RangerBird Creek camp/ RV/ Cabin site is a beautiful 25 minute journey south of Anchorage. Far enough away but close enough to town if you feel the need to get back to the city.
We rented a cabin 95$ a night and took aprox 12 young ladies in the chilly month of November! Daring, I know! But state restrooms made sharing a bathroom easy :)
there is a small wood stove and wood supplied for each cabin which was amazing! A lil kitchen area is built in for your food prep pleasure- must bring stoves and water. No electricity so bring your choice of lighting. Also I recommend headlamps for winter months as bathrooms are a small treck from the secluded wooded cabins.
Bunks are built in and a loft makes for plenty of room.
There was a beautiful table with a map in the top- pretty awesome!
There is a walking trail and it's close to the inlet for beluga whale watching and if your lucky a bore tide!
Rv sites and tents sites available as well- plus table and fire pits at each site.
LegendHidden Lake canpground is made up of three sections. Skyview loop the furthest from the lake is the largest with sites large enough for any rig. #6, 10 15 and 20 are handicapped only, do not park here unless you have tags or hanging proof. Ridge Loop and Lake Loop are both tighter and have signs warning of limited manuverbility. Sure #6 on lake loop is ADA and #1 on Ridge loop is ADA. There are trails down to the lake from the upper two, ridge and skyview. There is a free boat launch to access Hidden lake which has trout, dolly garden, kokanee and land locked salmon. Seven day limit at only $10 a day. There are day use covered picnic pavilions, an amphitheater, hiking trails and camp host. The walk in tent area is very private and tree covered. All sites have tables and fire rings. Love this place!
LegendThis may have the nicest wood panels ever stuck to a plastic port a potty. The bugs are pretty heavy right next to the river but deep in the woods are are very few. Great place for exploring. Walk in campsites are very close and have bear proof food storage.
Tent campsites near Girdwood, Alaska sit within the rugged Chugach Mountains at elevations ranging from 250 to 3,000 feet. This region experiences cool summers with average July temperatures of 55-65°F and significant rainfall of 70+ inches annually. Winter camping opportunities remain accessible for experienced backcountry campers, though many sites close seasonally after the first significant snowfall.
Glacier viewing by train: The Spencer Whistle Stop campground provides unique access to Spencer Glacier between July and September. "There are two group campsites that must be reserved through the Alaska Railroad 800.544.0552," notes reviewer Tanya B. at Spencer Whistle Stop.
Backcountry hiking: Opportunities abound at various sites near Hope, with minimal walking required. "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," shares a reviewer at Hope Alaska Backcountry Sites.
Fishing and wildlife viewing: Tern Lake serves as a prime wildlife observation point along the Seward/Sterling Highway junction. "Sometimes you will see Bald Eagles, Trumpeter Swans, Loons, and other kinds of wildlife," says Mary A., though this is primarily a day-use area rather than overnight camping.
Accessible wilderness: Coeur D'Alene Campground offers walk-in sites that balance wilderness with convenience. "It's walk in, but not far from the car. The vault toilets have been clean every time we've come up," writes Stacey C. at Coeur D'Alene Campground.
Weather considerations: Campers appreciate knowing about temperature variations before arriving. "The campsite is at quite an elevation so is chilly at night and early morning even in the summer. There's a little stream that flows by the campground, which is nice to fall asleep to," adds Stacey C.
Seasonal transport options: Alaska Marine Highway ferries provide unique camping access options. "Our journey started in Bellingham where we boarded the Columbia... It carries about 500 passengers who can either rent a cabin for an extra fee, pitch a tent on one of the decks, or sleep in a lounge chair," explains Fain H. at Alaska Marine Highway.
Bear safety requirements: Bear precautions are essential throughout the region. "Many choices for length of hikes depending on which loop you choose. This is bear county so bring your bear bells," advises Tanya B. at Eagle River Nature Center.
Insect management: Bug density varies by location. "The bugs are pretty heavy right next to the river but deep in the woods are are very few," notes a camper at Coeur D'Alene Campground.
Trail access limitations: Some popular camping areas have access challenges. At Rabbit Lake, "This is a strange one. 4.4 mile hike up the road. A road that obviously people don't want you to go down. You must park at the gravel parking lot walk up following the road," explains Tanya B.
Short backpacking options: The walk-in tent sites at Coeur D'Alene offer an introductory backpacking experience. "Nice little campground with small amt of campsites, not really suitable for large groups or RVs so it's nice and quiet," notes Stacey C.
Food storage solutions: Dedicated bear-proof storage exists at some sites. "Walk in campsites are very close and have bear proof food storage," explains a reviewer at Coeur D'Alene Campground.
Entry-level backpacking: For families new to wilderness camping, Chugach offers graduated options. "There are multiple sites you can reserve but there are also some backcountry spots you can just walk to. Be warned that you need to bring all of your supplies with you, water, food, toiletries," advises Gillian H. at Chugach Backcountry Camping.
Road limitations: RVs face significant access challenges on backcountry roads. "RVs are not recommended on this road," warns a reviewer about the Hope Alaska Backcountry Sites.
Alternative transportation: For those with RVs, consider base camping and using Alaska Railroad for backcountry access. "Just remember pack it in pack it out on the train. Also available for a great day hike. At a $132 a person it is not a cheap hike," notes Tanya B. regarding Spencer Whistle Stop.
Off-road exploration: While not suitable for typical RVs, some areas offer 4WD opportunities. "Also has a couple mile service trail/off road trail that is a fun little drive. 4WD ONLY," mentions Heidi G. about Tern Lake.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Girdwood, AK?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Girdwood, AK is Coeur D'Alene Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 3 reviews.
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