Best Tent Camping near Trapper Creek, AK

ThisSmall tent camping campground is nestled in the heart of Talkeetna. Close to all the action of this fun little town. Sites fill up in the heart of summer so come during the middle of the week to increase your chance of grabbing a spot. There is cell service but Internet is spotty.

I would describe the campsites as decent, but the amenities as awesome. Maybe it was the spending of so many days in the wilderness that caused the amenities to really stick out and give this place a great rating. The tent sites are pretty simple and very close together. There are just a few small, thin trees separating each site so you end up very close to your neighbor. It is mostly geared for RV's so it is very basic. It is a great place to stay if you are looking for a laundry facility and a nice shower. Those facilities are newer and top notch!

Excellent camp ground. a bit over priced but that alaska in the summer. we saw some free camping just north of here that would have rather stayed...but there was no sites available. so we stayed here showed cooked. We were here in July of 2015 and had a difficult time with it never really getting dark. so we made our way down to the creek and drank the night away hahah.

Some of the best views of the tallest mountain in North America can be seen from hiking within Denali State Park, rather than the National Park itself.  We are so glad that we got this advice from our cousins before heading to Alaska!

The Byers Lake campground has nearly 100 campsites, offering the usual tent pad, picnic table and fire ring in a lovely setting. Vault toilets are close at hand in each loop, but the only well pump is located at the front of the campground, near the automatic pay station (credit card). None of the campsites offered electrical hook ups, so bring your solar panels.  The park has recently thinned the trees within the camping area, and we were able to charge our system by simply putting our portable solar panel out into the open. 

Another thing about Alaskan State Parks is that they all recommend that you boil, treat or filter the well water. This probably means that they haven’t had the water tested so user beware. We were here during the last week of July and though we did run into mosquito areas along our hikes, they weren’t a bother in the campground though –- not sure if they spray. 

Hiking, paddling and fishing on Byers Lake are easy to access. A seasonal adventure operator rents kayaks and canoes and offers rafting experiences on the nearby rivers. We saw our best views of the tall peaks about halfway up the Cascade trail, which was moderately difficult but easy to follow. This would also make a great start or end to an overnight backpacking experience along the Cascade trail. 

One of the best things about this campground is that it rarely, if ever, fills to capacity. While you can make a reservation, there is no need to– it even says this on their website, they have overflow spaces and can almost always accommodate everyone. So, if you have the time and you don’t get the weather window to join the 30% of visitors who get a view of the mountain, stick around for a few days to increase your chances. 

Nearby services are in the town of Cantwell to the north or Talkeetna to the south.

This campground in Denali State Park opened in 2017 contains both a tent and RV loop, as well as, cabins. Vault toilets, drinking water, firewood, fire pits, and picnic tables available. RV sites include electric hook-ups. Several hiking trails in close proximity to campground. Amplitheater for ranger led programs also available.

Multiple first come, first serve loops with spots for both tents and RVs. Reasonably priced ($20/night), picnic tables and fire rings, plenty of trees for hammocks, vault toilets, a water source, and close to the interstate. The lake is gorgeous and has a trail to hike around it.

From the moment you step into a clean office, the staff are very friendly and answer all my questions. They even bring the fire wood to your site. We didn’t use the park bathrooms but I did se them cleaning them frequently. Great picnic area and even has basketball courts. We got a spot right in front of the river and it was Ana amazing awakening. This is by far one of the best parks I’ve seen in Alaska and prices are super affordable. Only reason is missing a 5* is because there is no R.V. dumping station and limited electrical spots.

Being born and raised in Alaska, I am disappointed in myself for only going to Nancy Lake for the first time in 2018. This is such a cool lake and very shapely. Lots of coves to explore as well as beautiful lake front homes to day dream about.

We spent a whole day enjoying the water, fishing and exploring. The camp spots are conveniently located next to the launch as well.

The restrooms were very well kept which is also a bonus when camping!

Unfortunately we didn't get to see Denali itself during our 4-day trip in the region (late May), but this campground is still absolutely beautiful even without its namesake. Streams and tundra are punctuated with evergreens, snow-capped mountains in the distance, perfectly Alaska. We saw lots of eagles and moose right on site, plus a porcupine.

Campsite is easy to find (like everything in AK, just look up the milepost!). There are a lot of campsites but definitely make reservations in this area in the summer. It doesn't feel crowded even when the site is full. Good facilities. Great stopover on the way to Denali National Park.

This site claims to be ADA accessible and I'd agree with that. Call the rangers about your specific needs.

We camped here in July 2019 and we had two families. We had tons of space for a 30ft trailer and two trucks and we liked that there was a small grass area for a tent. We had electric and water hookups and we even had cell service. Most of the sites seemed big and well spaced apart so you didn’t feel like you were on top of other people. The campground was very beautiful and clean and quiet. Even the pit toilets were clean and well maintained. We found the location to be excellent - both Talkeetna and Denali NP were day trips for us. We would highly recommend this campground.

I called DAVE at the listed number on June 14, 2024. he said he sold the property and it is closed.

RV I’m assuming that the rental spots here are a bargain, definitely something to look into if you’re ever in the area.