Chugach National Forest Where To Stay

Looking for an intimate and accessible getaway with an authentic Alaskan feel? Alaska Wildland Adventure's Kenai Riverside Lodge will fit the bill, with just 16 cabins set on the Kenai River, surrounded by 3,000-foot snow-capped mountains. This easy-access riverside lodge has a remote feel, but is still right on the road system. Meals are served family-style, creating a more intimate experience, and allowing you to mingle with fellow guests and your guides. Spend your day hiking, fishing, or strolling down a self-guided trail. At night, take in a naturalist program, enjoy a wood-fired sauna, or just relax on the riverside deck by the fire pit.

Biking, fish viewing, a natural history center and a flat hike to a glacier are within easy reach of this quiet, intimate campground in Portage Valley at the head of Turnagain Arm in the Chugach National Forest. The 12 sites in the graveled, wooded Black Bear are yards from the Trail of Blue Ice — a non-motorized multi-use trail that traverses the valley floor.

Bertha Creek Campground is a great choice for a low-key campout in a recreational gold-panning area on a quiet loop where the kids won’t get lost. Located just south of Turnagain Pass in the Kenai Mountains about 65 miles south of Anchorage, the campground is tucked into an open forest beside the confluence of Bertha and Granite creeks at the base of steep mountains.

With 60 sites on paved loops, Williwaw is suitable for large motorhomes and offers great access to the Trail of Blue Ice — a non-motorized multi-use trail that traverses the valley floor. Also nearby biking, salmon viewing, hikes, and glacier viewing.

This fly-in-only lodge features two secluded chalets set amid a stunning mixture of sea, forest, and a glacier-formed lake. Enjoy guided walks, custom zodiac tours on the lake, bonfires on the beach, and relaxation at your private chalet. The rate includes transportation to and from the lodge, kayaks, dinner prepared by your hosts, and access to a pantry of items to supplement breakfast, lunch, and snacking. Each chalet is equipped with its own kitchen. 

Staying at the remote Kenai Backcountry Lodge within the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge offers a real taste of the wilderness. The lodge, located on a five-acre, private in-holding, began as a river-accessed hunting cabin back in 1935. Years later, the remodeled and expanded property is still road-free, and guests raft into the lodge. Alaska Wildland Adventures pride themselves on a ‘leave no trace’ style of eco-tourism. 

Alaska Heavenly Lodge offers the best of both worlds: all the seclusion and luxury normally associated with fly-in lodges, as well as the affordability and convenience of being on the road system. Built in 1974, Alaska Heavenly Lodge is made up of three hand-hewn log cabins. The Main Lodge features a full kitchen, a 16-person dining room table, a comfy sitting area with a wood-burning fireplace, a loft library, and a deck overlooking the Kenai River. But it’s far from rustic: Wi-Fi, flat-screen televisions, and a Jacuzzi bring the lodge fully into the 21st century.

Quartz Creek campground is situated on the banks of sparkling Kenai Lake. This is a great spot to cool off on a hot day. Kenai Lake has a good sandy swimming beach and a trail that follows along nearby Quartz Creek. Cast your line for some awesome fly-fishing at the creek or look for the nearby horse stable for a scenic ride. If you want to try your hand at gold panning, head up the road to Crescent Creek campground. Here you'll find a quiet spot for some good fishing at Crescent Creek and Crescent Lake. Both campgrounds offer maintained sites, fire rings and flush toilets.

If you want to camp beside subalpine Upper Summit Lake close to trumpeter swans and fishing for rainbows, take the family to this campground deep in the Kenai Mountains off Mile 46 of the Seward Highway. The 35 sites are spread along a loop in the alder, willow and spruce woods on the hillside above the lake, with clear-running Tenderfoot Creek passing through       

This 86-room lodge not only has endless views over a vast valley, but it also sits on the banks of the Kenai River, which teems with fish. With vaulted ceilings made of naturally finished wood, cozy sitting areas with wood-burning stoves and private porches, it’s easy to feel like the whole place is yours. The area is famous for its fishing, but you also have easy access to Kenai Fjords National Park, a wild land filled with glaciers, marine life and mountains. Go for a wildlife-viewing cruise, or just go for a stroll along the lodge’s own nature trail.

Set in a handsome birch forest overlooking Turnagain Arm, this campground in Chugach National Forest close to the historic village of Hope is a family classic. The 34 sites offer all the usual amenities (picnic table, campfire ring, outhouses, water pump) and are laid out with an eye toward privacy. Just 81 miles from Anchorage.

16 sites in a wooded setting. Trail to Ptarmigan lake departs from the campground.