Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop Group Campground
The Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop Group Campground is located at the head of the beautiful Placer River Valley at the Spencer Whistlestop. The campsites are nestled among the cottonwood and alder that have grown in after Spencer Glacier’s retreat. This area known for packrafting, wildlife viewing, glacier viewing, and hiking. One can frequently see icebergs floating on Spencer Glacier Lake and might even be able to watch the glacier calving! The two group campsites at Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop Group Campground are available for reservations in the summer months while the Glacier Discovery Train is running on the Alaska Railroad.
More like this: reservable in Alaska · tent only in Alaska · pets allowed in Alaska · group sites in Alaska
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| group walk to | 2 |
Site guide
2 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|
| A | 15 / – | Yes |
| B | 10 / – | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
The Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop Group Campground offers two group campsites. Campsite A can accommodate up to 15 guests and Campsite B can accommodate up to 10 guests or both sites can be book together to accommodate parties of up to 25 guests. The two campsites share a common area that has three picnic tables, a bear box, tarp poles, and a campfire ring.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
During Summer months train transportation is required to reach the Spencer Whistlestop. To catch the train ( reservations required ) into the Spencer Whistle Stop, drive south from Anchorage on the Seward Highway to the Portage Rail Depot (Milepost 80) and check in at the Train station.
| Nearest town | Girdwood, Alaska |
| Coordinates | 60.6988° N, 149.0429° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- Please note, glacier calving can cause large, unpredictable waves on the lake, so it is recommended that you stay at least 500 yards away.
- There is also a vault toilet located 100 yards from the common area, toilet paper is not supplied.
Explore
Trails nearby
- 0.6 miSpencer Glacier Trail3.1 mi trail · hiking, bike
- 0.9 miSpencer Bench Trail3.1 mi trail · hiking, bike
- 4.2 miBartlett Moraine Trail1.1 mi trail · hiking, bike
- 4.9 miGrandview Interpretive Trail0.2 mi trail · hiking
- 5 miGlacier Discovery Trail1.5 mi trail · hiking, bike
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Chugach National Forest.
- inChugach National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 6,244,689 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Alaska Central Railroad: Tunnel No. 1Structure · Seward · 3.1 mi
Natural features
The Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop Group Campground is located at the head of Placer River Valley near the Placer River outflow from Spencer Glacier Lake and is surrounded by the beautiful Kenai Mountains. There is a viewing area for Spencer Glacier located ¼ mile down trail. Black and brown bears, wolves, lynx, wolverine, and moose inhabit the area. Mountain goats, marmots, arctic ground squirrels and spruce grouse may be spotted higher in the mountains around Spencer Glacier Lake. Crow berries and Salmon Berries are plentiful at higher elevations in the late summer, along with low-bush blueberries.
Recreation
Spencer Glacier Lake offers amazing opportunities for packrafting, kayaking, or canoeing. All these options allow you to explore the amazing icebergs floating in the lake. It also allows you to get close to Spencer Glacier and amaze at it’s vast size. This area also offers other recreational opportunities including easy hiking, rock climbing, and fishing during the summer months. In the winter this area is popular with backcountry skiers, snowmobilers and ice climbers.
Nearby
Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop Campground is located off the road system and accessible by train only. To book train tickets visit the Alaska Railroad website.
Guidebooks for Alaska
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop Group Campground?
Sites at Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop Group Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop Group Campground?
Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop Group Campground have?
2 sites, including 2 group walk to.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I bring an RV to Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop Group Campground?
Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop Group Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop Group Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop Group Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop Group Campground?
Spencer Glacier Lake offers amazing opportunities for packrafting, kayaking, or canoeing. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop Group Campground?
Girdwood, Alaska. Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop Campground is located off the road system and accessible by train only.
Source: Getting there
What if Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop Group Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Bertha Creek Campground (8 mi, first-come), Black Bear Campground (8.1 mi, first-come), and Williwaw Campground (8.3 mi, partly first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby