Williwaw Campground
Williwaw Campground, an idyllic area, sits beside Williwaw Creek near the town of Girdwood, Alaska. The campground boasts prime fishing, hiking and wildlife watching all within the Portage Valley. Next to the campground is the Williwaw Salmon Viewing Area, a top-notch spot for salmon viewing. In August, visitors can see these fish spawning in impressive numbers through the translucent waters. The area is a great place to view numerous glaciated valleys and the Portage Glacier. Over the past 80 years, the glacier calved large icebergs into Portage Lake, located just east of the campground.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: first-come in Alaska · reservable in Alaska · big rigs in Alaska
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 13 |
| RV, no hookups | 6 |
| Host/management | 33 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 65 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
19 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 020 | DBLS | RV | Back-in | 53 | Gravel | 12 / 1 |
| 029 | DBLS | RV | Back-in | 65 | Gravel | 12 / 1 |
| 030 | DBLS | RV | Pull-through | Gravel | 12 / 1 | |
| 034 | DBLS | RV | Pull-through | 62 | Gravel | 12 / 1 |
| 006 | WILL | Standard | Pull-through | Gravel | 8 / 1 | |
| 007 | WILL | Standard | Back-in | 61 | Gravel | 8 / 1 |
| 008 | WILL | RV | Back-in | 56 | Gravel | 8 / 1 |
| 009 | WILL | Standard | Back-in | 57 | Gravel | 8 / 1 |
| 010 | WILL | Standard | Back-in | 59 | Gravel | 8 / 1 |
| 011 | WILL | Standard | Pull-through | Gravel | 8 / 1 |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 145 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
Drinking water from hand pumps, vault toilets, picnic tables and a parking area are provided at Williwaw Campground. Campsites are nicely separated, but no electric hookups are available.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Temporarily closed |
| Forest | Chugach National Forest |
| Booking | Reservations are made through Recreation.gov (1-877-444-6777) and recommended for summer camping. Fees are charged during the summer season. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Anchorage go 55 miles south on Seward highway to Portage Glacier Road (milepost 78.9). The campground is located at mile 4.1 of the Portage Glacier Road.
| Nearest town | Girdwood, Alaska |
| Coordinates | 60.7867° N, 148.8775° W · Directions ↗ |
Explore
Video
Williwaw Campground | IT'S MORE FUN IN ALASKA!
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miWilliwaw Nature Trail ↗2.6 mi trail · hiking, bike, snowshoe, ski · national_recreation_or_other
- 0.3 miWilliwaw Nature Trail Spur0.1 mi trail · hiking
- 0.4 miInht: Trail of Blue Ice Snow ↗4.7 mi trail · snowshoe, ski · national_scenic_or_historic
- 1.2 miGary Williams Moraine Trail0.2 mi trail · hiking
- 1.2 miInht: Trail of Blue Ice ↗4.7 mi trail · hiking, bike · national_scenic_or_historic
- 1.5 miByron Glacier Trail1.4 mi trail · hiking
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 · 11 mi
- Mt. Alyeska RoundhouseBuilding · Girdwood · 13.9 mi
Natural features
The campground sits in the Portage Valley of the eastern Kenai Peninsula in the Chugach National Forest. The Forest, spanning 5,361,803 acres is comprised of arid tundra wilderness, jagged mountains, deep fjords and glacier-fed rivers that surround the Prince William Sound.
Recreation
Wildlife viewing includes moose, brown and black bears, mountain goats, lynx, bald eagles and wolves. The Williwaw Nature Trail can be reached from the campground. It heads to the Williwaw Fish Viewing Platform, passes under the highway bridge and follows Williwaw Creek to a series of ponds. The trail then connects to the Trail of Blue Ice, which accesses the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center. The Trail of Blue Ice is also popular among mountain bikers.
Nearby
Consider visiting the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Portage Glacier, the town of Whittier and Byron Glacier.
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 Williwaw Campground?
For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Williwaw Campground?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Williwaw Campground open right now?
Temporarily closed as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Williwaw Campground have?
52 sites, including 13 standard sites without power and 6 RV sites without hookups.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Williwaw Campground?
Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
What is there to do at Williwaw Campground?
Wildlife viewing includes moose, brown and black bears, mountain goats, lynx, bald eagles and wolves. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Williwaw Campground?
Girdwood, Alaska. Consider visiting the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Portage Glacier, the town of Whittier and Byron Glacier.
Source: Getting there
What if Williwaw Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Black Bear Campground (0.4 mi, first-come), Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop Group Campground (8.3 mi), and Bertha Creek Campground (13 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby