Ptarmigan Creek
Ptarmigan Creek is a small, peaceful campground with incredible views of the Chugach Mountains. Nestled beside Ptarmigan Creek and a short walk from Kenai Lake, the campground creates an ideal location for avid wildlife enthusiasts, hikers and anglers. Miles of hiking and biking trails weave throughout the area, and moose, brown and black bear, sheep and goats can be found across a large part of the forest.
More like this: reservable in Alaska · big rigs in Alaska
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 13 |
| Host/management | 4 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 85 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
13 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | 8 / 1 |
| 002 | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | 8 / 1 |
| 003 | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | 8 / 1 |
| 004 | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | 8 / 1 |
| 005 | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | 8 / 1 |
| 006 | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | 8 / 1 |
| 007 | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | 8 / 1 |
| 008 | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | 8 / 1 |
| 009 | Back-in | 25 | Gravel | 8 / 1 |
| 010 | Pull-through | 85 | 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 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 85 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
Campground amenities include drinking water, vault toilets, picnic tables, campfire rings and dumpsters. No RV hookups are available but firewood is sold on-site. Parking aprons are gravel.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Forest | Chugach National Forest |
| Booking | Reservations are made through Recreation.gov (1-877-444-6777) and recommended for summer season camping. Fees are charged during the summer season. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Anchorage, go south on Seward Highway to Crown Point, approximately 100 miles. The campground is located at Milepost 23.1.
| Nearest town | Seward, Alaska |
| Coordinates | 60.4075° N, 149.3619° W · Directions ↗ |
Explore
Video
USFS Alaska’s Ptarmigan Creek Campground⛺️with the Wanderlodge Bus!
Trails nearby
- 0.7 miPtarmigan Creek Trail3.5 mi trail · hiking
- 0.8 miFalls Creek ORV Trail3.9 mi trail · hiking, motorcycle, ATV, 4WD and 1 more
- 1.3 miPtarmigan Creek Cutoff Trail0.9 mi trail · hiking
- 1.9 miInht Access: Vagt Lake Trail1.4 mi trail · hiking
- 2 miPtarmigan Lake Tr3.7 mi trail · hiking
- 2 miCrown Point ATV Trail ↗4.6 mi trail · hiking, motorcycle, ATV, 4WD and 1 more
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
- 8.2 miKenai National Wildlife Refuge ↗National Wildlife Refuge · Fish and Wildlife Service · 1,943,006 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 Nellie's HomesteadBuilding · Lawing · 0.5 mi
Natural features
The campground sits in a wooded area at 470 feet elevation along Ptarmigan Creek. Campsites are shaded by spruce and paper birch, and mountain views are all around. The campground is part of the Kenai Peninsula in the western part of Chugach National Forest. A largely alpine region with miles of fishing streams and remote mountain peaks, Chugach extends across more than 5 million acres of arid tundra wilderness, rugged mountains, deep fjords and the Prince William Sound.
Recreation
From late August to early September campers can view red salmon spawning in the creek from Ptarmigan Creek's fish viewing platform. Fishing is a popular pastime, and Dolly Varden and rainbow trout are frequent catches. The Ptarmigan Lake Trail takes hikers along the shore of the turquoise lake and inclines up through meadows, brush and forest.
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 Ptarmigan Creek?
Sites at Ptarmigan Creek are reservable on Recreation.gov. Reservations are made through Recreation.gov (1-877-444-6777) and recommended for summer season camping. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Ptarmigan Creek?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Ptarmigan Creek open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Ptarmigan Creek have?
17 sites, including 13 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Ptarmigan Creek?
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
Is there cell service at Ptarmigan Creek?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Ptarmigan Creek?
From late August to early September campers can view red salmon spawning in the creek from Ptarmigan Creek's fish viewing platform. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Ptarmigan Creek?
Seward, Alaska. National Historic Iditarod Trail.
Source: Getting there
What if Ptarmigan Creek is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Trail River (0.9 mi), Primrose Campground (4.6 mi, first-come), and Crescent Creek Campground (12.5 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby