Tenderfoot Creek
Tenderfoot Creek Campground unveils views of the surrounding mountains from every direction and offers campsites that face the edge of a glistening lake. Perched along Summit Lake on the Eastern Kenai Peninsula of Alaska, Tenderfoot Creek provides an ideal destination for fishing, kayaking, canoeing, hiking and wildlife watching. Campers may experience morning wakeup calls from loons or view bald eagles fishing in the clear waters. Impressive wildlife inhabitants include moose, brown and black bears, mountain goats, lynx and wolves. Campsites are nicely spaced along the eastern shores of Summit Lake.
More like this: reservable in Alaska · big rigs in Alaska
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 28 |
| Tent-only | 8 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 100 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
36 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Standard | Pull-through | 42 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 |
| 002 | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 |
| 003 | Standard | Pull-through | 72 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 |
| 004 | Standard | Back-in | 66 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 |
| 005 | Standard | Back-in | 52 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 |
| 006 | Standard | Back-in | 45 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 |
| 007 | Standard | Pull-through | 80 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 |
| 008 | Standard | Back-in | 42 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 |
| 009 | Standard | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Partial | 8 / 1 |
| 010 | Standard | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Partial | 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 | 100 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Tent pads | Yes |
Tenderfoot Creek campers enjoy amenities such as drinking water, vault toilets, picnic tables, trash collection, fire pits and a boat ramp. The majority of campsites are pull-through and parking aprons are gravel. Firewood can be purchased onsite.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| 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 south on Seward Highway approximately 81 miles to Summit Lake. Turn at milepost 46 before Summit Lake Lodge.
| Nearest town | Seward, Alaska |
| Coordinates | 60.6364° N, 149.4972° W · Directions ↗ |
Explore
Video
Tenderfoot Creek Campground, Alaska
Worth a stop
Visit Portage Glacier in the Portage Valley, a 14-mile isthmus that connects the Kenai Peninsula to mainland Alaska. Glacial remnants that can be seen today are Explorer, Middle, Byron, Burns and Shakespeare glaciers.
- 7.6 miTern Lake Day Use Area ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 0.4 miColorado Creek Trail3.1 mi trail · hiking
- 1.8 miSummit Creek Trail ↗8.9 mi trail · hiking
- 2 miFresno Creek Trail2.1 mi trail · hiking
- 2.8 miSlate Creek Trail1.5 mi trail · hiking
- 2.8 miManitoba Cabin Winter Route1.3 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
- 2.9 miMills Creek Trail3.4 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
- 8.9 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
- Lauritsen CabinBuilding · Moose Pass · 2.6 mi
- Hirshey MineSite · Hope · 10.9 mi
Natural features
Summit Lake is a small cirque lake, or tarn, reaching a depth of 20 feet. This cirque was the beginning of a long-gone, alpine glacier. The surrounding terrain and unique mountain landscape is all glacially carved.
Recreation
The Summit Lake Trail heads south of Summit Lake and connects with the Resurrection Pass Trail, a wonderful 39-mile hiking and biking trail that climbs 2,100 feet of elevation, providing excellent views of the area. The lake is stocked with Dolly Varden and Rainbow trout. Winter recreation includes backcountry skiing, snow-boarding and snowshoeing.
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 Tenderfoot Creek?
Sites at Tenderfoot Creek are reservable on Recreation.gov. Reservations are made through Recreation.gov (1-877-444-6777) and recommended for summer camping. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Tenderfoot Creek?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Tenderfoot Creek open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Tenderfoot Creek have?
36 sites, including 28 standard sites without power and 8 tent-only sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Tenderfoot 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 Tenderfoot Creek?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE and AT&T 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 Tenderfoot Creek?
The Summit Lake Trail heads south of Summit Lake and connects with the Resurrection Pass Trail, a wonderful 39-mile hiking and biking trail that climbs 2,100 feet of elevation, providing excellent views of the area. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Tenderfoot Creek?
Seward, Alaska. Visit Portage Glacier in the Portage Valley, a 14-mile isthmus that connects the Kenai Peninsula to mainland Alaska.
Source: Getting there
What if Tenderfoot Creek is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Granite Creek (9.2 mi), Bertha Creek Campground (11.4 mi, first-come), and Crescent Creek Campground (11.5 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby