Porcupine
Porcupine Campground is located in the Chugach National Forest in south-central Alaska near the town of Hope. Visitors have a prime location to watch windsurfers in the bay and spot Beluga whales from the scenic overlook.
More like this: reservable in Alaska · big rigs in Alaska · pets allowed in Alaska
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| RV, no hookups | 23 |
| Tent-only | 11 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 46 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
34 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | RV | Back-in | 26 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 |
| 002 | Tent only | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | ||
| 003 | Tent only | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | ||
| 004 | Tent only | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | ||
| 006 | RV | Back-in | 43 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 |
| 007 | RV | Pull-through | 46 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 |
| 008 | Tent only | Back-in | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 | |
| 009 | RV | Back-in | 36 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 |
| 010 | RV | Back-in | 39 | Paved | Partial | 8 / 1 |
| 011 | RV | Back-in | 38 | Paved | 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 | 46 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Tent pads | Yes |
Porcupine boasts an impressive scenic overlook of Turnagain Arm. Firewood is sold on-site and the campground provides an accessible vault toilet, drinking water from a hand well, fire rings, a dumpster and picnic tables.
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 about 70 miles south on Seward Highway to the Hope cutoff. Bear right at 'Y' junction and continue 17.8 miles to the town of Hope. The campground is at the end of the road.
| Nearest town | Seward, Alaska |
| Coordinates | 60.9312° N, 149.6640° W · Directions ↗ |
Explore
Trails nearby
- 0.3 miHope Point Trail3.2 mi trail · hiking
- 0.3 miGull Rock Trail ↗5.7 mi trail · hiking, bike
- 2.6 miBear Creek Trail4.3 mi trail · hiking
- 4.4 miResurrection Pass Trail ↗73.7 mi trail · hiking, snowmobile, snowshoe, ski · national_recreation_or_other
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
- Potter Section HouseBuilding · Anchorage · 9.5 mi
- Hirshey MineSite · Hope · 10.7 mi
Natural features
The remote campground, surrounded by a mostly birch forest, sits beside Porcupine Creek on the south coast of Turnagain Arm. Turnagain Arm is a branch of the Cook Inlet, the waterway that divides the Kenai Peninsula from the mainland of Alaska.
Recreation
Popular activities include fishing, hiking, whitewater rafting and gold panning. Gull Rock Trail offers excellent hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. It extends for 5.1 miles along the south shore of Turnagain Arm from the end of the Hope Highway to a rocky peninsula. Snow usually melts in the area by early May and the scenic trail leads visitors over gradual hills with occasional steep sections.
Nearby
The town of Hope is considered the best preserved gold rush town in the region. Campers can head to town to explore the quaint historic streets and try their hand at gold panning.
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 Porcupine?
Sites at Porcupine 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 Porcupine?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Porcupine open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Porcupine have?
34 sites, including 23 RV sites without hookups and 11 tent-only sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Porcupine?
The longest site here provides 46 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are pets allowed at Porcupine?
Yes, pets are allowed at Porcupine. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Porcupine?
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 Porcupine?
Popular activities include fishing, hiking, whitewater rafting and gold panning. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Porcupine?
Seward, Alaska. The town of Hope is considered the best preserved gold rush town in the region.
Source: Getting there
What if Porcupine is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Coeur d'Alene Campground (7.1 mi, first-come), Bertha Creek Campground (18.5 mi, first-come), and Granite Creek (18.9 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby