Black Bear Campground is a very small, 10 site campground located in the Chugach National Forest…read moredown the road from Portage Glacier. The sites are spacious and open, so they do not afford much privacy. Each space has a fire ring, a parking spot, a picnic table and enough room for several average sized tents. The campground is in a conifer forest, so there's plenty of trees to attach tarps and whatnot to, which would be wise given there is LOTS of light, but persistent precipitation in this part of Alaska. Although this campground is located in valley, you really can't see the mountains or glaciers that ring the location because of the abundance of trees. Despite that, I personally think these campsites are prettier than those located over at Williwaw Campground. There are bear dumpsters on site, hand pumps for potable water and outhouses. There is no firewood or campsite host here; however, the campsite host is located less than 1 mile down the road at Williwaw. Black Bear Campground is located along the Trail of Blue Ice: http://www.alyeskaresort.com/Alyeska/SiteAssets/files/mountain/Trail%20of%20Blue%20Ice.pdf . The campsites with the highest numbers (8,9, 10) are closest to the river, so keep this in mind if you have small children. The sites are big enough to accomodate a RV, but the Williwaw campsites are set up more with RV's in mind. Black Bear Campground certainly isn't the best campground in the area, and for $18 a day, I'd probably stay somewhere else. However, that being said, if you plan to spend time hiking the very easy, very family friendly Trail of Blue Ice, or plan to spend a day in Whittier or Portage, this is a very convinient location to make base camp for a day or two. After that you will have exhausted the activities in the area. To reserve a spot in advance log on to: http://www.recreation.gov/. In addition to the $18 they charge a booking fee of $9. Otherwise the campsites are first come-first served. During July, without a reservation you run the risk of arriving and finding all the campsites taken.

I've been here multiple times. Get there early during the summer months to grab a spot. There are…read morehiking trails and bike paths nearby. Always a good time. Bring your rain jacket because between those mountains can get rainy sometimes.

Where is all the blue ice? I don't see no trail! Well... I did see a couple of glaciers up top…read moreunder white snow, so I saw sprinkling of blue ice. This is the Tony Knowles Coastal trail of Portage. You start at Moose Flats, or Visitor's center, and walk/jog/bike/skate/meander 5 miles to the opposite end. I started at Moose Flats and it was a good time viewing natural and unnatural areas of interest. Scouted out camp spots, watched kayakers in a lake, and enjoyed walking over bridges during the jaunt. It was good, not great. So much so, that instead of walking all the way back I hitched to get the car and pick up walking companion. Then we jetted over to Byron's Glacier for a proper, albeit shorter, hike. Would come again if camping in area, but would pass for future hiking funsies due to lack of interest.

This is a flat 5-mile trail that links together the many sights and sounds of one of my favorite…read moreareas in Alaska: Portage. Despite being located a little over an hour from Anchorage, this area gets obscene amounts of snow and rain. As a consequence of all that H2O falling from the sky, the mountains in here are heavily glaciated, even though they are not very tall by Alaska standards. (tallest in the area is around 6,000 ft, with many in the 3,000-4,000 ft range) Because this trail is so flat, it's very commonly cycled. Bring your bike and make a half-day of it, or bring only your boots for a much fuller day. There are places to view Salmon here, but I can never seem get the timing right. Stuff to see in this area from/next to the trail: Explorer Peak (and Explorer Glacier): https://www.yelp.com/biz/explorer-peak-portage Byron Glacier Trail: https://www.yelp.com/biz/byron-glacier-trailhead-anchorage Portage Glacier visitor center: https://www.yelp.com/biz/portage-glacier-and-begich-bloggs-visitor-center-girdwood

Whittier camping..pros: very affordable, xtra wide campsite , walking distance to "the beach",…read moresites are pretty level, very clean area..beautiful views when you can see them .....cons: be ready for terrible weather fog, rain,

DO NOT STAY HERE…read more Pulling into this lot with our RV we saw an extremely crabby, yelling woman, directing traffic. She took $17 per RV from us (despite parking across the street being free). We told her we were planning to stay the night in our camper and she screamed that " you cannot stay here." Despite the sign saying campground. She indicated nothing about a campground in the back or directing us to a different area of the lot. We came back to our RV's after the glacier cruise and BOOM, who comes flying up in her car? The crabby ass parking lady. Yelling that we cannot stay here. She then wanted an additional $20 to park in the campground behind the lot. We told her that we asked for the campground initially and we would not pay an additional $20. The road of the campground is a sunken crappy gravel and the RV parking spaces are clearly where people get murdered. DO NOT STAY HERE. If you do you are paying for the salary of a woman with a horrible life who likes to take it out on everyone around her.

I have a lot to say about this campground, but I just want to write a quick review for the time…read morebeing. Porcupine Campground in Hope is my favorite, but Trail River is a very close second. It has all the things I love - outstanding views of the mountains; tons of trees; relatively private, large sites that can accommodate RV's; not one but two impressive bodies of water; plenty of places to explore and NO CELL SERVICE. The campground is in the middle of nowhere (Crown Point, which essentially doesn't exist since it doesn't have a zip code.) It's at mile 24.2 of the Seward Highway, about halfway between Moose Pass and Seward. GPS coordinates are GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude): 60.41472, -149.38028 60°24'53"N, 149°22'49"W This is a huge campground with about 80 sites on 3 loops. But even so, reservations on summer weekends are pretty much a necessity. Sites are $18 a day. Make reservations here: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/trail-river/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=70678 The best campsites are on Kenai Lake (see my close up shots of the map), almost all of which are tent-only sites. Only 2 RV sites are on Kenai Lake, #72 and 70. 73 is also near the lake. Ironically, none of the campsites are on the Trail River. You have to drive, bike or walk down the Trail River access road a little ways to view the MAGNIFICENT river, which is in my opinion, more beautiful than the Kenai and Russian Rivers. The plants here are really interesting. And I heard more bird song than I've heard anywhere else I've camped. I awoke every morning to the most beautiful sounds. Really I want to write so much more about how awesome Trail River is, but I'm tired from camping. LOL If you have any questions, PM me.

We decided to go camping last minute with the kids on a Friday after work. We packed up and started…read moredriving, not knowing where we would camp. We drove by two others and found Trail River Campground, found a spot that wasn't reserved, and set up camp. It was spacious and clean with all things ready--fire pit, table, and tent space. For a last-minute camp trip, it worked out great, and we had fun. We would visit again and recommend to others.

Bertha Creek is a lovely little wooded campground nestled between Girdwood and Hope in the middle…read moreof nowhere Alaska. It's funny because it's only 3ish miles away from its sister campground Granite Creek, but somehow Bertha feels just right. Most of the sites are cozily shaded amongst the ample spruce trees and nicely spaced apart. There are a few sites on the south side of the campground that get sun in the afternoon and have a stunning view of the surrounding mountains. Bertha Creek wraps very closely around the perimeter of the campground, but none of the sites have a creek view due to undergrowth. I'm guessing the creek is a class 3 rapids, so it makes sense that the sites would be a little distance in the event the creek floods or changes paths over the years. There is a darling waterfall just a few hundred feet from the nearest campsite and I've decided that I'm DEFINITELY camping here next year so we can spend the day frolicking in the water. I'm packing my waders and gonna try to see if it's scalable. The waterfall is blissfully moss covered a la Fern Gully, so I'm probably fooling myself, but I can dream... at the very least I plan to spend a few years sunning myself along the banks of this beauty. OK, details: No campsite host. He's down the road a Granite Creek. So if you need firewood, it's about a 3 mile trek. One bear box for the whole campground. Clean, "modern" pit toilets. No running water, but there are water pumps. $14 per night, no reservations. I highly doubt this campground ever fills up due to its remoteness. Sites are large enough for Small RVs. There aren't any pullthroughs, so ginormous RVS might have trouble, but it's doable if you're a good driver. This is an ideal site for tents, but I do believe bears are a real concern, so be prepared. Open Memorial Day through Labor Day. Johnson Pass Trail is the nearest attraction. This is really the middle of nowhere. Six Mile Creek and Hope are the next nearest things to do. Girdwood, about 40 minutes away is the next nearest gas station, grocery store and Rv dump station. One aside, it looks like the Forest Service is working on some improvements here... they built a heavy duty bridge to nowhere over the creek so maybe there is an awesome trail in the works? Bertha Creek is really gorgeous so I'm excited to see what the finished product will be!

We just bought an RV and didn't want to camp in the "hot spot" of Seward so we did the next best…read morething and went to Moose Pass. Having lived in Alaska 6 years I honestly have never stoped in moose pass, only obeyed the speed limit and slowed down while passing though. The campground is super easy to find (especially when obeying the speed limit). They have a sign out on the road. The camp host was beyond friendly. We let her know it was our first time and we were hoping for a spot a little more secluded so we could work out any kinks and hangout with our pups. She put us in a location that was easy for us to back into and we isn't have any camp neighbors within a visual radius. A few of the spots do but up against the highway so you'll have some street noise, but that mellowed down around 10pm. There was a group fire pit where folks brought some drinks and hung out. Super friendly place! The next morning we went for a walk down to the float plane docs and along the railroad tracks. Such a cute little town and a nice break from the hustle and bustle of Seward.

This campground is a hidden, underutilized jewel. The rates are dirt cheap - maybe the best in…read moreAlaska. The grounds are nicely manicured. The grounds are beautiful with trees througout. Sort walk to "town" which is very cool. Had a great lunch at the Inn. My dog got to swim in the lake. The lake and surrounding mountains are stunning. Please stop here. They deserve your support and this campground needs to remain open.

GORGEOUS National Park campground. When people imagine camping, this is probably what most people…read morethink of. These campsites are all of a gracious size and some of them have spectacular views of Porcupine Creek in Resurrection Bay. Be sure to make reservations (online or over the phone) ahead of time or you will probably not get a spot and end up and the Seaview RV Park instead. Porcupine Campground is nicely wooded and many of the spots give a real sense of privacy which is surprisingly hard to find in a lot of campgrounds in South Central Alaska. They seem to think that since the state is so big we must all like to be crammed together like sardines (safety in numbers?) Thankfully, Porcupine Campground allows plenty of room so you can stretch out and relax. Tent spots are $15 per night, plus a $9 booking fee if you book ahead. Pay the booking fee or take a HUGE chance there won't be any spots for you. You can check online first before you take the drive if you don't have a reservation.

I like this campground if I want to stay close to Anchorage because it has typical amenities. It is…read moreclose to a great trail, views of the inlet, camp area with a fire pit and picnic table, and there is bathrooms and water if needed. I like to camp on the spots to the right so I can have a view of the inlet, but a lot of the camp spaces are decently situated to feel private enough from the next camper. There is a camp host in the summer that will sell wood and collect camp fees. Will come to camp again.

Honestly, when we first pulled in I was bummed. I thought we'd hit a bad spot. Until we ventured in…read moreand realized the camp sites here back up to cooper creek, just a short jaunt from the sites. Super private, gorgeous, very Alaska. We loved it so much we went to our next stay and came back the following day to stay at the river side of the campground (warning - that side is first come, first serve so arrive before 11!). Bonus points - the host is amazing and no one cares if your dog is off leash.

There are several campgrounds located in Cooper Landing and the immediate vicinity. Apart from…read moreSkilak Lake Recreation Area, Cooper Creek Campground is my personal favorite because some of the spots overlook the water. It's sort of a strange set up because the campground is bisected in half by the main road that runs through Cooper Landing (hence the confusion regarding the North and South campgrounds.) They are ONE campground with one host. The sites on the South side overlook Cooper Creek and the sites on the North Side overlook the beautiful aquamarine shores of the Kenai River. Can you guess which side I prefer? Sites have picnic tables and fire pits. There's a total of 26 sites. Most of them can accommodate an RV, but this is an older campground with some erosion issues, so you need to be a good parker to stick the landing. Lol. I don't recall seeing any pull through sites. There's a dumpster, bear boxes, pit toilets, hand pump water and firewood for sale. You can not fish or launch a boat from any part of this campground. River access is very nearby in either direction. Bears are a real consideration, so one needs to plan accordingly. Reservations are absolutely necessary during fishing season.

So while I stand by my initial review of the campground, the trail here is incredible. It's one of…read morethe most bang-for-your-buck hikes I've ever done in Alaska. The first mile and a half is fairly flat and has a spectacular view of the creek, mountains, flowers and berries I've ever seen in such an accessible location. It then shifts to an gentle uphill hike without boreal shade. I recommend a machete if you plan on going further. The Devils Club is wicked beyond this point unless it's fall. There is absolutely no cell service here so be sure to bring emergency supplies and appropriate preparation for Alaskan animals and volatile weather.

Gaft, I cannot pronounce this place!!…read more Ptarmigan is part of the Chugach National Forest off Mile 23 on Seward Highway. If you're on your way to Harding Icefield/ Exit Glacier or back to Anchroage, Ptarmigan is worth a stop! So thanks to my hyper active bladder and my constant imbibing of crisp glacier water, I really needed to pee!!!! Thankfully, toilets were not far off and found ourselves here. Toilet is standard outhouse thing. Nothing fancy. But what IS cool is that there is fish viewing from Aug-Sept!!! FREE OF CHARGE!! We saw some tours wanting to charge for this, psh!!! Anyway, we got to the side of the creek... and saw red sockeye salmon swimming against current... waiting to mate, lay eggs and die =(. There were so many of them too!!! Here's something I didn't know...salmon gets its red color when they are spawning (so you don't want to eat these since they are old). When they are young, they are silver in color. Huh! =) Also (didn't know this), but apparently there is an abundance of rainbow trout during mating season. They come and eat up the salmon eggs (roe). Luckily, people are able to fish for rainbow trout and dolly varden fish (june 11 - may 1st). Absolutely no salmon fishing all season!! We did see some fishers there, but they told us that they were there for catch & release only.

Every year when I'm down the street camping in Hope, I always mean check out this campground. This…read moreyear, just for Yelp, I remembered to swing by so I could write a review. This campground is in need of renovation as it is very dated. I would only recommend it for RV's for one night. I would not want to camp here in a tent due to the lack of privacy. Although the sites are nicely spaced and spacious, the lack of undergrowth and the openness (to allow ease of RV parking) really isn't conducive to cozy tent camping. And the outhouses are really old and gross, so again, tenters beware. Also, mmmm being right on the river I'd have some serious concerns about bears here in a tent. And also, well this campground just isn't very nice so you'd want the comfort of an RV. It's a park, crash for the night and move on kind of place. It looks like they're in the process of some improvements, which it is in dire need of. There's 18 campsites. 2, 4, 6, 9, 13, 14, 16 and 18 are along the river, but only an handful of them even have a view of the river, which by the way, is kinda ugly and dusty. Between the entry point of the campground and the sites themselves is a vast swampy area, so I imagine the mosquitos are horrendous. This isn't a site conducive to exploring or berry picking (I saw NONE). Along the river you could wade in the freezing water and skip rocks a bit, but other than that there isn't much to do. Hit Johnson Pass for the day then move on to another location. There is a campsite host here and firewood for sale. Sites are 14 dollars per night. I'd be very surprised if this campground ever fills up. It's sister campsite down the street 2 miles (Bertha Creek) is much more picturesque. Closes the first week in September As far as ammenities go, there's 2 water pumps, 2 outhouses, 1 dumpster, and 1 bear box ( for the whole joint!) This is a very remote location, so there is no gas station, food store or any other services nearby. Hope is about 15 miles away, Six mile Creek for river rafting is about 5 miles, and Girdwood is about 20 miles away (which is the nearest gas station.) Bring everything you need with you.