Visiting Alaska’s state parks is one of the best-kept travel secrets of The Last Frontier.
Making the trip north is often arduous, especially by RV. But choosing to visit lesser-known locations can offer experiences just as exciting as the more popular ones.
Today, we’ve gathered five great alternatives to help you venture out and find the perfect spot.
Let’s head out!
Alaska State Parks Are Convenient Alternatives to National Parks
As the largest state in the country, Alaska has plenty of state and national parks to explore. Less than one percent of 665,384 square miles of territory is privately held. That means the Bureau of Land Management and local authorities administer the rest.
With eight well-known preserves, spending your time visiting them isn’t exactly easy since they’re not all accessible by road. However, Glacier Bay, Denali, and Kenai Fjords see over 1.5 million visitors a year combined.
When you’re in the region, spread the love by adventuring to some of the 120 Alaska state parks. These less well-known locations offer plenty if you’re there for the views and rugged outdoor activities. Among the places you can visit are marine areas and recreation sites that are rich in history.
While many of them offer easy access and lots of fun activities, others are graduate-level backcountry. It’s easy to get in over your head if you’re not equipped for the majestic and rough countryside.
RV camping sites are maintained, but pay attention to your surroundings. The entire region is grizzly country, but you’ll also see black bears and moose. All of them present a hazard to unprepared outdoor enthusiasts.
So grab your gear and get ready to hit the wilds of Alaska.
#1 Chena River State Recreation Area
A short drive from Fairbanks, the state’s second-largest city, the Chena River State Recreation Area is a park worth the trip. You can visit some pristine areas even if you stay in town. Driving along Chena Hot Springs Road, miles 26 to 51 provide access to 254,080 acres of wilderness.
Favorite summertime activities include hiking, fishing, backpacking, canoeing, and hunting. Rock climbers also flock to the crags found in the mountains. It has transformed into a haven for cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and ice fishing. It also offers perfect perches to see the northern lights on cold winter nights.
One of the biggest draws is the Chena River, which crisscrosses the region. Crystal clear waters and a catch-and-release program for Alaska graylings make it popular with anglers. You’ll also have a chance to hike the Granite Tors Trail. At around 15 miles, the eight-hour trek gives unmatched views of the Plain of Monuments.
About the Campgrounds
While you don’t have to stay in the park to experience the wealth of wildlife and epic views, you can. Three campgrounds are available for campers to enjoy.
Rosehip Campground has 37 sites available year-round to RVs of all sizes. You won’t find many amenities beyond epic views, but they do have a water pump onsite. Visitors report the road into the area is very rough, so take it slow and enjoy your stay.
Granite Tors Trail offers 24 spots near the trailhead into the Plain of Monuments. Open all year, the area doesn’t have a size restriction for trailers and motorhomes. They’ve got water, toilets, and picnic tables on site, but that’s all. A boat launch provides easy access to otherworldly rock formations.
Red Squirrel is a small spot that only has five camping pads. Open year-round, they’ll take any size RVs that can make it down the road. They offer water and toilets near the picnic shelters. If you’re counting on filling fresh water tanks, check first to ensure it’s flowing.
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#2 Chilkat State Park
Chilkat State Park is one of Alaska’s more unique spots, located on a peninsula in an inlet. At the end of a gravel road, this is a quiet spot to watch moose from a distance. You can also see the Rainbow Glacier, which is a world-class experience. Hanging off a mountain, the ice formation’s massive waterfall is a gorgeous sight.
Tourists and locals all love rafting on the waters around the landmass. You can put your watercraft in at the boat ramp, although the dock is no longer in service.
Visitors enjoy easy access to the run of king salmon in early June. Just make sure you’ve got a permit before fishing. You can also use the wildlife spotting scopes to view seals, porpoises, whales, bears, and mountain goats.
Smaller than others at only 9,837 acres, it has several trails of varying difficulty. You’re in for a treat with the easy seven-mile Seduction Point Trail to the more strenuous Mount Riley trek that climbs over 2,000 feet across two and a half miles.
About the Campgrounds
The campground at Chilkat State Park is open seasonally for visitors to Alaska’s southern reaches. Located at the end of a dirt road with a 14 percent grade, you may struggle to navigate a larger RV there. Once you arrive, you’ll find 32 pull-through sites that accommodate rigs up to 35 feet long. However, the smaller your motorhome is, the better!
While you’ll have access to water and restrooms, other amenities aren’t available. If you’re equipped for dry camping, you’ll enjoy the picnic areas and the easy access to the inlet.
Beginning in mid-May, you can reserve spots until mid-October. The gates close for the season on November 15 each year.
In the winter, you can stay overnight in the Glacier View Cabin from October 15 through April 15. It’s open to the public and sleeps up to eight people. Just bring firewood and anything you need to keep warm.
#3 Chugach State Park
Chugach State Park, a short drive from Alaska’s largest city, Anchorage, is a massive 495,000 acres of wilderness. It’s breathtaking, with nearly endless shorelines, many lakes and glaciers, and an incredible mountain range.
One of the four largest preserves in the United States, it has the Knik Arm to the north and the Turnagain Arm to the south. These brackish waterways are extensions of the Cook Inlet of the Gulf of Alaska. It’s no surprise that the region is a favorite amongst waterborne paddlers.
Visitors can access 28 miles of the Eagle River for kayaking and canoeing and over 280 miles of trails for hiking and biking. Beyond that, 110 miles open up for cross-country skiing, snow machines, and fat bikes when there’s enough snow.
Being so close to the city, Chugach State Park has an abundance of short, easy hikes. But for the more adventurous type, several days-long treks will test your backcountry skills.
In August and September, something truly unique happens. The hills practically explode with wild blueberries. Folks swarm the bushes to gather as much as possible before the bears get them all.
Make your list! 50 Hikes in Alaska’s Chugach State Park
About the Campgrounds
Unlike other, more remote areas, Chugach State Park has three campgrounds to use while exploring Alaska. Eklutna, Eagle River, and Bird Creek are popular with RVers and local families.
Eklutna Lake Campground is one of the first on our list to offer any type of hookup for your rig. They have 50 sites available, first come, first served. While some users report electric, sewer, and water connections, they’re not on the official website. Check with the campground before assuming access.
No matter the size of your rig, you’ll find a suitable spot at the Eagle River Campground. With 57 sites available, you’ll likely find a slot no matter when you visit. Plenty of them are pull-through and have water hookups available. A dump station is nearby, too, for your use.
Bird Creek is located on the southern end of the park. With 24 campsites and a 35-foot size limit, it fills up quickly during peak times. No hookups are available, but you’ll have gorgeous mountain and water vistas to enjoy. The area is known for whale watching, so bring your binoculars for the best views.
#4 Denali State Park
Alaska’s tallest peak is the biggest draw in this state park. Denali reaches up over 20,000 feet and towers over all other mountains in North America.
Measuring over 325,000 acres, Denali State Park is almost half the size of Rhode Island. Established in 1970, it reached its current size in 1976. Around 100 miles from Anchorage, it captures many of the region’s ecosystems in one place.
Surrounded by mountain ranges, the site is home to various outdoor activities. You’ll be able to enjoy berry picking in the hills and fishing in the nearby waterways. Boating and hiking are also popular pastimes in the region.
Cross-country skiing takes over in early spring. Snowmobiles also have access to the area as long as there’s adequate snow to protect the vegetation.
Home to Curry and K’esugi ridges, the rocky and inhospitable nature of the backcountry is a challenge to some. Guided hikes can stretch into multi-day affairs once out of the front range. And, no matter where you roam, the sacred face of Denali watches over all.
You’ll find these are the same for most of Alaska: 5 Most Dangerous Creatures in Stunning Denali National Park
About the Campgrounds
K’esugi Ken Campground offers 32 RV-friendly sites with electrical hookups for your convenience. There’s no limit to how long your rig can be. In fact, they even have a few 100-foot pull-through pads available. Two miles of trails make the grounds walkable in the warmer months. When there’s enough snow, you can ski to your front door.
Denali Viewpoint North has 20 campsites for RVs of any size. They provide water and toilet facilities but no hookups. Essentially, it’s a rest area, and you’ll have a nice view but little else from this spot. When you get up in the morning, the mountain’s north face greets you.
Denali Viewpoint South has a better overlook of the mountains, but only nine slots are available. Again, this is more of a parking lot than an actual campground, but rangers regularly recommend it to RVers. When the sun rises, the southern view is unbeatable.
The Byers Lake Campground is much larger than the others on our list. With 73 sites available, they limit RV sizes to 35 feet. You’ll have access to water, toilets, and a dump station with limited hours. Byers Lake is rustic and picturesque, perfect for boating, hiking, and fishing.
#5 Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park
The last stop on our list of Alaska’s alternatives to national preserves is Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park. Originally the site of a Russian outpost in the 18th century, it became a military installation during World War II. Though it never saw action during the conflict, it became a state park in 1969 in recognition of its historical significance.
Located on Kodiak Island in the Gulf of Alaska, it’s accessible only by air and the Marine Highway ferry. Once on the island, 100 miles of roads make the long journey worth the effort.
A popular fishing destination, the park is home to Lake Gertrude and the ruins of embankments left by the military. Miller Point, the site of the north and south gun mounts, overlooks the bay and provides unforgettable views. The region is part of a temperate rainforest zone with unique wildflowers and animal life.
Home to the Kodiak bear, it also supports foxes, brown bats, the short-tailed weasel, and tundra vole. You’ll love the lookout from Miller Point over the water. You’ll see humpback, fin, gray, and orca whales when the conditions are right.
Beyond the natural aspects, you’ll want to stop at the Kodiak Military History Museum and the Ranger Station for fun activities. Tidepooling and a wildflower photo scavenger hunt are just some of the events they regularly schedule.
About the Campgrounds
On the northern end of Kodiak Island, Fort Abercrombie State Park offers some of the most unique camping in Alaska. And, with only eight sites and five RV campsites, you’ll want to book ahead. They restrict rigs to a 20-foot maximum, so leave your luxury ride at home.
With few amenities, your best bet is loading up your rig before crossing the ferry. That way, you’ll have everything you need to enjoy the isolated space. Of course, you could plan to fish for your dinner if you feel lucky.
Toilets and water access are available on site.
Time to Add Alaska to Your Bucket List
Visiting The Last Frontier offers access to seemingly endless natural beauty. From epic mountain ranges to fjords and inlets, it’s a unique and wonderful place.
Alaska’s state parks provide millions of acres of wilderness to explore. Avoid the crowds and visit these lesser-known areas. You might be surprised by what’s out there.
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