Cripple Creek Campground

Campground · Alaska ·

Managed by the Bureau of Land Management

State Patented (Other State)

1,208 ft
Elevation

Located at milepost 60 of the Steese Highway, Cripple Creek Campground has 12 first come first served universal design campsites, as well as 6 walk-in campsites. The campground also has a riverside day use area with fishing access along the Chatanika River. Winding through tall white spruce trees along the river between the day use area and the campground is a short interpretive trail for visitors. 

A class I-II float trip to the Upper Chatanika State Recreation Site at milepost 39 is approximately 25 miles (40 km) long. Occasional low water may require some boat dragging. 

The campground is maintained during the summer season, end of May through mid-September. The campground has a hand pump well for potable water, trash cans, and outhouse style toilets. Each campsite has a parking area, picnic tables, and fire rings.

 

Use the Recreation.gov App to pay for camping

Download the Recreation.gov Mobile App before you leave home to make mobile payments for campsites using Scan&Pay. When you are at the campground, claim your campsite and use the camera on your phone to scan the unique campground QR code to pay for the campsite.

No Need to Wait or Carry Cash

Payment is conveniently made right on your phone, without the hassle of waiting in line, carrying cash, or writing a check and dropping it in a fee tube.

No Signal, No Problem

Even in remote areas with no cell service, Scan & Pay allows you to pay when you’re offline and then processes your transaction once you’re back online.

Learn more about the Recreation.gov mobile app: https://www.recreation.gov/mobile-app

Getting there

Blacktop highway accessible. Campground is at mile 60 on the Steese Highway, northeast of Fairbanks, Alaska.

65.27618, -146.64785 · 65°16'34.2"N 146°38'52.3"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F————————————
Low °F————————————
Precip in0.61.01.10.91.33.14.55.03.01.51.41.0

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 6.7 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Fees and stay limits

$12 per night for vehicle sites $6 per night for walk-in sites

From Recreation.gov, which is not always current. The operator's own page is the authority on what you will be charged.

Member photos

Common questions about Cripple Creek Campground

Can you reserve a site at Cripple Creek Campground?
No. Cripple Creek Campground is not reservable through Recreation.gov, so sites are first-come, first-served or booked elsewhere.

Camping near Cripple Creek Campground

Comments

Contact

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-08-03.

Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.