Ptarmigan Creek
Campground · Alaska · 13 bookable sites ·
Managed by the USDA Forest Service
Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area (National Heritage Area) · Restricted Access
- 13
- Bookable sites
- 85 ft
- Max rig length
- up to 8
- People per site
- 476 ft
- Elevation
Overview
Ptarmigan Creek is a small, peaceful campground with incredible views of the Chugach Mountains. Nestled beside Ptarmigan Creek and a short walk from Kenai Lake, the campground creates an ideal location for avid wildlife enthusiasts, hikers and anglers.Miles of hiking and biking trails weave throughout the area, and moose, brown and black bear, sheep and goats can be found across a large part of the forest.
Recreation
From late August to early September campers can view red salmon spawning in the creek from Ptarmigan Creek's fish viewing platform.Fishing is a popular pastime, and Dolly Varden and rainbow trout are frequent catches.
The Ptarmigan Lake Trail takes hikers along the shore of the turquoise lake and inclines up through meadows, brush and forest.
Facilities
Campground amenities include drinking water, vault toilets, picnic tables, campfire rings and dumpsters. No RV hookups are available but firewood is sold on-site. Parking aprons are gravel.Natural Features
The campground sits in a wooded area at 470 feet elevation along Ptarmigan Creek. Campsites are shaded by spruce and paper birch, and mountain views are all around.The campground is part of the Kenai Peninsula in the western part of Chugach National Forest. A largely alpine region with miles of fishing streams and remote mountain peaks, Chugach extends across more than 5 million acres of arid tundra wilderness, rugged mountains, deep fjords and the Prince William Sound.
Contact Info
For local information, please call (907) 522-8368 or call (907) 288-3178 for general information.Nearby Attractions
National Historic Iditarod Trail.The facts
- 13 bookable sites
- 17 sites in total, including non-bookable
- Vehicles up to 85 ft
- Up to 8 people per site
- Loops: AREA PTARMIGAN CREEK, PTAR
Site types
- 13 Standard Nonelectric
- 4 Management
17 campsites at Ptarmigan Creek
Check-in 2:00 PM · Check-out 12:00 PM
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XXX | AREA PTARMIGAN CREEK | Management | Back In | Gravel | 35 ft | 8 | |
| XXX1 | AREA PTARMIGAN CREEK | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX2 | AREA PTARMIGAN CREEK | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX3 | AREA PTARMIGAN CREEK | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 001 | PTAR | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 25 ft | 8 | |
| 002 | PTAR | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 35 ft | 8 | |
| 003 | PTAR | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 30 ft | 8 | |
| 004 | PTAR | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 25 ft | 8 | |
| 005 | PTAR | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 25 ft | 8 | |
| 006 | PTAR | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 35 ft | 8 | |
| 007 | PTAR | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 30 ft | 8 | |
| 008 | PTAR | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 25 ft | 8 | |
| 009 | PTAR | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 25 ft | 8 | |
| 010 | PTAR | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Gravel | 85 ft | 8 | |
| 011 | PTAR | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 20 ft | 8 | |
| 012 | PTAR | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 25 ft | 8 | |
| 014 | PTAR | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 30 ft | 8 |
Getting there
From Anchorage, go south on Seward Highway to Crown Point, approximately 100 miles. The campground is located at Milepost 23.1.
60.40750, -149.36194 · 60°24'27.0"N 149°21'43.0"W
Typical weather
Typically 64°F in Jul, down to 26°F in Jan.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 26 | 30 | 35 | 44 | 54 | 61 | 64 | 62 | 54 | 41 | 32 | 28 |
| Low °F | 16 | 18 | 19 | 28 | 34 | 42 | 47 | 46 | 39 | 31 | 24 | 20 |
| Precip in | 3.6 | 3.5 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 4.0 | 7.0 | 6.4 | 5.0 | 5.4 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 3.7 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Ptarmigan Creek
- Can you reserve a site at Ptarmigan Creek?
- Yes, Ptarmigan Creek is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Ptarmigan Creek have?
- 17 sites in total, of which 13 can be booked.
- What is the maximum RV length at Ptarmigan Creek?
- 85 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
Camping near Ptarmigan Creek
- Trail River Cabin 0.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Trail River 0.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Primrose Campground 4.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Crescent Saddle Cabin 5.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Crescent Lake Cabin 8.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Lower Paradise Lake Cabin 10.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Upper Paradise Lake Cabin 12.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Quartz Creek Campground 13.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Dale Clemens Cabin 14.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Eastern Kenai Peninsula 10.5 mi · Facility
- Tern Lake Day Use Area 10.8 mi · Facility
- Crescent Creek Campground 12.5 mi · Campground
Contact
- Book Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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