Williwaw Campground
Campground · Alaska · 19 bookable sites ·
Managed by the USDA Forest Service
Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area (National Heritage Area) · Restricted Access
- 19
- Bookable sites
- 145 ft
- Max rig length
- up to 12
- People per site
- 71 ft
- Elevation
Overview
Williwaw Campground, an idyllic area, sits beside Williwaw Creek near the town of Girdwood, Alaska. The campground boasts prime fishing, hiking and wildlife watching all within the Portage Valley.Next to the campground is the Williwaw Salmon Viewing Area, a top-notch spot for salmon viewing. In August, visitors can see these fish spawning in impressive numbers through the translucent waters.
The area is a great place to view numerous glaciated valleys and the Portage Glacier. Over the past 80 years, the glacier calved large icebergs into Portage Lake, located just east of the campground.
Recreation
Wildlife viewing includes moose, brown and black bears, mountain goats, lynx, bald eagles and wolves.The Williwaw Nature Trail can be reached from the campground. It heads to the Williwaw Fish Viewing Platform, passes under the highway bridge and follows Williwaw Creek to a series of ponds.
The trail then connects to the Trail of Blue Ice, which accesses the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center. The Trail of Blue Ice is also popular among mountain bikers.
Facilities
Drinking water from hand pumps, vault toilets, picnic tables and a parking area are provided at Williwaw Campground. Campsites are nicely separated, but no electric hookups are available.Natural Features
The campground sits in the Portage Valley of the eastern Kenai Peninsula in the Chugach National Forest. The Forest, spanning 5,361,803 acres is comprised of arid tundra wilderness, jagged mountains, deep fjords and glacier-fed rivers that surround the Prince William Sound.Nearby Attractions
Consider visiting the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Portage Glacier, the town of Whittier and Byron Glacier.Contact Info
For local information, please call (907) 522-8368 or call (907) 288-3178 for general information.The facts
- 19 bookable sites
- 52 sites in total, including non-bookable
- Vehicles up to 145 ft
- Up to 12 people per site
- Loops: AREA WILLIWAW CAMPGROUND, DBLS, WILL
Site types
- 33 Management
- 13 Standard Nonelectric
- 6 RV Nonelectric
52 campsites at Williwaw Campground
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XXX10 | AREA WILLIWAW CAMPGROUND | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX11 | AREA WILLIWAW CAMPGROUND | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX12 | AREA WILLIWAW CAMPGROUND | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX13 | AREA WILLIWAW CAMPGROUND | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX14 | AREA WILLIWAW CAMPGROUND | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX15 | AREA WILLIWAW CAMPGROUND | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX16 | AREA WILLIWAW CAMPGROUND | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX17 | AREA WILLIWAW CAMPGROUND | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX18 | AREA WILLIWAW CAMPGROUND | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX19 | AREA WILLIWAW CAMPGROUND | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX20 | AREA WILLIWAW CAMPGROUND | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX21 | AREA WILLIWAW CAMPGROUND | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX22 | AREA WILLIWAW CAMPGROUND | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX23 | AREA WILLIWAW CAMPGROUND | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX24 | AREA WILLIWAW CAMPGROUND | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX25 | AREA WILLIWAW CAMPGROUND | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX26 | AREA WILLIWAW CAMPGROUND | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX27 | AREA WILLIWAW CAMPGROUND | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX28 | AREA WILLIWAW CAMPGROUND | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX29 | AREA WILLIWAW CAMPGROUND | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX30 | AREA WILLIWAW CAMPGROUND | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX31 | AREA WILLIWAW CAMPGROUND | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX32 | AREA WILLIWAW CAMPGROUND | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX33 | AREA WILLIWAW CAMPGROUND | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX34 | AREA WILLIWAW CAMPGROUND | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX35 | AREA WILLIWAW CAMPGROUND | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX36 | AREA WILLIWAW CAMPGROUND | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX37 | AREA WILLIWAW CAMPGROUND | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX5 | AREA WILLIWAW CAMPGROUND | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX6 | AREA WILLIWAW CAMPGROUND | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX7 | AREA WILLIWAW CAMPGROUND | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX8 | AREA WILLIWAW CAMPGROUND | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX9 | AREA WILLIWAW CAMPGROUND | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 020 | DBLS | Rv Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 53 ft | 12 | |
| 029 | DBLS | Rv Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 65 ft | 12 | |
| 030 | DBLS | Rv Nonelectric | Pull Through | Gravel | 131 ft | 12 | |
| 034 | DBLS | Rv Nonelectric | Pull Through | Gravel | 62 ft | 12 | |
| 006 | WILL | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Gravel | 128 ft | 8 | |
| 007 | WILL | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 61 ft | 8 | |
| 008 | WILL | Rv Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 56 ft | 8 | |
| 009 | WILL | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 57 ft | 8 | |
| 010 | WILL | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 59 ft | 8 | |
| 011 | WILL | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Gravel | 131 ft | 8 | |
| 012 | WILL | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 58 ft | 8 | |
| 013 | WILL | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 56 ft | 8 | |
| 016 | WILL | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Gravel | 144 ft | 8 | |
| 018 | WILL | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 56 ft | 8 | |
| 024 | WILL | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 65 ft | 8 | |
| 025 | WILL | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 56 ft | 8 | |
| 026 | WILL | Standard Nonelectric | Pull Through | Gravel | 130 ft | 8 | |
| 027 | WILL | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 55 ft | 8 | |
| 038 | WILL | Rv Nonelectric | Pull Through | Gravel | 145 ft | 8 |
Getting there
From Anchorage go 55 miles south on Seward highway to Portage Glacier Road
(milepost 78.9). The campground is located at mile 4.1 of the Portage Glacier Road.
60.78667, -148.87750 · 60°47'12.0"N 148°52'39.0"W
Typical weather
Typically 62°F in Jul, down to 28°F in Jan.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 28 | 31 | 34 | 43 | 52 | 60 | 62 | 60 | 54 | 43 | 33 | 31 |
| Low °F | 16 | 19 | 18 | 29 | 36 | 43 | 47 | 45 | 40 | 31 | 22 | 18 |
| Precip in | 13.8 | 10.7 | 9.5 | 12.3 | 11.9 | 7.5 | 7.2 | 10.8 | 22.8 | 18.9 | 16.3 | 17.5 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 1.3 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 Williwaw Campground
- Can you reserve a site at Williwaw Campground?
- Yes, Williwaw Campground is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Williwaw Campground have?
- 52 sites in total, of which 19 can be booked.
- What is the maximum RV length at Williwaw Campground?
- 145 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
Camping near Williwaw Campground
- Black Bear Campground 0.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Spencer Bench Cabin 6.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop Group Campground 8.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Bertha Creek Campground 13 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Granite Creek 14.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Pigot Bay Cabin 16.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Paulson Bay Cabin 17.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Black Bear Campground 0.4 mi · Campground
- Begich, Boggs Visitor Center 1.2 mi · Facility
- Spencer Whistle Stop 8.1 mi · Facility
- Chugach National Forest N Entry Sign 10.5 mi · Facility
- Bertha Creek Campground 13 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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