Trail River
Chugach National Forest
Trail River Campground, set between the Trail River and Kenai Lake, provides lake, river and snow-capped mountain scenery among the hemlock and spruce forests of the Chugach National Forest. It lies within driving distance of two main tourism destinations; 24 miles north of Seward and 40 miles east of Cooper Landing, AK.
Miles of hiking and biking trails weave throughout the area. Moose, brown and black bear, sheep and goats can be found across a large parts of the forest. Kenai Lake marks the headwaters of the Kenai River. The campground is situated on the Eastern Kenai Peninsula at elevation 450 feet.
The campground is divided into three loops. Spruce Tree loop has ample shade and stellar views of the mountains. Eagle Point Loop overlooks Kenai Lake and the River Terrace Loop is nearest to the river.
The group campsite, which accommodates 70 guests, is part of Trail River Loop.
The picnic shelter at the group site is a great place for large gatherings such as wedding receptions, retirement parties or birthdays. It has a beautiful, timber frame pavilion with a large central grill and covered picnic tables. The adjacent volleyball court, horseshoe pit and playground make it fun for all ages. There is also a large fire ring with seating, and plenty of parking. Amenities include vault toilets, trash collection and drinking water.
The Day Use Area (mentioned above) includes lake shore access, picnic tables and vault toilets.
Need to Know
- Be bear aware; keep all food out of sight in approved containers or locked inside your vehicle and remove all food from area after eating.
- Limit 2 vehicles per site.
- For more information on Chugach National Forest, click here
- Don't Move Firewood: Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by purchasing firewood near your destination and burning it on-site. For more information visit dontmovefirewood.org.
Natural Features
The Chugach National Forest covers the eastern half of the Kenai Peninsula and extends around Prince William Sound. It covers over 5 million acres and is characterized by jagged mountains, deep fjords, glacier-fed rivers, and dense forests. This rich natural area supports many miles of productive fishing streams as well as wildlife populations.
Nearby Attractions
Trail River Campground is located close to many tourist destinations. Within the Seward Ranger District, many world-class trailheads and day use areas await discovery. The newly-remodeled Seward Ranger District Information Office, is one mile south on Ranger Station Spur. There, friendly forest service employees can help you gather information, interpret the local ecology, purchase area maps, and offer advice about the Chugach National Forest.
From this campground, possible day trips include wildlife viewing in Kenai Fjords National Park, rafting down the Kenai River, and a visit to Portage Glacier. Portage Glacier, is located in Portage Valley, a 14-mile isthmus that connects the Kenai Peninsula to mainland Alaska. Glacial remnants that can be seen today are Explorer, Middle, Byron, Burns and Shakespeare glaciers. Portage Valley is also home to the Begich Boggs Visitor Center, a world-class visitor center with a full-time interpretive staff and exhibits ready to inspire and explain the natural area.
Recreation
The Day Use Site at Trail River Campground provides beach access to Kenai Lake. Many people enjoy fishing, collecting driftwood, skipping rocks and walking along the beach. The view of the mountains surrounding Kenai Lake is gorgeous. Snow is present in the high peaks and avalanche chutes until the end of August.
Trout fishing can be very productive from the beach at Trail River Campground as well as at many nearby streams. The lake is home to Dolly Varden, rainbow trout and lake trout. Although trout fishing is open year-round in Kenai Lake, special restrictions apply within 1/4 mile of inlet streams. Kenai Lake is not open to salmon fishing. Anglers are required to have a State of Alaska Fishing license and obey all regulations.
Within a one-mile radius of the campground entrance, are five trails: Falls Creek Trail, Crown Point Mine Road, Ptarmigan Creek Trail and Vagt Lake Trail. All of these trails run roughly east-west and provide access to the Iditarod National Historic Trail (INHT) which runs north-south. The INHT is an ongoing project to build a '"southern trek" connecting Seward (Mile 0 of the Iditarod Trail) to Eagle River (north of Anchorage). Currently, sections of this trail are still under construction, and several bridges are missing. However, links between Falls Creek Trail and Ptarmigan Lake Trail as well as between Vagt Lake Trail and Crown Point Mine Road make loop hikes possible.
The Falls Creek OHV Trail is a half mile north of the entrance road. This steep trail provides good views of Kenai and Lower Trail Lakes and is deal for hikers and experienced OHV enthusiasts.
A second option for motorized recreation is the Crown Point Mine Road. This trail is located one mile north of the campground entrance road at the end of Mine Road. This historic mining road leads above tree-line and provides great views.
South of the entrance road is the Ptarmigan Creek Campground. This campground is also the location of Ptarmigan Creek Trail as well as a day use area with a fish-viewing platform where you can view spawning salmon in the late summer and fall. Ptarmigan Creek trail steadily gains elevation as it follows Ptarmigan Creek to Ptarmigan Lake. A round trip to the lake and back is seven miles.
In the winter, the campground is closed and the campground's entrance road and loops are groomed for freestyle and Nordic skiing.
Contact Information
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Seward Ranger District, 33599 Ranger Station Spur SEWARD AK 99664
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
From Anchorage, go south on Seward Highway approximately 100 miles to Crown Point. Turn at Milepost 24.2 on Trail River Road for 2 miles to campground.
Available Campsites
- Site 052, Loop Spruce Wood , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 076, Loop Eagle Point , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 005, Loop River Terrace , Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 001, Loop River Terrace , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 049, Loop Spruce Wood , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 023, Loop River Terrace , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 045, Loop Spruce Wood , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 057, Loop Spruce Wood , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 090, Loop Eagle Point , Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 027, Loop River Terrace , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 038, Loop Spruce Wood , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 054, Loop Spruce Wood , Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 084, Loop Eagle Point , Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 001, Loop Group Site, Type Group Shelter Nonelectric
- Site 024, Loop River Terrace , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 047, Loop Spruce Wood , Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 050, Loop Spruce Wood , Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 089, Loop Eagle Point , Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 029, Loop River Terrace , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 017, Loop River Terrace , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 042, Loop Spruce Wood , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 072, Loop Eagle Point , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 071, Loop Eagle Point , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 035, Loop Spruce Wood , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 056, Loop Spruce Wood , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 081, Loop Eagle Point , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 041, Loop Spruce Wood , Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 061, Loop Spruce Wood , Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 059, Loop Spruce Wood , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 075, Loop Eagle Point , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 055, Loop Spruce Wood , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 065, Loop Eagle Point , Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 073, Loop Eagle Point , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 051, Loop Spruce Wood , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 013, Loop River Terrace , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 040, Loop Spruce Wood , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 014, Loop River Terrace , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 011, Loop River Terrace , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 039, Loop Spruce Wood , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 018, Loop River Terrace , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 078, Loop Eagle Point , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 079, Loop Eagle Point , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 088, Loop Eagle Point , Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 064, Loop Eagle Point , Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 031, Loop Spruce Wood , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 069, Loop Eagle Point , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 034, Loop Spruce Wood , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 085, Loop Eagle Point , Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 063, Loop Eagle Point , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 086, Loop Eagle Point , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 003, Loop River Terrace , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 022, Loop River Terrace , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 028, Loop River Terrace , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 037, Loop Spruce Wood , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 068, Loop Eagle Point , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 004, Loop River Terrace , Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 007, Loop River Terrace , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 033, Loop Spruce Wood , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 087, Loop Eagle Point , Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 070, Loop Eagle Point , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 080, Loop Eagle Point , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 006, Loop River Terrace , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 091, Loop Eagle Point , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 020, Loop River Terrace , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 060, Loop Spruce Wood , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 009, Loop River Terrace , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 067, Loop Eagle Point , Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 016, Loop River Terrace , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 008, Loop River Terrace , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 002, Loop River Terrace , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 044, Loop Spruce Wood , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 021, Loop River Terrace , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 077, Loop Eagle Point , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 019, Loop River Terrace , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 043, Loop Spruce Wood , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 025, Loop River Terrace , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 046, Loop Spruce Wood , Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 010, Loop River Terrace , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 012, Loop River Terrace , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 015, Loop River Terrace , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 083, Loop Eagle Point , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 062, Loop Eagle Point , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 030, Loop Spruce Wood , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 058, Loop Spruce Wood , Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 036, Loop Spruce Wood , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 048, Loop Spruce Wood , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 082, Loop Eagle Point , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 053, Loop Spruce Wood , Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 032, Loop Spruce Wood , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 066, Loop Eagle Point , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 074, Loop Eagle Point , Type Rv Nonelectric
- Site 026, Loop River Terrace , Type Rv Nonelectric
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