Tenderfoot Creek

Chugach National Forest

Tenderfoot Creek Campground unveils views of the surrounding mountains from every direction and offers campsites that face the edge of a glistening lake.

Perched along Summit Lake on the Eastern Kenai Peninsula of Alaska, Tenderfoot Creek provides an ideal destination for fishing, kayaking, canoeing, hiking and wildlife watching.

Campers may experience morning wakeup calls from loons or view bald eagles fishing in the clear waters. Impressive wildlife inhabitants include moose, brown and black bears, mountain goats, lynx and wolves. Campsites are nicely spaced along the eastern shores of Summit Lake. Tenderfoot Creek passes through the campground and surrounding forest includes spruce and hemlock.

Tenderfoot Creek campers enjoy amenities such as drinking water, vault toilets, picnic tables, trash collection, fire pits and a boat ramp. The majority of campsites are pull-through and parking aprons are gravel. Firewood can be purchased onsite.

Need to Know

• Be bear aware; keep all food out of site in approved containers or locked inside your vehicle and remove all food from area after eating
• Parking at boat ramp is limited
• 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

Summit Lake is a small cirque lake, or tarn, reaching a depth of 20 feet. This cirque was the beginning of a long-gone, alpine glacier. The surrounding terrain and unique mountain landscape is all glacially carved.

Nearby Attractions

Visit Portage Glacier in the 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.

Recreation

The Summit Lake Trail heads south of Summit Lake and connects with the Resurrection Pass Trail, a wonderful 39-mile hiking and biking trail that climbs 2,100 feet of elevation, providing excellent views of the area. The lake is stocked with Dolly Varden and Rainbow trout.

Winter recreation includes backcountry skiing, snow-boarding and snowshoeing.

Contact Information

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Seward Ranger District, 33599 Ranger Station Spur SEWARD AK 99664

Phone Number

For campground inquiries, please call: (907)288-3178

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip

Driving Directions

From Anchorage, go south on Seward Highway approximately 81 miles to Summit Lake. Turn at milepost 46 before Summit Lake Lodge.

Available Campsites

• Site 033, Loop AREA TENDERFOOT CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 032, Loop AREA TENDERFOOT CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 021, Loop AREA TENDERFOOT CREEK, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 018, Loop AREA TENDERFOOT CREEK, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 017, Loop AREA TENDERFOOT CREEK, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 004, Loop AREA TENDERFOOT CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 001, Loop AREA TENDERFOOT CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 011, Loop AREA TENDERFOOT CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 023, Loop AREA TENDERFOOT CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 016, Loop AREA TENDERFOOT CREEK, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 007, Loop AREA TENDERFOOT CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 002, Loop AREA TENDERFOOT CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 010, Loop AREA TENDERFOOT CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 014, Loop AREA TENDERFOOT CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 003, Loop AREA TENDERFOOT CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 009, Loop AREA TENDERFOOT CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 035, Loop AREA TENDERFOOT CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 022, Loop AREA TENDERFOOT CREEK, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 008, Loop AREA TENDERFOOT CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site HOST, Loop AREA TENDERFOOT CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 006, Loop AREA TENDERFOOT CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 031, Loop AREA TENDERFOOT CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 020, Loop AREA TENDERFOOT CREEK, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 019, Loop AREA TENDERFOOT CREEK, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 024, Loop AREA TENDERFOOT CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 015, Loop AREA TENDERFOOT CREEK, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
• Site 029, Loop AREA TENDERFOOT CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 034, Loop AREA TENDERFOOT CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 027, Loop AREA TENDERFOOT CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 025, Loop AREA TENDERFOOT CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 026, Loop AREA TENDERFOOT CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 028, Loop AREA TENDERFOOT CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 005, Loop AREA TENDERFOOT CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 012, Loop AREA TENDERFOOT CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 013, Loop AREA TENDERFOOT CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 030, Loop AREA TENDERFOOT CREEK, Type Standard Nonelectric

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