Within Chugach National Forest, Granite Creek Campground provides a Forest Service-managed base camp positioned along the Seward Highway. The facility operates seasonally from late May through early September, charging $19 per night for sites that accommodate RVs up to 53 feet. Aimee H. notes it's "a great stop in between Anchorage Alaska and anywhere else south."
The campground spreads across a forested setting where Granite Creek flows along the eastern boundary. Sites feature gravel parking pads, fire rings with metal grates, and picnic tables. Tent campers should expect to set up on gravel or pavement rather than dirt, as vegetation restoration efforts restrict camping on natural ground. Trees and brush provide separation between the 37 sites, though privacy levels vary by location.
Dolly Varden fishing draws anglers to Granite Creek itself, while the nearby Kenai and Russian Rivers offer more substantial salmon runs during peak season. The campground includes hand-pump water access, vault toilets, and trash service during operating months. A paved loop road connects all sites and extends toward Hope Road, creating opportunities for cycling. Food storage lockers help manage bear safety concerns in this active wildlife area.
Access involves navigating what reviewers describe as rough road conditions, particularly challenging for larger RVs despite the 53-foot maximum length allowance. Tanya B. recommends reservations for weekend visits, noting "you need to reserve a spot if showing up on the weekend." Sites 8, 9, and 13 receive frequent mentions for their proximity to both creek access and facilities.
The campground serves tent campers and RV travelers seeking a Forest Service facility within reasonable distance of camping near Girdwood while maintaining access to Kenai Peninsula destinations. No pets are permitted, and alcohol is allowed on site.
Description
Overview
Granite Creek Campground is set in the captivating Kenai Mountains on Turnagain Pass, surrounded by wildflowers and spruce forests. The campground, about 1 hour south of Achorage, AK on the Seward Highway, boasts prime fishing, hiking, packrafting, and wildlife watching.
Recreation
Biking is a popular activity at Granite Creek Campground. There is a paved bike path along the Seward Highway that extends for five miles south to the Hope Higway and Johnson Pass North Trailhead just north of the campground offers a 23 mile mountain biking or hiking opportunity. For the packrafters, Granite and Six-Mile Creeks offer world class opportunities. Whatever recreation activity you choose, look for raspberries to pick and wildflowers to smell. Fishing is considered intermediate, and Dolly Varden trout are among the tasty fish you might catch. Look for wildlife like moose, snowshoe hare, black and brown bears, marmots, and mountain goats, or sit back and listen to water rushing through the glacier-fed Granite Creek.
Facilities
Granite Creek Campground is a loop with 19 sites are nicely seperated and most sites are right beside the creek. There are pinic tables and fire rings at each site and vault toilets, a water spigot, and trash services located in the campground durring the summer months. Bears frequent the area, so please make use of the provided bear boxes.
Natural Features
Set in the Chugach National Forest, Granite Creek Campground nestled among the spruce near the confuluence of Granite Creek and Six-Mile Creek. These roaring glacier-fed creeks provide wonder recreational opportunities. From many place in the campground, one can see the towering Kenai mountains and other spectacular sights that await.
Nearby Attractions
A mile east of Granite Creek Campground is the Johnson Pass North Trailhead with a well-maintained 23-mile trail with breathtaking vistas. Parking for Turnagain Pass trail is located 6 miles north of the campground entrance. Also nearby is Six Mile Creek, with Class V whitewater for rafting and kayaking. Consider spending the day in Portage Valley visiting the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Portage Glacier, the town of Whittier, or Byron Glacier.
Contact Info
For local information, please call (907) 522-8368 or call (907) 228-3178 for general information.
Location
Public CampgroundGranite Creek is located in Alaska
Directions
Granite Creek Campground is located at mile post 62.6 of the Seward Highway. The campground is 64.4 miles south of Anchorage and 62.6 miles north of Seward.
Address
145 Forest Station Road, P.O. Box 129
Girdwood, AK 99587
Coordinates
60.7252778 N
149.2955556 W
Connectivity
T-MobileNo Coverage- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
- Boat-InSites accessible by watercraft.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Reservable
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Alcohol
For Vehicles
- Big Rig Friendly
