The sound of Tenderfoot Creek flows through this Forest Service campground built on the mountainside above Summit Lake. Located 75 miles from Anchorage along the Seward Highway, the 35-site campground accommodates RVs up to 100 feet with gravel pads and pull-through options, though the terrain creates some unusual layouts where picnic tables sit elevated above parking areas.
Sites closest to Summit Lake provide direct water access for kayaking and fishing, with reviewers consistently noting the clean lake and boat ramp availability. The campground's hillside position means some sites offer lake views while others face the forested slope. Tanya B. notes it's "built on the side of a mountain" with "some strange campsites," though she praises the water access. Road noise from the nearby Seward Highway echoes off surrounding mountains, particularly noticeable for tent campers.
Vault toilets, drinking water, and trash service support the campground's basic amenities, with firewood available for purchase. The forested setting provides natural windbreaks but limited cell service. Bug pressure varies by season and location within the campground, with flies and mosquitoes more prominent in lower sites near the lake. For additional options in the region, campers can explore campgrounds just outside Chugach National Forest. The campground works best for RV travelers and lake enthusiasts willing to trade convenience for water access.
Description
Overview
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.
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.
Facilities
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.
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.
Contact Info
For local information, please call (907) 522-8368 or call (907) 288-3178 for general information.
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.
Location
Public CampgroundTenderfoot Creek is located in Alaska
Directions
From Anchorage, go south on Seward Highway approximately 81 miles to Summit Lake. Turn at milepost 46 before Summit Lake Lodge.
Address
Seward Ranger District, 33599 Ranger Station Spur
Seward, AK 99664
Coordinates
60.6363889 N
149.4972222 W
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonLTESome Coverage
- AT&TLTESome CoverageVerified by 3 usersLast on 4/3/26
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonLTESome Coverage
- AT&TLTESome CoverageVerified by 3 usersLast on 4/3/26
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)
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Firewood Available
- Reservable
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Alcohol
For Vehicles
- Pull-Through Sites
- Big Rig Friendly


















