About This Park
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.
Contact Info
For local information, please call (907) 522-8368 or call (907) 288-3178 for general information.
Nearby Attractions
Consider visiting the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Portage Glacier, the town of Whittier and Byron Glacier.
Quick Information
- Type: Federal Park
- Network: Federal – Other
- Price Range: $15-35
- Rating: 4.715447 / 5
Amenities
Contact & Location
145 Forest Station Road, P.O. Box 129
GIRDWOOD, AK 99587
Book This Park
No hookups here — this is genuine off-grid camping, best suited for self-contained rigs and tent campers who prefer solitude. Sitting at elevation brings cooler temperatures, thinner air, and the kind of sweeping views that make the drive worthwhile. Cell service is likely limited out here — consider it a built-in reason to properly unplug.