The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
The Campbell Tract National Recreation Trail is in Campbell Tract SRMA on the north side of Anchorage's 4,000-acre Far North Bicentennial Park. The 3.4-mile trail is open for various non-motorized uses, including horseback riding, mountain biking, and hiking. Staff at the Campbell Creek Science Center use this trail as an outdoor classroom.
Nearby, you will find terrific opportunities to go BLM camping. You can boondock on any public land in Alaska for up to 14 days unless specific rules are against it. There are also Bureau of Land Management campgrounds nearby that you will want to consider. This site is about 240 miles from Denali National Park.
Congress recognized the Campbell Tract Loop Trail as a national trail in 2007. Start this hiking adventure by walking through spruce and hardwood forest. The trail runs along taxiways constructed during World War II. Much of the distance lies along tank trails. Part of this trail is paved while other parts are natural stone.
Length: 4.5 miles
Intensity: Easy
Head out the back door of the Campbell Creek Science Center to begin this forest and creek stroll. The first part of the trail runs through a hardwood forest. Then it follows a stream until you reach the edge of Campbell Creek SRMA.
Length: 2 miles
Intensity: Easy
The 8 Mile Loop Trail starts by following the Campbell Creek Trail for about 0.25 miles. Then it branches off toward the airfield, where you will see a gate marked with the trail's name. Head through the gate, and you will be in a heavily forested area.
Length: 8 miles
Intensity: Moderate
This hike starts at the Sky Jumper Trailhead. Hike along the road for about one mile, and then follow the path into the woods. The Moose Track Trail makes a loop through the woods in front of the Campbell Creek Science Center before returning to its starting point.
Length: 2 miles
Intensity: Easy
Ship Creek runs behind many of the downtown businesses in Anchorage, and it is a great place to go fishing. If you want easy access to king salmon fishing, then head here in mid-May through late June. The best fishing at this location usually occurs two hours before high tide. After the king salmon spawn, the silver salmon fishing is generally excellent until Labor Day weekend. There are windows of time that you cannot fish at this location, so be sure to check the local fishing regulations.
Eklutna Canyon in Chugach State Park is a fantastic place to go climbing. Park in the nearby parking lot and follow the river upstream to get to the climbing location. You may want to start your climb by rappelling into the canyon, but a trail also leads to the canyon's base.
Many animals that live near the Campbell Creek National Recreation Trail are nocturnal, so the best time for wildlife viewing is often in the early morning hours. You can often spot lynx and coyotes getting a drink from the nearby creek. Later, look for brown or black bears. Since the trail is at a lower elevation than much of the surrounding area, you may see moose grazing in the summer. This trail is often a great place to see bald eagles, especially in the spring when they are nesting.
The area immediately adjacent to the Campbell Creek Science Center is a fantastic location for a picnic. Listen to the stream located behind the building bubble through the property. If the weather is not conducive to sitting on the ground, there are tables on the deck of the science center. Then head indoors to learn more about native wildlife and join rangers on a guided hike.
BLM RV camping at Campbell Tract Loop National Recreation Trail is not available. When searching for where to find BLM camping, consider Sourdough Creek Campground at milepost 147.5 of the Richardson Highway. Many paddlers use this campground as the ending point of an adventure on the Gulkana Wild and Scenic River. The two-mile-long Sourdough Creek Interpretive Trail runs through this campground.
Bureau of Land Management free camping is available at the small Lake Lorraine Campground near Wasilla. This lake can be a terrific place to go rainbow trout fishing. The campsites are small, with most sites only large enough to accommodate campervans and smaller travel trailers.
The Campbell Tract Loop National Recreation Trail is near Anchorage, making it a great spot to visit for a morning workout in nature. Consider using a headlamp if you are hiking in the dark.
This trail is open year-round, but keep in mind that during the winter in this region, the sun never gets very high in the sky. It may not appear until about 10:15 a.m. and will disappear about 3:45 p.m. You may also need skis or snowshoes to navigate this trail in the winter months.
Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.
Cleaning up after yourself and your traveling companions is vital when visiting Campbell Tract Loop National Recreation Trail. Wildlife cannot properly digest many of the trail foods that you may eat along the route, so be sure to leave no food remnants behind. Leaving food scraps behind has also been proven to make wild animals more aggressive toward humans. Of course, it's also important to pick up any trash so that this area remains clean for other visitors.
The Campbell Tract Loop National Recreation Trail is at Campbell Tract near Anchorage, Alaska. From downtown Anchorage, take the Seward Highway south and exit on Diamond Boulevard. Turn left and continue until Elmore Road. Go a short distance and turn right on BLM Road.
Address: 4700 BLM Road, Anchorage, AK 99507
Ready to visit Campbell Tract National Recreation Trail? An RV rental is a great way to experience your destination. Not only will you be close to all the action, but at the end of a long day exploring, you'll have your RV to return to for the night where you'll enjoy a full kitchen, bathroom, and nice soft bed. Not sure about renting an RV? Here’s a step-by-step-guide to renting an RV with RVshare.
