The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
Cripple Creek Campground in the White Mountains is a beautiful place with tall pine trees to base your Alaska vacation. Located about an hour from Fairbanks, you can see many types of wildlife on fabulous hiking paths in these mountains. Beaver Creek starts in the mountains, and it is a great place to go on a float trip. You will also find terrific opportunities to fly fish.
Nearby, Denali National Park offers many fabulous activities, including hiking, biking, and fishing. You will also want to explore Denali State Park, where you can find more hiking and fishing opportunities. The Steese Highway, where this campground is located, is a national scenic byway with stunning views. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) camping is a great way to reconnect with nature, and you can stay at very reasonable rates for up to 14 days.
You will love the views of the Alaska Range and Mt. Denali from the Ski Loop Trail. Start this hike at the Wickersham Dome Trailhead in the park’s southwest corner at Mile 28 of the Eliot Highway. This trail is one of two trails that other shorter routes connect to, so you can find lots of branching trails from it to explore.
Length: 5 miles
Intensity: Moderate
If you love to pick berries, do not miss hiking the Summit Trail in September. You may even see black bears and other wildlife getting their fill of fresh berries. You will love seeing the views of the Brooks Range from this trail that starts at Wickersham Dome.
Length: 5 miles
Intensity: Moderate
You will enjoy seeing the wildflowers along this path that starts at Wickersham Dome in the summer. In August and September, the leaves in the alpine forest part of this hike are gorgeous. The most challenging part of this hike occurs near the summit, where you will need to scramble over some boulders, but the panoramic view makes it worth the effort.
Length: 7 miles
Intensity: Difficult
If the weather is dry, the Colorado Creek Trail is a great hiking option because it becomes muddy and swampy when it rains. Even if you need to turn back when the mud becomes too much, you will want to see the moss-covered rocks at the beginning of this hike. Then this trail enters a spruce and birch forest as it meanders along several creeks as it gains elevation.
Length: 22.5 miles
Intensity: Strenuous
If you are looking for a short hike to stretch your legs, the McKinley Overlook Trail is the perfect option. You will love the views of Denali, formerly Mt. McKinley, from this well-maintained trail. It forms a loop, so it is easy to get back to its start.
Length: 1.5 miles
Intensity: Easy
Cripple Creek Campground is next to the Chatanika River. Consider launching a kayak here and floating down this quiet section of the river to Chatanika State Recreation Site, about 25 miles away. This river is a great spot to go fly fishing for Arctic graylings.
If you want to go climbing, head to Mount Pinder. You will find several routes up the 900-foot Main Wall. There is a secondary 300-foot wall nearby that can also be a great place to go climbing. Keep in mind that this area is remote, and you may need an ATV or a high-clearance vehicle to access it.
You may see many animals near the Cripple Creek campground, including moose, wolves, and wolverines. If it is berry season, expect to see black bears grabbing ripe berries. At higher elevations, you may see Dall sheep. During warmer months, you may spot caribou at higher elevations. They will move to lower elevations as daytime temperatures stay cooler.
The White Mountains offer many scenic places for a picnic. If you choose not to get off the main highway, consider picnicking near the trailhead to the McKinley Overlook Trail. There are picnic tables for your convenience so that you can eat and take in the beautiful view.
Cripple Creek Campground is open throughout the year. This is a fantastic place for dog-mushing, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Many of the main hiking trails are better in the winter because they are kept groomed to allow access to the public-use cabins and lean-tos, and they will not be muddy.
There are two Bureau of Land Management campgrounds in the White Mountains. Cripple Creek campground is a great place to go RV camping because it is near a maintained road, but there is no water or sewer available. The other option is the Mount Prindle Campground offering hand-pumped water, trashcans, and outhouses. There are 13 sites available. The nearest RV dump station is in Fairbanks.
On the Fairbanks Highway, there is a free camping spot at 48 Mile Pond. You can take advantage of the pond to catch a supper of Arctic grayling. There are also large shade trees at this site.
You will need to be self-contained to camp at Cripple Creek Campground. Therefore, ensure that you start with empty sewage tanks and full water tanks. Additionally, make sure that all of your electricity, water, and generators are in great working condition.
BLM camping in Alaska gives you the chance to see wildlife in their natural habitat. Others often miss this memorable experience because they are still trying to get to a site while you are outside under the midnight sun enjoying it. The best memories of an Alaskan camping trip often come when nestled around a campfire instead of what you planned months ahead of time.
Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.
Make sure when you vacate your site that you leave only footprints behind. This ensures that the BLM campsite is ready for the next group to enjoy a fabulous camping adventure. Furthermore, it helps protect the ecosystem and ensure that no animals get hurt by tearing into your trash.
This campground is at mile 60 on the Steese Highway in Alaska. If you are coming from Fairbanks, take Alaska 2 West and turn on Alaska 6 North, better known as the Steese Highway. Then, drive about 60 miles until you reach the campground.
Ready to visit Cripple Creek Campground? 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.
