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BLM Camping

Kimball Pass

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is on a mission to preserve the diversity, health, and productivity of public lands. Thanks to its efforts, visitors to BLM land can enjoy the great outdoors and view nature in its unaltered form. Kimball Pass is one of three trails that allow you to access the Chugach Mountains of Alaska. Throughout this historic pass, you can enjoy telegraph remnants, beautiful snow caps, and various wildlife viewing opportunities. Eight national parks are scattered throughout the state. They are Gates of the Arctic, Kobuk Valley, Denali, Lake Clark, Katmai, Kenai Fjords, Wrangell St. Elias, and Glacier Bay.

What to See and Do

Hiking and Biking

Tiekel Trees Alpine Access Trail

This lightly trafficked trail, which is an hour and 21 minutes southeast of Kimball Pass, features a lake and beautiful panoramic views from the top. The Tiekel Trees Alpine Access Trail is an out-and-back route that is best used from May to October.

Length: 2.6 miles

Intensity: Hard

Thompson Pass

Located an hour and 50 minutes southwest of Kimball Pass, Thompson Pass is a loop-style trail. It offers scenic views and excellent bird-watching opportunities.

Length: 2.4 miles

Intensity: Moderate

Worthington Glacier Loop

The Worthington Glacier Loop, an hour and 48 minutes southwest of Kimball Pass, features a beautiful lake. Expect a large uphill climb going from an elevation of around 2,000 feet to 2,900 feet.

Length: 2.3 miles

Intensity: Hard

Liberty Falls Trail

An hour and 28 minutes northeast of Kimball Pass is Liberty Falls Trail, an out-and-back route that features a lake and a spruce forest. The start of the trail is steep, but it leads to a level ridge that provides stunning views of the mountains.

Length: 2.3 miles

Intensity: Moderate

Fishing and Boating

Kimball Pass offers a variety of fishing opportunities. Pippin Lake, an hour and two minutes northwest of Kimball Pass, and the Squirrel Creek Recreational Site, which is 58 minutes northwest of Kimball Pass, are the most popular. These places are stocked by the state of Alaska with Arctic grayling and rainbow trout. Other options include O'Brien Creek, Eskilida Creek, Second Lake, Tonsina Lake, and the Tonsina River. You can expect to catch trout, sockeye, silver salmon, and chinook.

Climbing

There are various mountain ridges that you can scale throughout this region of Alaska. A couple of the most popular are Wrangell-St. Elias, an hour and 25 minutes northwest of Kimball Pass, and Mt. Tiekel, which is an hour and 25 minutes southwest of Kimball Pass.

Wildlife Viewing

Alaska is home to an abundance of wildlife ranging from birds to land mammals. Some of the most popular land mammals you'll see include brown and black bears, moose, caribou, musk ox, mountain goats, Dall sheep, wolves, and porcupines. Some popular bird species that you may come across include bald eagles, swans, snowy owls, ravens, Arctic warblers, bluethroats, emperor geese, red-faced cormorants, and yellow-billed loons.

Picnicking

If you would like to have a picnic, Liberty Falls State Recreation Site, an hour and 29 minutes northeast of Kimball Pass, has one picnic area. An hour and 53 minutes southwest of Kimball Pass, you will find Blueberry Lake State Recreation Site, which has 25 picnic sites.

Hunting

Hunters around the globe come to this region of Alaska to hunt some of the biggest and most desired game. The animals range from fearsome grizzly bears to the majestic Dall sheep. Some popular animals for hunting are musk ox, grouse, hares, caribou, and moose.

Bureau of Land Management Camping

RV Camping

There is no BLM RV camping in the Kimball Pass area. There are, however, some non-BLM camping facilities close to the Kimball Pass area. These include Liberty Falls State Recreation Site, Wrangell View RV Park, and Squirrel Creek State Recreational Site.

Free Camping

If you're more interested in Bureau of Land Management free camping, your options are fairly limited in this area. Searching for "BLM camping near me" will bring up Sourdough Creek, a BLM campground located two hours and nine minutes northwest of Kimball Pass. There are limited areas for overnight BLM RV camping near Kimball Pass as most dispersed camping in the area can only be done in tents.

RV Rentals Near Kimball Pass Plan your next adventure

Credit: Vanna Mae, @vannamaeart

Planning your Kimball Pass BLM trip

When it comes to taking your RV to explore Alaska, you need to know that there are limited campsites. It's best to opt for booking a spot at one of the organized RV parks near urban towns. Keep in mind that the Alaskan weather can change quickly. You should pack accordingly by bringing various types of footwear and other gear. Cellphone service is minimal throughout the Alaskan wilderness, so you should be prepared for that. There are various restrictions when it comes to vehicle travel on park roads. Pay extra attention to posted signs to ensure your vehicle is authorized to be on the roadway.

Before you head out on your trip, check our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.

Leave No Trace

When traveling to the Bureau of Land Management campgrounds, it's best to follow the seven principles of the Leave No Trace initiative. These include: • Disposing of your waste properly • Traveling and staying on durable surfaces • Planning ahead and preparing • Leaving what you find • Minimizing campfire impacts • Respecting wildlife • Being considerate to other campers When all visitors follow these guiding principles, it helps ensure that BLM lands are preserved for future generations to come.

Kimball Pass Location

Kimball Pass is 48 miles northeast of Valdez and five miles northeast of Ernestine. You can access Kimball Pass off Richardson Highway (AK-4) at Milepost 61.8. There will be three trails branching from the access area. To head toward Kimball Pass, you'll want to take the left fork, heading in a northerly direction.

Ready to visit Kimball Pass? 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.