The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
If you're looking for an unforgettable hike through some of Alaska's most beautiful terrain, McKay Creek Trail could be a perfect destination for your next trip. Not only does this iconic trail offer incredible views of mountains, tundra, forest, and meadows, but it's also managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), a government agency tasked with preserving natural lands throughout the US. This means you'll be able to enjoy free trailside camping. If you're in the Fairbanks area and looking for BLM camping, this trail is one of the best destinations. However, you'll need to make sure that you always follow the Leave No Trace rules and heed the latest fire regulations.
While the winter months can be quite harsh in the area, you'll be able to enjoy lots of long, warm summer days on the trail. In fact, the sun only dips slightly below the horizon during the year's longest days, which means that there's never true darkness. Even at midnight, the lighting is like the conditions you would experience moments after sunset in most other areas of the country. Thus, you'll be able to go out on the trail at any hour! If you want to visit the nearest national park to McKay Creek Trail, head three hours and 10 minutes to the southwest to reach Denali National Park.
McKay Creek Trail offers stunning views of mountains, tundra, forest, and meadows. This is one reason why it's a great destination for both hiking and mountain biking. Furthermore, there are lots of scenic spots for trailside camping.
Length: 16.5 miles
Intensity: Moderate
McKay Creek offers some of the best fishing in the area. You may catch Arctic grayling, salmon, trout, and other local species.
Due to the remoteness of the area, there are plenty of opportunities to see wildlife along McKay Creek Trail. The region is home to reindeer, moose, black bears, foxes, lynxes, and many other species. Some of the best places to view local wildlife can be found near McKay Creek and in the park's meadows and tundra. Also, numerous bird species can be found throughout the region, including willow ptarmigans, jays, and robins.
Even though there are no designated picnic areas along McKay Creek Trail, it offers breathtaking scenery. This makes it a perfect place to enjoy a meal outdoors wherever you can find a suitable spot. You can also travel 54 minutes southwest of McKay Creek Trail to get to Whitefish Campground & Boat Launch. Here, there are four picnic areas, including a shelter that can be reserved.
Since snow cover is exceptionally persistent at McKay Creek Trail, it's a great destination for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. The snowpack is typically stable from October through April in the lower elevations of the park, and the season can be even longer in its higher regions.
There are campgrounds in Fairbanks and the surrounding area that offer RV camping with amenities. Some of the best places to park your RV are River's Edge RV Park and Campground, which is an hour southwest of McKay Creek Trail; Fairbanks / Chena River KOA, located an hour and four minutes to the southwest; and Chena Hot Springs Resort Campground, an hour and 57 minutes southeast of the BLM site. These campgrounds provide dump stations, hookups for water and electricity, family-friendly activities, and beautiful scenery.
It's possible to camp alongside the trail, which is considered to be one of the best destinations for Bureau of Land Management free camping. Other nearby Bureau of Land Management campgrounds include Ophir Creek Campground an hour and 17 minutes northeast of McKay Creek Trail, Mount Prindle Campground 58 minutes northeast of McKay Creek Trail, and Red Squirrel Campground an hour and 38 minutes to the southeast. Wherever you choose to camp, it's important to make sure that you do not stay in any one location for longer than two weeks per month. Also, it's important to minimize your impact on the environment by following the principles of Leave No Trace at all times.
While McKay Creek Trail is strikingly beautiful, it's exceptionally important to make sure that you are properly prepared and always check the forecast before you head out. Weather conditions can change rapidly, and this is especially true in the region's higher elevations. In fact, frost is possible every month. So even if the weather is relatively warm during the day, you should bring a light jacket with you.
It's important to bring a camp stove, knife, fire starting kit, and other wilderness survival essentials. Also, you should bring a GPS with you, which can help ensure that you do not get lost. Furthermore, it's important to know that winters in the park are extremely harsh, and snow cover often persists into May. Thus, it's best to visit the park sometime between late May and September.
Due to the region's remoteness and harsh climate, it's especially important to bring effective wilderness survival gear. So before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.
In order to make sure that future generations will be able to experience the pristine natural environment that McKay Creek Trail and other BLM sites offer, it's important to minimize your impact on the environment by following the principles of Leave No Trace. This means always picking up after yourself, abiding by the latest fire regulations, and staying on the trail.
McKay Creek Trail is around an hour northeast of Fairbanks, Alaska. You can get to it by taking AK-2 West and staying on it for approximately 10 miles until you reach the small community of Fox. Then you'll need to take a right onto AK-6 North, which is also called Steese Highway. Continue for 30.8 miles, and then take a left on the road that leads to the trailhead.
Ready to visit McKay Creek 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.
