The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
Paxson Lake is one of 3,197 named lakes in the state of Alaska. A federal government agency, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), manages campgrounds here. Find Paxson Lake Campground on the Richardson Highway at milepost 175. The campground features a boat launch that campers can use to start floating down the Gulkana River's main branch. A foot trail offers shore access to the boat mooring area.
Located 184 miles east of Denali National Park and 105 miles northeast of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, the lake is surrounded by pristine natural beauty as only the state of Alaska can deliver. Small villages dot the area, including Gakona nearby to the south. The closest major cities are Fairbanks 137 miles to the northeast and Anchorage 243 miles to the southeast.
South Landmark Gap Trail starts at milepost 24.7 on the Denali Highway's southern side. Head to mile 24.8 for a better trailhead. Hikers must stay on the designated trails since this trail goes through the Tangle Lakes Archaeological District. Green dotted signs mark acceptable trails, and red dotted signs are only open to motorized use if there are 12 inches of snow or 6 inches of frozen ground. The trail is very muddy and wet.
Length: 6.2 miles
Intensity: Difficult
Boating access is available at the Bureau of Land Management campgrounds for both fishing in the lake or heading down the river. Several pull-off fishing spots dot the 24.7-mile shoreline of this 3,879-acre lake. Paxson Lake usually has ice on the surface well into May, but lake trout fishing is strong between May and the middle of June. Anglers using copper-, silver-, and gold-colored spinners often catch good sizes of fish. Other species that have been caught or stocked in Paxson Lake include round whitefish, humpback whitefish, burbot, Arctic grayling, and both sockeye and chinook salmon.
Climbers enjoying Bureau of Land Management free camping can flex their muscles at nearby Gulkana and College Glacier bouldering. Random glacial erratics are scattered around a talus filled with old moraines for a combination of alpine and boulder climbs. From the Richardson Highway, go through Isabelle Pass until you get to the Richardson Monument. Take a left on the gravel road to travel two miles, where there's a gravel roundabout prior to the road's terminus, and you can see a glacier from the road.
More than 30 mammalian species and twice as many birds call the region home. The banks of the lake and river are great places to possibly see wildlife taking a drink or even bathing. Beavers and otters are active in certain spots, and you always have the chance of seeing grizzly and black bears, caribou and moose, or coyotes. Kingfishers and bald eagles are also known to fly overhead.
Bureau of Land Management camping here includes picnic sites where you and your family can enjoy a meal surrounded by the majesty of the Alaskan wilderness. Fire rings are available for light, warmth, and toasting marshmallows when the sun goes down. Restrooms are also among the amenities provided in this location.
Every April, the Arctic Man race combines skiing with snowmobiling. Skiers race down two miles of a narrow canyon before snowmobiling partners tow them uphill only to come back down. The same gravel road that leads to great climbing can give you a chance to watch this race across the open valley. Broken bones are bound to happen.
BLM RV camping is possible at Paxson Lake Campground. RV owners can find the entrance to this campsite at milepost 175 along the Richardson Highway. There are 45 total campsites. Five of them are walk-in sites close to the lakeshore, and two of them are listed as accessible per ABA/ADA standards. Regular campsites cost $12 per night while walk-in sites are $6 per night. Firewood, phone service and waste disposal are all available. Pets are welcome at this campsite.
If you're looking for BLM camping in Alaska, then you should know that dispersed camping is permitted. However, most of it is just for tent camping. RV boondocking opportunities are limited along the Richardson Highway. The running season of the Gulkana River tends to run from June through September. Low-impact camping is possible along the water in any appropriately clear spaces.
If you want to see the Alaska wilderness while RV camping, then you need to know that campsites for RVs are always going to be limited. Paxson Lake Campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis. To be sure you'll have a place for the night or however long you want to be in an area, the best thing to do is to make a reservation in one of the organized RV parks in the closest urban area. For Paxson Lake, that's going to be Fairbanks, where there are plenty of RV campgrounds only 137 miles away.
Be sure you pack your RV right with lots of different footwear and clothing given how frequently the weather changes around here. Insect repellent, sunblock, cookware, first-aid supplies, and bottled water are all crucial necessities to include. Prior to starting your trip, look over our blog for what you should know about BLM camping.
Paxson Lake visitors are mandated by BLM to do their part in keeping the area's pristine natural status intact by cleaning up after themselves. Waste disposal services are usually available, or you can pack out your trash. Never confront the local wildlife; this is where they live, and you're the guest. Doing all this and obeying the rules posted around the campsite and lake means you are participating in preserving this environment for future visitors.
From Fairbanks, take AK-2 E for 94.5 miles. Then take a slight right onto AK-4 S and follow that for 90.6 miles. The campground is at milepost 175 along the Richardson Highway.
Address: Delta Junction, AK 99737
Ready to visit Paxson 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.
