The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
Owned by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the White Mountains National Recreation Area is a massive 1-million-acre multi-use recreation area in Alaska. Used by locals and visitors year-round, this recreation area offers opportunities for gold panning in the summer, dog-sledding in the winter, and hiking and biking at any time. Located within the area are 12 rentable cabins, and there are two organized campgrounds that accept both tents and RVs with no fees.
Nome Creek Valley makes this recreation area popular in summer since the Table Top Mountain and Quartz Creek trails are accessible through the valley. The Beaver Creek National Wild River can be accessed here, too, which was once the location of a booming gold mining dredge. In the winter, dog-sledding, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling are popular activities on the 250-plus miles of cleared trails scattered throughout the entire recreation area.
The Wickersham Creek Trail heads toward the Wickersham Creek Trail Shelter from the Wickersham Dome Trailhead. This path includes a route to the top of Wickersham Dome, a viewpoint for seeing the White Mountains.
Length: 8 miles
Intensity: Moderate
Extending between Elezar's Cabin and Moose Creek Cabin, the Moose Creek Trail in the White Mountains National Recreation Area is a top choice for mountain biking in the summer and skiing in the winter.
Length: 11 miles
Intensity: Moderate
The McKay Creek Trail extends between the Mckay Trailhead and Cache Mountain Cabin. However, the trail intersects with Lower Nome Creek Trail, Trail Creek Trail, and the Cache Mountain Loop as well for those who want to travel even farther.
Length: 20 miles
Intensity: Moderate
The headwaters of Beaver Creek National Wild and Scenic River are located in the White Mountains, and this river can be easily accessed via the Wickersham Dome Trailhead within the White Mountains National Recreation Area. The river with its Class I rapids can be floated with non-motorized boats, and floating the entire length of the river can take up to three weeks. However, shorter trips from the top of the river to Victoria Creek are most commonly taken, and there are some BLM-owned cabins available to reserve along the river banks as needed.
Anglers can use the Beaver Creek River for catching Arctic grayling and some northern pike. Fishing in this river is most successful when using dry flies, and anyone who chooses to fish here should have a valid Alaska state fishing license.
Two rest and picnic cabin shelters are available for visitors to use in the White Mountains National Recreation Area, and both are usable on a first-come, first-served basis for free. One shelter is located along the Summit Trail, and the other is located along the Wickersham Creek Trail. There are no water or trash stations at either of these shelters, so be sure to bring your own drinking water and trash bags when you want to stop at one for a picnic.
Camping in the White Mountains in the winter can provide spectacular stargazing opportunities. During this season, this recreation area frequently sees the aurora borealis, or the northern lights, when the sky is clear. Since Alaska has extremely short days in the winter, too, these night lights are visible for longer than just the typical nighttime hours. Keep in mind though that this means the summer months are the opposite, and stargazing is virtually impossible to accomplish during this time because of Alaska's "midnight sun" that remains in the sky during regular nighttime hours.
If you don't like primitive camping, try going RV camping at a nearby campground with full RV hookups instead. You can check out Tanana Valley Campground and RV Park, which has water and electric hookups as well as free Wi-Fi. You may also like Rivers Edge RV Park & Campground, which has the same amenities plus an on-site restaurant.
Look for "BLM camping near me" once you're in Fairbanks. You can also check out the two campgrounds located on the edges of the White Mountains National Recreation Area. These are the Mt. Prindle Campground and the Ophir Creek Campground, and both of these Bureau of Land Management campgrounds are free for you to stay at for up to 14 days at a time. Know that these campgrounds are primitive though, so they will not have any water or electricity.
Packing lots of drinking water and some first aid equipment is essential when traveling through the White Mountains since there are no water stations. Nearby towns are far away, too, so packing all the food and clothing you will need for your trip is important. If you are staying at one of the Bureau of Land Management free camping spots, make sure you pack firewood as well. Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.
Whenever you visit the White Mountains National Recreation Area, be sure to follow the BLM's Leave No Trace guidelines. These guidelines include things like burying pet and human waste bags, collecting and disposing of trash properly, and not disturbing the wildlife.
Before heading out to the White Mountains National Recreation Area, stop by the Alaska Public Lands Information Center in Fairbanks to obtain maps and information about the area. Then, take Steese Highway north, and you can access the Nome Creek Valley at milepost 57 along the highway.
Ready to visit White Mountains National Recreation Area? 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.
