Upper Chatanika State Recreation Area

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About this campsite

Campground: Upper Chatanika State Recreation Area. Operated by State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources.

What this place offers

Amenities

Drinking Water

Accommodation Types

Caravans

Tent Site

Location

Upper Chatanika State Recreation Area•AK

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Weather Forecast

via Open-Meteo

FRI☁️

0° / -3°

💧 4%

SAT☁️

3° / -7°

—

SUN☁️

5° / -1°

💧 8%

TODAY🌦️

7° / 1°

💧 16%

TUE🌦️

6° / 0°

💧 24%

Nearby Campsites

within 50km

21.4 km away

Ophir Creek Campground

The Ophir Creek Campground is one of two campgrounds located at either end of the Nome Creek Valley, on the southern edge of the White Mountains National Recreation Area. Nestled in tall white spruce trees on the bank of Nome Creek, the campground includes 20 campsites, including one group site. From here you can enjoy fishing in Nome Creek or take a short day-hike over to Beaver Creek. Also nearby is the 3-mile loop trail to Table Top Mountain, with awesome views of the higher peaks in the White Mountains. Ophir Creek Campground also provides river access to Nome Creek for paddlers headed to Beaver Creek Wild and Scenic River. The campground is maintained during the summer season (Memorial Day thru mid-September) and have hand pump wells, trash cans, and outhouse-style toilets. Each campsite has a parking area, picnic tables, and fire rings. Firewood is not provided. The nearest RV dump station is in Fairbanks. NOTICE: Nome Creek Road repair with midweek closures May – October 2025 Monday – Friday the Nome Creek Road to Ophir Creek Campground will be closed to the public for road improvements and culvert replacement. When planning your visit go to the trail updates webpage for access information, current events and notices about temporary closures or restrictions.

21.4 km away

Ophir Creek Campground

Overview Ophir Creek Campground- The Ophir Creek Campground is one of two campgrounds located at either end of the Nome Creek Valley, on the southern edge of the White Mountains National Recreation Area. Nestled in tall white spruce trees on the bank of Nome Creek, the campground includes 20 campsites, including one group site. From here you can enjoy fishing in Nome Creek or take a short day-hike over to Beaver Creek. Also nearby is the 3-mile loop trail to Table Top Mountain, with awesome views of the higher peaks in the White Mountains. Ophir Creek Campground also provides river access to Nome Creek for paddlers headed to Beaver Creek Wild and Scenic River. The campground is maintained during the summer season (June through mid-September) and have hand pump non-potable wells, trash cans, and outhouse-style toilets. Each campsite has a parking area, picnic tables, and fire rings. Firewood is not provided. The nearest RV dump station is in Fairbanks. Accessibility Description (ABA/ADA) Yes. An accessible toilet and hand water pump are available. Fees- $12 per night per site (sites 1-19) on a first come basis. $24 for group site 20 per night on a first come basis. Directions- To reach Nome Creek from Fairbanks, take the Steese Highway to mile 57 and follow the U.S. Creek Road for seven miles to the Nome Creek Road. Taking a left at the junction, it is 12 miles to the Ophir Creek Campground and the put-in for floating Beaver Creek Wild and Scenic River. Recreation Fishing, gold panning, hiking, floating, wildlife watching. Nearby Attractions Put-in for Beaver Creek Wild and Scenic River, Table Top Trail (3 mile loop non-motorized trail).

25.0 km away

Whitefish Campground & Boat Launch

Campground: Whitefish Campground & Boat Launch. Operated by State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources.

25.9 km away

Olnes Pond Campground

Campground: Olnes Pond Campground. Operated by State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources.

26.2 km away

White Mountains National Recreation Area - Alaska Cabins

Overview Located just an hour's drive from Fairbanks, Alaska, the one-million-acre White Mountains National Recreation Area offers stunning scenery, peaceful solitude and outstanding opportunities for year-round recreation including hiking, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, skiing, wildlife and scenic viewing. There are 13 beautiful log cabins throughout the White Mountains offering many opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. Be sure to carry your cabin permit at all times while in the White Mountains National Recreation Area. Also located in the White Mountains National Recreation Area are two trail shelters that are available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Recreation Winter visitors travel by ski, snowshoe, dog team, fat bike and snowmobile to enjoy the 12 public-use cabins and 250 miles of maintained trails that make the White Mountains one of Interior Alaska's premier winter destinations. The cabins must be reserved up to 30 days in advance. There are two trail shelters that are on a first come-first served basis, are free of charge and not reservable. In Summer, visitors to the White Mountains pan for gold, fish, hike and camp under Alaska's midnight sun. The Nome Creek Road provides access to two campgrounds, trails, a gold-panning area and a departure point for float trips on Beaver Creek Wild and Scenic River. Learn more about current trail conditions or call the Fairbanks District Office at (907) 474-2200. For a winter trails condition report, go to the Trail Update Facilities The White Mountains National Recreation Area offers 250 miles of maintained winter trails and 13 public recreation cabins and two trail shelters surrounded by jagged limestone mountains and cliffs, high mountain passes, and broad, rounded valleys. Whether you choose to explore by ski, snowshoe, snowmobile, or dog team, you'll find crisp, clean air, dazzling views, and if you're lucky, shimmering northern lights against a star-studded sky. Many of the trails used for winter travel may be difficult to travel during the summer due to wet, muddy conditions or difficult water crossings. To protect sensitive resources, vehicles must remain on BLM routes designated for their use unless traveling in an area designated open to cross-country motorized travel. The entire area is open to all forms of non-motorized use, so feel free to explore off-trail. The most popular places to ride OHVs are in the Nome Creek tailings and the Quartz Creek Trail. Most of the cabins become difficult to reach in the summer, but a few are regularly used such as Fred Blixt Cabin and Lee’s Cabin . Three campgrounds are open from late-May until the snow flies in October Note : Not all trails are accessible to ATV's in the summer. Please contact the BLM Fairbanks District Office for further information at (907)474-2200 Note: Not all trails are suitable for hiking in the summer. They may be wet and boggy. Check with the Fairbanks District Office for more information. Note: All lands to the north of the Nome Creek Rd. from the Bear Creek Trail, west to Ophir Creek Campground and the Beaver Creek Put-In are closed to the use of motorized vehicles in the summer from May 1 - October 14 or until there is adequate snow cover for use by snowmobiles. Nome Creek Valley Map Winter Trails Map <a href="https://www.blm.gov/alaska/public-room/fact-sheet/summer-ohv-fact-sheet