Chilkat State Park

Open — Closed for the season. Typically operates mid-May through mid-October. The park remains open for day use activities such as hiking.

About

Chilkat State Park encompasses 9,837 acres on the Chilkat Peninsula south of Haines, offering a scenic and relatively remote camping experience. The 35-site campground sits in mixed evergreen and deciduous forest at the edge of Chilkat Inlet, providing world-class views of Rainbow Glacier and Davidson Glacier. Access requires navigating a steep gravel road with a 14% grade, which keeps crowds minimal and rewards visitors with spacious, private campsites. The park features a log cabin visitor center equipped with spotting scopes for viewing wildlife across the inlet, including seals, porpoises, whales, bears, and mountain goats. Three trails offer varied experiences: the easy 7-mile Ayiklutu Trail winds between forest and beach along the coast; Battery Point Trail provides a 2-mile route emerging onto the beach; and Mount Riley Trail challenges hikers with significant elevation gain for panoramic views of the area. The campground provides basic amenities with vault toilets, potable water during operating season, fire rings, and a boat launch for accessing the inlet's early June king salmon run. A 15-day camping limit applies, and fees are collected via electronic fee station.

Directions

Located 7 miles south of Haines on Mud Bay Road. Turn right onto Chilkat State Park Road, which is a steep gravel road with a 14% grade.

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