Closed
— Closed for the season. Typically operates from mid-May through late September. Skilak Lake Road may have muddy conditions in late April and early May.
About
Located at mile 3.6 on Skilak Lake Road within Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Hidden Lake Campground provides access to one of Alaska's most biodiverse refuges. The campground has 44 total sites split across three loops: Skyview Loop with 23 reservable sites, and Lake and Ridge Loops with 21 first-come, first-served sites. Each site includes a fire ring and picnic table.
Hidden Lake extends eight miles into the foothills of the Kenai Mountains, surrounded by spruce and birch forest. The campground serves as a gateway to the Skilak Wildlife Recreation Area, which features 100 miles of hiking trails, scenic overlooks, and the 16-mile Skilak Lake Road scenic drive. Burney's Trail, located across from Skyview site 7, provides views of Hidden Lake, Skilak Lake, and the Kenai Mountains while passing through forest burned in the 2019 Swan Lake Fire.
The refuge is renowned for its wildlife including moose, brown and black bears, lynx, wolves, and trumpeter swans. In summer, sockeye salmon gather in Hidden Lake by the hundreds of thousands before migrating, attracting bears to the shoreline. The campground includes water hand pumps, two day-use pavilions, and a boat launch with trailer parking. Camping is limited to 7 consecutive days.
Directions
Located at mile 3.6 Skilak Lake Road, accessed from the east entrance at milepost 58 Sterling Highway. Skilak Lake Road is gravel until reaching the paved campground road.
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