West Fork Campground

Closed — Closed for the season. The Taylor Highway closes mid-October through April due to winter conditions. The campground typically reopens in spring after the highway opens, usually by early April.

About

West Fork Campground is a Bureau of Land Management facility located at milepost 49 of the Taylor Highway, serving as the southernmost access point to the 400-mile Fortymile National Wild and Scenic River System. The campground comprises two distinct loops: a smaller eastern loop with 7 pull-through spaces and a larger western loop with 18 back-in or pull-in campsites, all situated on compacted gravel surfaces surrounded by spruce forest. All campsites include picnic tables and fire rings with grill attachments. The campground provides four vault toilets distributed between the loops, and potable water is hauled to a centralized location during the operating season. A camp host is typically present through mid-to-late August. One site features a fully accessible elevated tent pad with an accessible picnic table and appropriately positioned fire ring, while three other sites have picnic tables with extended ends to accommodate wheelchair users. The large loop features an overlook of a small oxbow lake where visitors frequently observe trumpeter swans and moose. River access parking is located one quarter mile north of the campground, requiring a 20-yard carry to reach the West Fork of the Dennison Fork. However, except during spring runoff and other high water periods, this river section is typically too shallow for enjoyable canoeing or rafting. The campground is particularly popular in mid-September and enforces a 10-day stay limit. Payment is collected via iron ranger or the Recreation.gov Scan & Pay mobile app, which must be downloaded prior to arrival due to lack of cell reception.

Directions

From Tok, travel east on the Alaska Highway and turn left on the Taylor Highway. Proceed north to milepost 49 of the Taylor Highway.

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