Has anyone done any tent camping in Alaska?
Is it feasible? Are there places to rent tent camping eqipment? Any other info and/or advice would be welcome. This will be our first trip to Alaska.

Tent camping is the ONLY way to go in Alaska. We did it in '93 and would love to again. We brought our gear on the plane with us (checked, actually) - we had two back packs, and therefore, very compact gear. Each pack fit into a very large duffle. We have since then gone on many camping trips where we flew to our destination. If we are renting a car, we usually bring one big suitcase for clothes, and one large duffle with our tent, down bags, therma-rests, small stove and a minimal amount of cooking gear.

We flew into Anchorage, and traveled as far south as Kodiak and north to Fairbanks. When we were there, hotels were very $$$, and the camping was wonderful. We only hotelled it one night.

Let me know if you need more info.

Amanda, I think you are wrong stating that camping is the ONLY way to visit Alaska. Actualy there are other ways too. It depends on visitors' interests. We are hikeres but for us staying in B&B is the way to go. On the other hand we met many people who travel by RVs but we wouldn't even think about it. Others stay in hotels and like it. So as you see there are different ways to visit Alaska.

I've camped in a number of areas of Alaska over the years. You'd need to be a bit more specific as to where you want to go, when, etc. REI, the big outdoors co-op, says they have rental camping gear at their Anchorage store, look at www.rei.com for the phone number for rates and details.

Camping can be a blast, but you need to be especially careful regarding wildlife and insect protection, which can be nuisances or worse depending on specifics. I'll never forget the feeling of a brown bear the size of a VW nuzzling me through the wall of a nylon pup tent while we were camping at a fly-in lake on the Kenai. Focuses the mind wonderfully at 2 AM, I can assure you.

Connie, if you are flying in to Anchorge you won't need to rent any camping gear. There is Wal Mart, KMart, Fred Meyer, and Costco which all sell inexpensive tents and cooking utensils. There are innumerable State Parks with established camp sites as well as those offered by private enterprise. Beyond that, the state is about 85% Federal Public Lands and it is not uncommon to camp just about anywhere the desire strikes. Make sure you seal the tent and additionally buy a few plastic tarps as wetness has a way of invading. Most importantly, keep yourself and your camp CLEAN area. Bears like the smell of food and no one wants to see any garbage once you're gone.

Good idea about buying camping supplies. One night in a hotel or one day of RV rental would pay for a lot of supplies. Thanks for replying.

We've camped in the Rockies quite a bit and are used to "bear area camping".

Connie, not to dismiss the bear factor in the Rockies, but, you have to understand the difference here. There are an estimated 40,000 (40 times as many as in the lower 48 combined- the Rockies included) brown bears (grizzlies) in Alaska. In some regions, it is figured at 1 per square mile. Additionally I've heard the black bear population pushes 400,000. This makes chance encounters "slighlty" more likely. Which, if you're prepared, can be great. If you read a book once, you might want to bend a few more pages. I'm not trying to discourage you. Not at all. This place has to be experienced. But, if your idea of camping and wilderness is based on what is seen down there, you are in for a big surprise. For those of us that live here and bump into bears (moose can also be bears), every year, it is not uncommon to have a firearm when we are afield. I don't want to hog the forum, and anyone can feel free to write to me at my email address. But, to put it as simply as I can, I often camp eith nothing more than a tarp. At the same time, I never go into the field unprepared, and always have a firearm ready. My grandfather was chewed on by a bear, a friend of mine got ate, and that means ATE. These were both experience woodsmen. Conversely, I've never even had to point my gun at one....... (yet).

Alan,

Since we can't bring a firearm onboad the flight, would you advise us to purchase one when we get there?

Thanks for all your info.
Connie

Hi Connie,
we have brought our camp gear to Seattle and started a tour up to Vancouver, Whitehorse, Dawson, Tok, Anchorage, Seward back to Denali, Fairbanks and down to Kluane, with ongoing five day ferry trip to Bellingham(inside passage).
It was (cant find the words) GREAT, amazing, unbelievable. There are(even in the outbacks, also ab bit aside the routes) camping lots.
If you like more comfortable, you will find them all along the main routes, but there are also so treasures to be found - just check your map. Can't give you the specific information, as we have
mad this trip in early summer of the mid nineties, planned in and from germany.So our basic infromation at that toimes was not the internet.
(haha)-well easier today.
Anyway - as campers it will(or backpackers) it will a tremendous fun awaiting for you (or so).
Need more specific info?email me
P.S.: made a second trip in 1996 by car some other directions as B&B tour - also
a uniquew experience.
Shain/eu/de/düsseldorf

Connie, you can bring a firearm with you as baggage. Thousands of hunters do it every spring and fall. A short big bore rifle, or decent 12 guage is ideal. Handguns don't seem to be effective or handy enough for quick use. For instance, if you have to unzip your jacket to access your sidearm or, get it past your backpack in an emergency, you've already lost round one. Brush guns like a 45/70 or shotgun are great because for the most part, they are already in hand. Buying a shotgun in Alaska might not be legal with an out of state license.... I'm not sure. However, I would also point out that if you are uncomfortable or unskilled with a gun, you are better off going without. Bears do get shot needlessly by the paranoid every year. It is very important to know that you behave responsibly is all. Don't loiter where there is a dead moose, make lots of noise when travelling in the brush and around corners, and, keep the camp clean. These are the most important things. If you have a gun, don't rely on the weapon, but on your own ability to use it wisely if needed. Finally, there are other options like pepper sprays that you can buy over the counter here. As mentioned before, I've never had a lick of problems and I've seen a lot of bears. I just like to be prepared if the situation does arrise.

to the top

In my research on state and national campgrounds, I see no info. on showers.

Are there places campers can get a shower? We don't mind paying.

In the lower 48, KOAs and similar campgrounds will sell showers. Anything similar in Alaska?

Trying one more time.

Showers: We found that most RV parks have showers you can use. Also some of the laundrmats(sp)have showers.
expect to pay 2-5$ for a good long shower.
Rifle as luggage, you will need a locking hard case,and pack the ammo in a different piece of luggage.
A shotgun loaded with double 0 and then a slug alternating, is a good combination.

we will be up from 26 June to 6 August
happy trails

Gordon

Connie,
I just got back from 2 weeks in AK. There are RV camps just about everywhere and only a few of them charged for showers. Most of them also have tent camping. Have fun.

Don't even think about a gun. Pepper spray is 36% more effective against a bear. It is easy to attach to a vest, belt or pack and is readily available and quick to draw. I camp with it under my pillow at night as we often camp out on the ground without a tent. Keep a tarp nearby in case of rain. All of the guides in Alaska carry it on clips on thier packs. The camping is fabulous. June will be my 10th camping trip ot Alaska, always to a differnet area.

Hey y'all, imagine my surprise to see this post I posted in 2002. I've made two trips to Alaska since then. We rented RV's both times and loved it.

One more thing for anyone interested--we checked out several state park "campgrounds" and found most to be just a parking lot. We loved camping at Russian River National Forest c.g., Seward on the waterfront and Denali's Riley Creek c.g.

Would it be better to reserve (tent)campsites before flying into Alaska or are there places to stop and camp at our own pace? Preferably a campground with showers, electic, etc.? Are they difficult to locate? We are looking to visit in July this year and plan on doing a lot of camping and backpacking. Thanks!

E-Taylor, I'm not sure why you're re-starting a topic from twenty months, instead of starting a new one, but the answer to your questions is best found in the latest copy of _The Backpacker_. It gives mile by mile descriptions of each highway, telling where campgrounds are located, and what amenities are there.

July tends to be a heavy month for travel, and it seems you want the top-end campgrounds. As such, you may want to make reservations, particularly if you are planning to stay at a specific site for a long time.