Galbraith Lake Campground
4.6517 reviewsGalbraith Lake Campground
Quick Facts
Price
Varies
Booking
First-Come
Sites
12 campsites
Season
Year-round
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Not Allowed
RV Friendly
Get DirectionsQuick Facts
Price
Varies
Booking
First-Come
Sites
12 campsites
Season
Year-round
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Not Allowed
RV Friendly
Get DirectionsGalbraith Lake Campground
No fees available
Campsite Fees
Sites are managed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Visitors must physically arrive at the campground to claim and purchase a site. On-site payment...
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Standard Site Fee$0.00
Hookup Site Fee$0.00
Premium Site Fee$0.00
Hike and Bike Site Fee$0.00
Group Site Fee$0.00
Food Storage Locker Fee$0.00
Total Campsite Fees$0.00
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Recreation Dot Gov
Provider(907) 474-2200
What Campers Say
4.65
Top-Rated
Based on 17 reviews
28 Google reviews
Most mentioned
viewssceneryquietpeaceful
"Reviewers overwhelmingly love Galbraith Lake Campground, consistently giving it 4–5 stars and calling it one of the most beautiful and unique places they’ve camped. They highlight the remote, quiet, free camping with spectacular panoramic views and note that services are very minimal, which fits the wilderness character of the North Slope location."
Best Time to Camp at Galbraith Lake Campground
Reaching this Arctic outpost is an adventure in itself, requiring a commitment of 13 to 16 hours from Fairbanks along the legendary Dalton Highway. Weather and road conditions dictate the journey's pace, and the campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis for those who make the pilgrimage. The extreme location means conditions can change rapidly, so visitors should prepare for the full spectrum of Arctic weather regardless of season.
Spring (Mar-May)
Wildflowers bloom, mild temperatures, fewer crowds. Great for hiking and photography.
Best
Summer (Jun-Aug)
Peak season with warm weather, perfect for water activities. Book early.
Fall (Sep-Nov)
Beautiful fall colors, cooler temps, quieter campgrounds. Ideal for peaceful trips.
Winter (Dec-Feb)
Off-season, limited services. Check for closures before visiting.
Planning Tips
About Galbraith Lake Campground
Journey beyond the Brooks Range to discover Alaska's most remote campground experience. Galbraith Lake Campground stands alone on the windswept tundra of the north slope, where twelve pull-through sites offer front-row seats to one of the planet's last true wilderness frontiers—complete with vault toilets, bear-proof food lockers, and trash facilities, but no water, power, or dump station.
Galbraith Lake Campground has 12 designated, pull-through campsites along the Dalton Highway in an open tundra setting. Sites are first-come, first-served and the location is remote.
Weather and SeasonsReaching this Arctic outpost is an adventure in itself, requiring a commitment of 13 to 16 hours from Fairbanks along the legendary Dalton Highway. Weather and road conditions dictate the journey's pace, and the campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis for those who make the pilgrimage. The extreme location means conditions can change rapidly, so visitors should prepare for the full spectrum of Arctic weather regardless of season.
Natural Features and SceneryYour campsite sits on ancient tundra, where the earth stretches endlessly toward the jagged peaks of the Brooks Range rising dramatically against the sky. Just over a mile to the east, Galbraith Lake shimmers in the Arctic light, while a clear stream traces the campground's southern edge, its waters flowing north toward the Arctic Ocean. This is a living landscape where ground squirrels chirp their warnings, marmots sun themselves on rocky outcrops, and caribou move in ancient migration patterns. Watch for Dall sheep navigating impossible cliffs, listen for the howl of wolves echoing across the valleys, and remain alert for brown bears and Arctic foxes hunting the tundra. Overhead, ravens perform aerial acrobatics while ptarmigan—masters of camouflage—blend into their surroundings, and seasonal migrants pass through on journeys spanning continents.
Geological RegionPerched on the Arctic tundra of Alaska's north slope, where the land transitions from mountain to coastal plain, this campground occupies a geological crossroads. The Brooks Range, one of North America's northernmost mountain chains, forms a stunning southern backdrop, while the open tundra extends northward in waves of sedge, moss, and lichen—a treeless expanse shaped by permafrost, extreme weather, and thousands of years of freeze-thaw cycles.
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Campsite details
Sites SizeTwelve designated pull-through sites (suitable for RVs); gravel roads and parking; open tundra setting.
Sites PrivacySites are situated on open tundra with spectacular views of the Brooks Range; limited natural screening/privacy.
Total Campsites12 campsites
Recommended CampsitesAll 12 sites are pull-through (suitable for RVs), each site has a fire ring and picnic table. There is no potable water; water can be filtered from a nearby creek. Firewood is not available in the vicinity—bring your own. Download the Recreation.gov mobile app before arrival to enable payment via QR code.
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Reserving a campsite
Tents
Tents are not allowed
RV vehicles
RV vehicles are allowed
Primitive
Primitive are not allowed
Reservable
Reservations are not allowed
Site layoutTwelve pull-through campsites on gravel roads and parking aprons; no electricity, no dump station, no potable water. Facilities include a vault toilet, food storage lockers, and trash receptacles.
Reservation PlatformsRecreation.gov mobile app (used on-site to scan QR code for payment); sites are not reservable—first-come, first-serve only
Walk-in AvailabilityFirst-come, first-serve; visitors must physically arrive to claim a site and may pay on-site by cash/check or Recreation.gov QR code (download the Recreation.gov mobile app prior to arrival due to limited or no cellular service).
Amenities available
Fire rings
Food storage lockers
Picnic tables
Vault toilets
Activities you can enjoy
The campground is a basecamp for exploring the Brooks Range with abundant hiking, river recreation, bird watching, fishing and wildlife viewing. Several nearby rivers offer technical whitewater trips; routes off designated trails are common and require navigation skills.
Hiking
Hiking is plentiful in almost any direction; tundra areas may have uneven footing due to tussocks. Hiking east from the highway leads toward the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and west toward Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve. Visitors are advised to bring topographic maps, a GPS and a compass.Fishing
Fishing is listed as a recreational activity in the area; nearby lakes and rivers provide opportunities (water should be treated/filtered).Boating
Several river trips are described: Atigun and Sagavanirktok (the Sag) Rivers — Class III-IV+ whitewater, access Atigun at Milepost 271 and Sag at MP 306 (for expert boaters only). Ivishak Wild and Scenic River — Class II, access by chartered air service from Deadhorse or Coldfoot.Wildlife viewing
The surrounding tundra and mountains provide habitat for ground squirrels, marmots, fox, sheep, caribou, wolf and brown bears. Many migratory birds breed in the area; resident birds include ravens and ptarmigan. Nearby areas north of the campground may offer sightings of muskox and other arctic wildlife.Advertisement
Campground rules
- Pets are not allowed
- Each campsite has a fire ring. Firewood is not available in the vicinity of the campground.
Hazards
General hazardsTundra areas may have uneven and difficult footing due to tussocks; hiking routes are often unmarked—choose routes with care. Nearby rivers include sections of Class III-IV+ whitewater (Atigun and Sagavanirktok) suitable for expert boaters and Class II sections of the Ivishak (accessed by air). Wildlife includes brown bears and other large mammals. Limited or no cellular service in this remote area.
Weather at Galbraith Lake Campground
-9
°F
Dec 11
Thursday
Overcast
Precipitation: 0%
Humidity: 74%
Wind: 6.6 mph
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Good to know
Trash and recyclingTrash receptacles provided; food storage lockers available for securing food.
Proximity to water featuresGalbraith Lake approximately 1.3 miles east; a stream flows along the campground's southern perimeter; water can be filtered from a nearby creek.
HostA camp-host may be onsite.
Campground Map
Galbraith Lake Campground
Driving directionsFrom Fairbanks, drive north 11 miles on the Steese Highway (AK-6) to its junction with the Elliott Highway (AK-2) in Fox. Follow the Elliott Highway 73 miles to the junction with the Dalton Highway (AK-11). Continue on the Dalton Highway to Galbraith Lake exit at Milepost 275. Follow the road 4 miles to the west and south to the campground entrance; at approximately 2 miles you will pass by an airport. It is about 365 miles from Fairbanks to Galbraith Lake Campground (trip can take 13 to 16 hours depending on weather, road conditions, and stops).
Located on the Dalton Highway at Milepost 275; access route described from Fairbanks via Steese Highway, Elliott Highway, then Dalton Highway. Roads and parking aprons at the campground have a gravel surface.Nearby places
Fairbanks — approximately 365 miles
Reviews from booking and map sources
4.7
17 reviews
Galbraith Lake Campground is top-rated, placing it in the top 15% of campgrounds based on reviews
Reviewers overwhelmingly love Galbraith Lake Campground, consistently giving it 4–5 stars and calling it one of the most beautiful and unique places they’ve camped. They highlight the remote, quiet, free camping with spectacular panoramic views and note that services are very minimal, which fits the wilderness character of the North Slope location.
Review Summaries
Based on 17 reviews
What Campers Love
Campers rave about the incredible, picturesque scenery with views of the Brooks Range, surrounding mountains, wildflowers, and proximity to Gates of the Arctic National Park and the Arctic National...
Based on 17 reviewsShow more
Common Concerns
The most common downsides mentioned are the lack of services—especially no potable water and being a dry camp where you must bring your own water. A few reviewers note pit toilets being quite full at...
Based on 17 reviewsShow more
Pro Tips & Recommendations
Reviewers suggest bringing all your own water and supplies since it’s a dry, minimally serviced campground, and being prepared for mosquitoes by avoiding camping in the big brush where they’re thick....
Based on 17 reviewsShow more
Camper Quotes
"Probably one of the most beautiful and unique campgrounds I’ve ever stayed at. Not much for services, but hey, you’re on the North Slope!"
"Wonderful campground well off the highway, no road noises...
Based on 17 reviewsShow more
Site-Specific Reviews
One reviewer describes a particularly nice spot: at the first large campsite past the pit toilets on the right, there is a rocky path navigable by a 2WD van that leads to a private opening with a...
Based on 17 reviewsShow more
Camper Reviews by Outdoorithm campers
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Last updated December 10, 2025
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