Hidden Lake Campground

0.15

18 reviews

Mile 3.6 Skilak Lake Road, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge (Hidden Lake Campground)

Quick Facts

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

44 campsites

Season

No specific open/clo...

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Not Allowed

Opens Kenai National Wildlife Refuge site

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Quick Facts

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

44 campsites

Season

No specific open/clo...

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Not Allowed

Opens Kenai National Wildlife Refuge site

Get Directions

Hidden Lake Campground

No fees available

Campsite Fees

A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation and will be deducted from the refund amount. Federal Interagency Senior and...

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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Provider

907-260-2820

What Campers Say

0.15

Mixed Reviews

Based on 18 reviews

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Best Time to Camp at Hidden Lake Campground

Timing your visit means embracing Alaska's seasonal rhythms. Spring awakens slowly here—late April and early May can leave Skilak Lake Road muddy and challenging as winter's snowpack retreats into the earth. By mid-May, the road typically welcomes both RVs and standard vehicles, ushering in months of accessible summer exploration. Keep in mind that the refuge landscape is evolving with shifting climate patterns and wildfire activity, reminding visitors that this wilderness remains beautifully, powerfully alive.

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

Operating Season: No specific open/closed dates provided; site access typically improves mid-May and is accessible through the summer.

About Hidden Lake Campground

Nestled within the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Hidden Lake Campground welcomes visitors with 44 thoughtfully placed sites that blend roadside convenience with wilderness charm. The Skyview Loop's 23 reservable sites offer peace of mind for planners, while the Lake and Ridge Loops reward spontaneous adventurers with first-come, first-served camping—all with complimentary boat launch access, hand-pumped water, and shaded pavilions perfect for gathering beneath the midnight sun.

Hidden Lake Campground is a roadside campground within the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge with 44 campsites total: 23 sites in Skyview Loop (reservable) and the Lake and Ridge Loops available first-come, first-served. No electric or water hookups are provided; water hand pumps are present but water is not guaranteed potable. Day-use pavilions are available for groups and an on-site dump station is temporarily unavailable.

Historical SignificanceLong before this land became a protected refuge, the Dena'ina people knew it as "Yaghanen"—the good land. That ancient wisdom echoes through the towering spruce and across the lake waters today, a testament to the enduring richness of this corner of the Kenai Peninsula. When you camp here, you're stepping into a story thousands of years in the making, on ground that has sustained and inspired generations.

Weather and SeasonsTiming your visit means embracing Alaska's seasonal rhythms. Spring awakens slowly here—late April and early May can leave Skilak Lake Road muddy and challenging as winter's snowpack retreats into the earth. By mid-May, the road typically welcomes both RVs and standard vehicles, ushering in months of accessible summer exploration. Keep in mind that the refuge landscape is evolving with shifting climate patterns and wildfire activity, reminding visitors that this wilderness remains beautifully, powerfully alive.

Natural Features and SceneryThis is Alaska in full symphony: ice fields catching the light above tundra meadows, Sitka spruce rainforest giving way to boreal woodland, and the dramatic Kenai Mountains standing sentinel over a constellation of lakes and wetlands. From your campsite, you're positioned at the heart of this ecological masterpiece. Wander the Burney's Trail from Skyview Loop and you'll thread through whispering aspen groves and fragrant spruce, emerging to panoramic views where Hidden Lake and Skilak Lake stretch toward mountain horizons—the kind of vista that makes you understand why people travel thousands of miles to stand exactly where you're standing.

Geological RegionThe campground sits within the extraordinary Kenai National Wildlife Refuge on the western Kenai Peninsula, where the geology tells stories of ice and time. Here, the western slopes of the Kenai Mountains descend through forested lowlands toward Cook Inlet, creating a diverse tapestry of rivers threading through wetlands, lakes cradled in glacial valleys, and forests that have learned to thrive in the spaces between rock and water.

Campsite details

Total Campsites44 campsites

Recommended CampsitesBurney’s Trail is located across from Skyview Loop site #7 and provides short hikes with scenic lake and mountain views; the upper part of the trail follows the 2019 Swan Lake Fire edge. Skyview Loop sites are reservable (23 sites); Lake and Ridge Loops are first-come, first-served and require payment by cash or check at the self-serve iron ranger. A free boat launch with adjacent trailer parking is available on Hidden Lake.

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Reserving a campsite

Stay Limit

Camping may not exceed 7 days in Hidden Lake Campground
14 days elsewhere on the refuge.

Groups

Two day-use pavilions are available first-come, first-served
groups over 20 people require a Special Use Permit issued at Refuge headquarters.

Tents

Tents are not allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are not allowed

Primitive

Primitive are not allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Site layoutCampground consists of three loops: Skyview Loop (23 reservable sites) and Lake and Ridge Loops (first-come, first-served).

Open and Closed SeasonNo specific open/closed dates provided; site access typically improves mid-May and is accessible through the summer.

Walk-in AvailabilityMost campsites are first-come, first-served. All sites in Lake and Ridge Loops are first-come, first-served and must be paid with cash or check at the self-serve iron ranger. 23 sites in Skyview Loop are available by reservation.

Cancellation PolicyA $10.00 service fee applies to changes or cancellations; the fee will be deducted from the refund amount.

Amenities available

Picnic tables

Activities you can enjoy

Hidden Lake Campground is in the Skilak Wildlife Recreation Area, offering access to extensive trails, scenic overlooks, multiple lakes for boating, and abundant wildlife viewing opportunities. Specific on-site opportunities include short hikes, boating on Hidden Lake, and wildlife viewing within the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.

Hiking

The Skilak Wildlife Recreation Area contains about 100 miles of hiking trails. Burney's Trail (across from Skyview Loop site #7) connects to Hideout Trail for a thru-hike ending at mile 1.9 Skilak Lake Road; the trail is short and relatively easy with a moderately steep section and passes through aspen and spruce forest with views of Hidden Lake, Skilak Lake, and the Kenai Mountains. The upper part of Burney’s Trail follows the fire edge of the 2019 Swan Lake Fire.

Boating

Hidden Lake is open to boats (personal watercraft such as jet skis are not permitted). A free boat launch with adjacent parking for vehicles with boat trailers is available.

Wildlife viewing

The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge supports unusually high biodiversity for its latitude, and is known for moose, brown and black bears, lynx, wolves, trumpeter swans and more, making it a strong location for wildlife viewing.

Campground rules

Pets are not allowed
Two day-use pavilions with raised charcoal grills and picnic tables are available first come, first served. No explicit campfire policy is provided in the source material.

Hazards

General hazardsWater from hand pumps cannot be guaranteed potable and should be treated before drinking. Seasonal muddy road conditions may affect access in spring. The refuge supports wildlife including moose, brown and black bears, lynx, and wolves; these species are present in the area. The upper part of Burney’s Trail follows the fire edge of the 2019 Swan Lake Fire.

Weather at Hidden Lake Campground

°F

Dec 11

Thursday

Clear sky

Precipitation: 0%

Humidity: 72%

Wind: 2.2 mph

Clear sky

Weather History

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Detailed 7-Day Forecast

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Good to know

Proximity to water featuresCampground is adjacent to Hidden Lake with a free boat launch and adjacent parking for vehicles with boat trailers; water hand pumps are available in each camp loop and near the boat launch.

Campground Map

Mile 3.6 Skilak Lake Road, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge (Hidden Lake Campground)

Driving directionsHidden Lake Campground is located at mile 3.6 Skilak Lake Road, most easily accessed from the east entrance of Skilak Lake Road (mp 58) off Sterling Highway (AK Highway 1).

Skilak Lake Road is gravel until the paved campground road. Seasonal muddy conditions can be expected in late April and early May; contact refuge staff at 907-260-2820 for current road conditions. Conditions typically improve quickly and Skilak Lake Road is usually accessible from mid-May through the summer by 2WD highway vehicles and recreation vehicles without difficulty.