Tenderfoot Creek

TENDERFOOT CREEK

Part of Chugach National Forest

Overview

Tenderfoot Creek Campground unveils views of the surrounding mountains from every direction and offers campsites that face the edge of a glistening lake.

Perched along Summit Lake on the Eastern Kenai Peninsula of Alaska, Tenderfoot Creek provides an ideal destination for fishing, kayaking, canoeing, hiking and wildlife watching.

Campers may experience morning wakeup calls from loons or view bald eagles fishing in the clear waters. Impressive wildlife inhabitants include moose, brown and black bears, mountain goats, lynx and wolves. Campsites are nicely spaced along the eastern shores of Summit Lake. Tenderfoot Creek passes through the campground and surrounding forest includes spruce and hemlock.

Facilities

Tenderfoot Creek campers enjoy amenities such as drinking water, vault toilets, picnic tables, trash collection, fire pits and a boat ramp. The majority of campsites are pull-through and parking aprons are gravel. Firewood can be purchased onsite.

Natural Features

Summit Lake is a small cirque lake, or tarn, reaching a depth of 20 feet. This cirque was the beginning of a long-gone, alpine glacier. The surrounding terrain and unique mountain landscape is all glacially carved.

Recreation

The Summit Lake Trail heads south of Summit Lake and connects with the Resurrection Pass Trail, a wonderful 39-mile hiking and biking trail that climbs 2,100 feet of elevation, providing excellent views of the area. The lake is stocked with Dolly Varden and Rainbow trout.

Winter recreation includes backcountry skiing, snow-boarding and snowshoeing.

Nearby Attractions

Visit Portage Glacier in the Portage Valley, a 14-mile isthmus that connects the Kenai Peninsula to mainland Alaska. Glacial remnants that can be seen today are Explorer, Middle, Byron, Burns and Shakespeare glaciers.

Contact Info

For local information, please call (907) 522-8368 or call (907) 288-3178 for general information.

Important Notices

  • Be bear aware; keep all food out of site in approved containers or locked inside your vehicle and remove all food from area after eating
  • Parking at boat ramp is limited
  • For more information on Chugach National Forest, click here
  • Don't Move Firewood: Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by purchasing firewood near your destination and burning it on-site. For more information visit dontmovefirewood.org.

Available Activities

  • HIKING - Hiking
  • FISHING - Fishing
  • CAMPING - Camping
  • BOATING - Canoeing
  • BIKING - Mountain Biking

Directions

From Anchorage, go south on Seward Highway approximately 81 miles to Summit Lake. Turn at milepost 46 before Summit Lake Lodge.

Contact Information

Phone: (907)288-3178

Seward Ranger District, 33599 Ranger Station Spur
SEWARD, AK 99664

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip

Available Campsites

Photo Gallery