| At 5.6 million acres, the Chugach National Forest (pronounced "Chew'gatch") is the second largest forest in the National Forest System. Roughly the same size as the states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island combined, the Chugach National Forest is the most northern of National Forests, only 500 miles south of the Arctic Circle. One third of the Chugach National Forest is composed of rocks and moving ice. The remainder is a diversity of land, water, plants and animals. The mountains, lakes, and rivers of the Kenai Peninsula, the islands and glaciers of Prince William Sound, and the wetlands and birds of the Copper River Delta make this National Forest a retreat for adventurers.There are few places today where glaciers still clash against the land. One-third of this land is rock and moving ice. However, the slow, persistent force of glacial ice has not been the only land shaping agent. Volcanic forces, as well as earthquakes, have played a role in creating one of the most diverse landscapes in Alaska, if not America.Whether visitors are anglers, hikers, hunters, skiers, mountain bikers or simply love to drive for pleasure, Alaska's Kenai Peninsula is a place of opportunities. Just 50 road miles southeast of Anchorage, the Chugach National Forest portion of the Kenai begins. Portage Valley, the most visited recreation site in the state, is 55 miles southeast of Anchorage at the northeastern tip of the peninsula. The valley has icebergs, glaciers and wildlife.In Prince William Sound, blue-white glaciers grind to the sea through spruce forests. Visitors come in kayaks, cruise ships, powerboats, sailboats, ferries and floatplanes to explore the sound's 3,500 miles of coastline.The 700,000-acre delta of the Copper River is a unique wetlands ecosystem and the largest contiguous wetland on the west coast of the United States. Millions of waterfowl and shorebirds spend part of their lives on the Delta. |
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| | | Facilities: Fifteen campgrounds on the Chugach can accommodate 2,000 people at 408 campsites. Most of these campsites provide restrooms, water, and picnic areas. For a more primitive setting, there are over 2 million acres of backcountry open for camping, no permit required. There are also more than 40 public use cabins available for both summer and winter use. Best Time To Visit: The Chugach National Forest is open year-round. Fees: There are no fees charged for entering the Chugach National Forest, however, other fees may be incurred. Please call the Forest for more specific information. Accessibility: Four of the campgrounds on the Chugach National Forest provide wheelchair accessibility, as do most of the roadside exhibits. In addition, four of the public use cabins are also accessible for people with mobility impairments. Interpretive and information programs are developed using a variety of different media and learning styles, to ensure accessibility to persons with all types of abilities. Rules: There are a variety of rules at the Chugach National Forest, concerning everything from horses, pets, firearms, vehicles, mudflats, gold panning and more. Please contact the Ranger Districts for more specific information. Directions: The Chugach National Forest is divided into three Ranger Districts; the Glacier Ranger District, the Cordova Ranger District, and the Seward Ranger District. These three districts are divided by mountains and the Gulf of Alaska. Please contact the Forest Ranger for more precise driving (or flying) directions into the National Forest. Map: Click here for a map to Chugach National Forest Reservations: Certain campgrounds inside the Chugach National Forest do require reservations. Please call the Forest for more detailed information. | | |
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| | | | | Address | | Chugach National Forest | | 3301 C Street, Suite 300 | | Anchorage, Alaska 99503-3998 |
| | | Phone | | General: (907) 743-9500 | | Fax: (907) 743-9476 | |
| | | | | Website | | Email |
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