Tenderfoot Creek

Show on map(907)288-3178
Seward Ranger District, 33599 Ranger Station Spur
SEWARD, AK 99664

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.

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.

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.

Contact Info

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

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.

Camp site features

Across 36 camp sites:

  • Picnic table: 35 of 36 sites
  • Longest RV: 100 ft
  • Largest party: 8 people

Directions

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

Stay Limit

Check in from 2 PM, check out by 12 PM.

Reviews

62 reviews
5 stars
36
4 stars
16
3 stars
6
2 stars
3
1 stars
1
John W
Loop:Area Tenderfoot Creek
Site:
Reviewed 2 months ago
Quiet campground
Michele P
Loop:Area Tenderfoot Creek
Site:
Reviewed 2 months ago
The highway noise is always there, but it's otherwise clean and quiet.
Darla G
Loop:Area Tenderfoot Creek
Site:
Reviewed 2 months ago
What a wonderful, clean campground. Nicely spaces out & nicely wooded with adequate pit toilets. Easy lake access & boat ramp. Bring your bicycle for riding the campground loop or going to Summit Lake Lodge for ice cream. Numerous hiking trails in the area as well!!
Teresa D
Loop:Area Tenderfoot Creek
Site:
Reviewed 3 months ago
Very noisy due to nearby traffic on highway.
Laurel R
Loop:Area Tenderfoot Creek
Site:
Reviewed 3 months ago
Nice quiet campground just off the Seward Highway on Summit Lake. All sites have a picnic table and fire pit. Dry camping only. Some sites have lake access. Boat launch near the campground entrance. The lake is electric motor or paddle only.
Matthew K
Loop:Area Tenderfoot Creek
Site:
Reviewed 3 months ago
Great campground! Pros: location is really good. Right on the lake and close to Cooper Landing. You can go to the lodge for ice cream or into Cooper Landing to the brewery or anything else. The sites are good size and relatively spread out. Bugs were at a minimum while we were there. Some but with a little spray it wasn’t bad. Nice that most sites had a trail to the lake. Cons: Campsites are not level at all. You’ll need to do some adjusting with your camper from all angles. As close as it is to the lake, views are non existent because of overgrowth. Campsites were pretty shaded. Nice but we like to enjoy the sun when it’s around. Overall good and we will be back.
Availability

See the Camp Sites section below to find detailed booking availability.

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Season dates

Peak season

May 29, 2027 – Sep 13, 2027

Reservable online

Peak season

May 29, 2028 – Sep 13, 2028

Reservable online

Camp Sites

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