Caribou Creek Gravel Bars (Glenn Hwy)

The feel

Free dispersed camping on the braided gravel bars of Caribou Creek, near the Matanuska Glacier. The Caribou Creek Recreational Mining Area is just south of the Caribou Creek bridge near mile marker 104 on the Glenn Highway, in the shadow of the Lion's Head rock formation. A steep half-mile-long trail leads down to the creek.

Visitors carry a gold pan and shovel and look where the creek's flow has slowed, such as behind a large boulder or on the inside of a bend. Caribou Creek meets the Matanuska River along the cliffs of Lion's Head. You will not get rich here, though you can pan for gold.

What to expect

Layout and setting

Dispersed camping on braided creek gravel bars below a steep half-mile trail from the turnoff near mile marker 104.

Fees and reservations

Free, first-come.

Hazards

The trail down to the creek is steep.

Bathrooms and water

No facilities. Pack it in and pack it out.

Season and access

May to September. The turnoff is just south of the Caribou Creek bridge near mile marker 104 on the Glenn Highway.

Mingo says

Go between May and September, when the gravel bars are open for camping. Pan where the water slows, behind a boulder or on a bend.

Before you go

• Bring a gold pan and a shovel.
• Pack all your food and water; there are no facilities.
• Carry out everything you bring in.

Written October 2026. Sources are listed at the end of this page.