Whitefish Campground

The feel

Whitefish sits on the north side of the Chatanika River Bridge at Mile 11 of the Elliott Highway, within Lower Chatanika River State Recreation Area, about 20 miles north of Fairbanks. It is a campground with a boat launch, and the boat ramp is where people put in to float the Chatanika River.

The Chatanika River Canoe Trail is 28 miles long. An all-day float can start at a gravel bar in Upper Chatanika State Recreation Site and end here at Lower Chatanika State Recreation Area.

What to expect

Layout and setting

Campsites, a picnic shelter and a boat ramp on the north side of the Chatanika River Bridge. No hookups.

Check-in and stay

First come, first served.

Parking and rig size

No RV size limit.

Fees and reservations

$20 per site. Campsites cannot be reserved and there are no online reservations.

Bathrooms and water

Vault toilets and drinking water are on site.

Season and access

Roughly mid May to mid September, weather dependent. The campground is at Mile 11 of the Elliott Highway. Fishing access is on site.

Mingo says

Aim to float in the open season, since the boat ramp here is the put-in for the river. Weather decides the edges of that season.

Before you go

• Bring $20 per site; sites are first come, first served.
• Pack for no hookups.
• Call the DNR Public Information Center at (907) 269-8400 with questions.

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