Upper Chatanika River State Recreation Site
- Status
- Status not posted
- Entrance fee
- See fee details
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Not stated — check with park
- Camping
- 24 campsites
- Official site
- dnr.alaska.gov
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. Details last changed Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
In Fairbanks North Star County, about 27 miles northeast of Fairbanks, Upper Chatanika River State Recreation Site covers about 72 acres.
Things to do include boating and fishing. Facilities for water recreation include a boat ramp. For overnight stays there are 24 campsites (tent sites).
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Upper Chatanika State Recreation Site: Camping | $20 |
Official wording
Upper Chatanika State Recreation Site: Camping $20/site
Alaska park passes
- Annual Day Use Parking Pass — $60. Day-use parking at most state parks for the calendar year (not Pillars/Eagle Rock boat launches, Arctic Valley, Eagle River Nature Center) Details
- Annual Boat Launch Pass — $150. Boat launch fees for the calendar year Details
- Disabled Veterans Camping Pass. Camping for qualifying disabled veterans Details
From the Alaska state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Camping
- Not required
- Booking system
- Reserve Alaska State Parks (reservealaskastateparks.com)
Campsites are FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED.
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Camping
| Campground or site type | Sites | Hookups / features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campsites Camping Limit - 15 days | 24 | RVs up to No RV size limit | — |
Camping details from the park
24 Campsites (see fee page) No RV size limit Camping Limit - 15 days
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
CampingBoatingFishing
Boating and paddling
Boat Launch
Fishing
The Upper Chatanika State Recreation Site, at mile 39 of the Steese Highway, is popular with highway travelers and weekend campers from Fairbanks. It has 24 campsites, four picnic sites, drinking water and latrines. There is a road to a gravel bar where visitors can camp, picnic, sunbathe, or fish. Canoes and rafters launch their boats here for an all-day-float on the Chatanika River, ending at the Lower Chatanika State Recreational Area, at mile 11 of the Elliott Highway.
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Picnic areas
Water
- Boat ramp
Camping
- Tent camping
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
ADA Facility - No
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- Mile 39 Steese Highway
AK - Nearest town
- Fairbanks — about 27 mi northeast (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 65.1928, -147.2592
Google Maps directionsApple Maps
Directions from the park
George Parks Highway or Richardson Highway to Steese Highway. Located at milepost 39 of the Steese Hwy.
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Alaska State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- Alaska DNR ArcGIS 'ASP Park Boundary' layer (OpenData/Recreational_ParkBoundary MapServer/2, refreshed daily), with unit pages from the region 'List of Units' tabs
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. “Last changed” (Oct 29, 2026) is when the information shown here last differed from the previous check. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology