Willow Creek State Recreation Area
RV Guide

Have you always wanted to catch a king salmon? Because by early June you will start to see these powerful fish moving through the clear waters of the Sustina River drainage. The streams around Willow Creek are open to king fishing from January until June. Check the regulations during your camping trip to ensure you are staying within the law. You can take your boat out to the center of the creek and try your luck to catch bluegill, bass, catfish, walleye, tiger musky and bullheads.

A spectacular place for people who enjoy hiking and exploring nature on their own two feet. The rolling landscape interspersed with lakes and ponds making it worthwhile experience with every step.

The whole area is interspersed with trails, so all you really need to do is grab a good pair of hiking boots, plenty of water, a jacket against possibly cool weather, and a good map of the area. You will enjoy the views of sparkling lake waters, blooming wildflowers, and the occasional animal scampering across your path.

Why not try the 15.5 mile hike along the Willow Creek Sled Trail? This one will give you great access to old mining sites and the gold pan.

If you wish to venture out further and enjoy full views of the Willow Creek Valley, you can head over east into the mountainous region. There at the Summit Lake State Recreational area you will be met by a chilly wind as you hike the small knoll on the west side of the lake. This is the point where many hang gliders launch to fly down into Willow Creek Valley, right into the storybook view.

During the warm summer months, there is no better way to explore the Alaskan wilderness than hopping into a canoe or kayak to paddle the river. Your kayak trip will show you many water dwelling creatures, stunning deciduous over hanging trees, and the occasional blockage created by a beaver's dam. If you do see a beaver, do not disturb them from their work as they are helping keep the river systems and surrounding nature healthy!

There is an opportunity to rent a kayak from Willow, however that is at least a 20-minute drive away from the campground. The most popular kayaking spot starts near the Tainana Lake Canoe Trailhead, a little further down south from the campground. They offer day trips or even several overnight expeditions to become truly one with nature.

The Willow Creek Recreational Area is nestled in between two mountain ranges, with stunning topography carved out by glaciers thousands of years ago. The cold temperatures in the winter, and often ice cold winds, make this a harsh environment for animals to live in. However, once the spring sun starts shining, you will begin to see many animals who have made these extreme conditions their home.

If you quietly go to the rivers and streams, you will be able to see the industrious Beavers constructing their dam lodges. For your best chance to spot larger mammals, including Caribou and Moose, you should head out at dawn or dusk. Move quietly and try and stay downwind of the animal, as they have much better senses of smell than we do.

During the wintertime, the whole area gets covered in a thick blanket of snow which attracts winter adventurers. Snowmobiling, or snow machining as it's known in Alaska, is one of the best ways to get around the countryside.

One of the easy self-driving trails is the ihe Willow Creek Sled. You can use it to explore the old mining sites, take photos of the winter wonderland, and check out the gold pan. The length of the trail is 15.5 miles and gains an elevation of 1,000 feet; this however, is no challenge to the powerful snow machines.

There are many trails in the surroundings which you can explore with your snow mobile, however if you rather join a tour, there are several companies which offer day trips. These trips will lay out the snowy landscape with every squeeze of the throttle whether travelling through forest trails or free riding on the snow powder fields. Snowmobile riding is typically possible during the winter season between November and April.

Certain sections of the recreational area are open to hunting once the season opens on the first Tuesday after Labor Day. If you wish to hunt with air rifle or a shotgun, you have the chance to shoot pheasant, quail, mourning dove, rabbit, squirrel and a variety of waterfowl. Otherwise, the use of firearms is restricted within the Willow Creek Recreational Area.

On the other hand, archery is permitted in the area, and you can try your tracking and hunting prowess by challenging yourself to a deer hunt. There are many designated areas a short drive away which permit the use of hand guns and rifles. In those sections, some people get the opportunity to hunt a caribou, moose, or even bear with the appropriate permit!