People will confuse "Chena River" Recreation Area with the "Chena Lake" Recreation areas. Both near North Pole AK. Chena Lake will be reviewed below: There is a total of a 100 sites broken up in two loops about a mile from each other. Between the two there are 20 pull thru sites and the rest are back in, with enough space for RV's in the 35' range. The main road into the park is paved. The actual campground loop roads and campsites are hard packed gravel. All sites looked level. There is a dump station on the paved road into the park. All campsites are primitive. The one loop I walked had 4 outhouses. That were so-so. Close by ( 100') there was s paved bike path that went for at least 10 miles total. The beach, boat rental, picnic area and boat launch were 500' away. The Chena Lake Rec. Area is 3 miles east of the main North Pole business area on the Richardson highway. There are even a few tent campsite on a island near the picnic area. The other smaller loop of campsites is near the dam and river. The whole Chena Lake area is about a levy to hold back the Chena River as to not flood the North Pole / Fairbanks area.
✅ Amenities & Features
Back-inBathroomsBeachBikingBoat RampBoatingCanoeingCounty ParkDesolateDestinationDirtDogsLakeFamily FriendlyFirepitsFirst Come First ServedFishingForestHikingKayakingLaunch RampMountain BikingOpenPadsParkPetsPrimitivePublic ParkPublic ParkingPull-InPull-thruRegional ParkRemoteRuralScenicSeasonalTentsTouristTrailsTreesWalking TrailWaterWildlife
📖 About This Campground
Chena Lake Recreation Area near Faribanks and North Pole Alaska is a county managed park offering camping in 3 campgrounds: Lake Park, River Park, and the boating accessible only Island Area. The boating accessible area has 6 primitive first come first served sites. Between the other two campgrounds there are 80 total sites with no hookups. Potable water and restrooms are available during warmer months. Pull thrus are available.
The Lake Park hosts three volleyball courts, one horseshoe pit, a playground, multiple day use picnic sites with tables and fire rings, two covered pavilions, two changing room/warm up buildings, two designated swimming areas with sandy beaches, a boat rental facility, two fishing docks (one handicap accessible), a lake boat launch, potable water stations, restrooms, and during winter ice fishing and miles of trials.
The River Park is stretched along 4 miles of the south bank of the Chena River and hosts one volleyball court, one horseshoe pit, one covered pavilion, one changing room/warm up building, a 4.5 kilometer self guided nature trail, river boat launch, potable water stations, restrooms, and multiple day use picnic sites with tables and fire rings.