When I was in Hyder, Alaska on the far southeast panhandle, I met some really nice people at the top of Salmon Glacier. I shared some tips on Driving the Cassiar Highway route south and they shared some great tips on visiting Alaska. One tip they said was to make sure I camped at Deadman Lake Campground or Lakeview Campground in the Teltin National Wildlife Refuge. This was one of the nicest campgrounds on my trip and in the morning, I even got to canoe on the Deadman Lake for free! These two campgrounds are the best kept secret in Alaska – neither campground was full in my July visit.
Deadman Lake Campground
Deadman Lake Campground is on the Alaska Highway, about halfway between Tok, AK and the Alaska/Yukon border. The address is technically Northway, AK. This campground is free (although donations are accepted) and there is even free firewood, as long as there is no fire ban (like there was on my visit). There are 15 shaded spots on a loop road and a couple very clean pit toilets thanks to an awesome camp host on site.
Sittin’ on the Dock at Deadman Lake
Deadman Lake has a floating dock and it seemed the other campers were staying around their spots, but I took the opportunity to bring my captain’s chair out to sit on the dock and enjoy the breeze. I had heard that Alaska was horrendous for mosquitoes but besides a very buggy night near Barkerville, BC, I had been pretty lucky to avoid mosquitoes on this trip. Deadman Lake, especially in the breeze, had very few bugs. I didn’t even need bug spray. But it was later in the night when things go really magical at Deadman Lake, as the sun was setting, the lake was so calm, and the wolves were howling.
Deadman Lake Canoes
If Deadman Lake Campground isn’t already so great, it get’s even better – there are FREE Canoes to take out on the lake. Six canoes (including one smaller canoe for a single person), paddles, and life jackets are down by the lake for anyone to use. It’s best to use these when it’s not too windy, the lake is most calm in the morning.
Rumor was that some teenagers had purposely sunk the canoes so there were talks of taking them away, but for now, there are free canoes to use!
Lakeview Campground
Deadman Lake has a sister campground only about 7 miles to the north on Yarger Lake called Lakeview Campground. Like Deadman Lake, the camp is free, with pit toilets and free firewood. This campground has a short trail with a hide to watch birds on the north end of Yarger Lake. Although I didn’t spend the night there, I had a nice picnic lunch at the shore of the lake.
Not camping?
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Even if you’re not camping at Deadman Lake Campground or Lakeview Campground in Teltin National Wildlife Refure, you can still picnic, walk the trails in the refuge, and use the free canoes! Then book a place in nearby Tok, AK (Check Rates and Availability) Tok is a hub for the east part of the state and has reasonably priced gas a groceries.
Are you traveling to Alaska? The Alaska Milepost Guidebook is a necessity!
Check out my list of favorite free campgrounds in Alaska.
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