Savage River Campground

 

Alaska Native Place Name

Savage River is known as Tr'at'egheth No' in the Lower Tanana dialect, meaning "From Cottonwood Creek."

 

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Basic Information

Campground Features

Amenities

Fire/Stove Policy

Toilet Types

Shower Types

Operating Hours & Seasons

Description

Closures & Seasonal Exceptions

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Weather

Fees

Contact Information & Directions

Email Address

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Physical Address

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Additional Information & Regulations

Additional Information

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Accessibility Information

 

A Window to Denali

This campground is near the end of the paved, publicly-accessible portion of the Denali Park Road. You may drive a car or RV to and from the campground any time of the day or night when the campground is open.

If you do not have a vehicle, you may use a free bus called the Savage River Shuttle to travel between this campground and the park entrance. Sightseeing farther into the park, past Savage River, requires purchase of a non-narrated transit bus ticket. A bus stop at the campground entrance is where you can wait for either of these types of buses.

 

What to Expect in Savage

No campground in Denali has electrical or water hookups for RVs. Savage does have potable water, but no shower or laundry facilities.

Savage River Campground sits a few hundred feet below treeline, which is fairly low in Denali - about 3,000' above sea level for many areas. Sites are screened with brush in most cases.

An old gravel road leads through the campground towards Savage River itself, where the trees are less dense and beautiful, open views can be had. On clear days, Denali is visible from this area, a short walk from all the sites in Savage. Only two campgrounds in Denali boast such a view - Savage River and Wonder Lake.

The nearby Mountain Vista Rest Area and Savage Rest Area offer opportunities for hiking, scenic views, picnicing and more.

Small animals, such as red squirrels and snowshoe hare, are commonly seen in Savage. On occasion, a variety of birds will nest in the immediate area - great horned owls, merlins and ravens being some examples from recent years. Bear sightings are rare in Savage, but a few pass through the campground every summer. Read below for more wildlife safety information.

There is a maximum of eight people per site.

 

Group Camp Sites

There are three group camping sites in Savage. These are for parties of 9 to 20 people. Commercial groups must have pre-approval to use these sites.

The group sites are located towards the rear of the campground.

 

Campground Regulations

• Necessities
  Restrooms, both flush-toilet and pit-vaults, can be found throughout the campground. Potable water is available at spigots throughout the campground. All sites have a picnic table and fire grates (see below)
• Be courteous
  Quiet hours are between 10 pm and 6 am. Generators may only be operated from 8 am to 10 am, and 4 pm to 8 pm. There are no exceptions to these rules.
• Wildlife & food storage
  Keep all food and scented items (e.g., toothpaste, sunscreen, ice chests/coolers, etc.) in your hard-sided vehicle, if available. If you are tent-camping without a vehicle, use the food lockers found throughout the campground. Label and date your items in the food locker. Keep a clean camp and wash your dishes immediately. Learn more about wildlife safety.
• Fires & Firewood
  You can have a fire in the established fire grates in Riley Creek, Savage River and Teklanika River.
  • Don’t move firewood long distances — it can potentially transport invasive species. This is true throughout the country, not just in Denali; learn more about why you generally shouldn't transport firewood.
  • Instead, buy firewood where you’ll burn it, buy heat-treated firewood, or gather on site where permitted. In Denali, you may collect wood that is both dead and on the ground—no sawing or cutting to harvest wood. You can buy wood at the Riley Creek Mercantile.
• Pets
  Pets are welcome at Savage. Dispose of pet feces in garbage cans. Secure pet food in your vehicle or a food locker. Learn more about camping with your pet.