Arctic Circle Campground
Overview
Arctic Circle Campground is located on a beautiful mixed forest hillside at the Arctic Circle. It was fully renovated in 2021. There are some views of nearby hills and the Kanuti Flats. It is located ½ mile east (uphill) from the Dalton Highway and Arctic Circle sign. The campground is a perfect stop for those exploring their way up the Dalton Highway. There are 19 accessible campsites.
This location is available on a first-come, first-serve basis only. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to claim and purchase a site. Once on-site, you can pay for your campsites(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app. Download the free Recreation.gov mobile app on Android or iOS prior to your arrival as this is a remote area that has limited or no cellular service.
Recreation
The hills in the area are remote with rugged terrain and offer no developed routes. Backcountry hiking opportunities can be found on ridges in the area. Be advised that hiking can be difficult due to tussocks, wet ground and uneven footing. Choose your route with care and bring topographic maps, a satellite communication device, a GPS and a compass with you if you choose to go exploring.
Fishing opportunities are numerous in this area. Try your luck in the aptly named Fish Creek at the base of the hill, or just a little ways to the north are the two forks of Bonanza Creek. Make sure you have a State of Alaska fishing license and know the regulations for the area you are fishing.
Panning for gold is also allowed on a several federal stream segments along the Dalton Highway south of Atigun Pass (Milepost 244). No panning is permitted in the pipeline right-of-way (27 feet/8.2 m on either side of the pipeline) and no panning on federal mining claims without permission. Suction dredging is prohibited in the Utility Corridor. Visit the BLM Public Room in Fairbanks (222 University Ave, Fairbanks, Alaska) or the Arctic Interagency Visitor Center in Coldfoot, Alaska, to get information on where you may legally pan for gold.
The Jim River can be a nice Class I-II float trip with several access points along the highway. Watch out for sweepers and strainers!
Other recreational activities include bird watching and bicycling.
State statute prohibits off-road vehicle use within five miles either side of from the highway from the Yukon River to the Arctic Ocean.
Facilities
The hills in the area are remote with rugged terrain and offer no developed routes. Backcountry hiking opportunities can be found on ridges in the area. Be advised that hiking can be difficult due to tussocks, wet ground and uneven footing. Choose your route with care and bring topographic maps, a satellite communication device, a GPS and a compass with you if you choose to go exploring.
Fishing opportunities are numerous in this area. Try your luck in the aptly named Fish Creek at the base of the hill, or just a little ways to the north are the two forks of Bonanza Creek. Make sure you have a State of Alaska fishing license and know the regulations for the area you are fishing.
Panning for gold is also allowed on a several federal stream segments along the Dalton Highway south of Atigun Pass (Milepost 244). No panning is permitted in the pipeline right-of-way (27 feet/8.2 m on either side of the pipeline) and no panning on federal mining claims without permission. Suction dredging is prohibited in the Utility Corridor. Visit the BLM Public Room in Fairbanks (222 University Ave, Fairbanks, Alaska) or the Arctic Interagency Visitor Center in Coldfoot, Alaska, to get information on where you may legally pan for gold.
The Jim River can be a nice Class I-II float trip with several access points along the highway. Watch out for sweepers and strainers!
Other recreational activities include bird watching and bicycling.
State statute prohibits off-road vehicle use within five miles either side of from the highway from the Yukon River to the Arctic Ocean.
Photos
Accessibility Description (ABA/ADA)
Arctic Circle Campground is 1/2 mile off Dalton Highway (milepost 115) down a dirt road. The iron ranger and Scan & Pay station sit next to an unshaded information kiosk to the right of the entrance, with a wide pull-out area nearby for parking while using the station.
Past the fee station and kiosk is 1 accessible single vault toilet. There is no designated parking for this toilet, but the parking spur for the campsite near it can be used if that site is empty. A second accessible single vault toilet farther into the campground has 2 parking spots next to it, and with a third spot on the other side of the loop road. The loop and the other pathways in this site are flat, crushed gravel suitable for users of mobility devices.
The 19 campsites at the Campground were all designed with accessibility in mind. The main campground loop includes 17 drive-in sites. Additionally, there are 2 walk-in sites in a small open area to the east of the loop. A short path with a slope of less than 5 percent leads from the main campground to the walk-in area.
Each campsite has a packed-gravel parking spur, many of them wide enough to allow space for access on both sides. All campsites have a picnic table with an extended end to accommodate wheelchair users and an accessible fire pit with double walls and a grill attachment for safe use at sitting height. Campers share 2 bear boxes, 1 near each toilet.
There is no cell phone service and no running water.
Note: Descriptions and photos uploaded February 2025. Please note that actual on-the-ground conditions may vary due to natural events (e.g., weather, wildfires, erosion), normal wear and tear, or site improvements.
Activities
Addresses
Geographic Coordinates
Directions
From Fairbanks, drive north 11 miles on the Steese Highway (AK-6) to its junction with the Elliott Highway (AK-2) in Fox. Follow the Elliott Highway 73 miles to the junction with the Dalton Highway (AK-11). Continue on the Dalton to Arctic Circle Campground at Milepost 115.
It is about 200 miles from Fairbanks to Arctic Circle Campground, and the trip can take from 5 to 7 hours depending on weather, road conditions, and how often you stop along the way.
The campground is on the east side of the highway (right as you head north) and is located approximately ½ mile up the hill via an access road at the north end of the wayside.
Fees
$12 per night. First come first serve only. Campground is open from mid-May through end of September (depending on snowfall).
The campground has accessible sites, toilet facilities, trash cans, fire rings, and parking areas.