Denali Highway — BLM Roadside Dispersed Camping

The Denali Highway runs from Paxson to Cantwell and cuts straight through some of the wildest open country in Alaska. Dispersed camping is allowed along much of it on BLM land. People use pullouts, lakeshore turnouts, and gravel areas near the trailheads and river crossings. There’s no single camp spot and no facilities, so you pick your own ground. Bugs can be fierce in early summer, and the weather turns fast. Expect big skies and caribou on the tundra, with the Alaska Range as a backdrop on clear days.

Most of the road is gravel, with washboard and potholes. A normal vehicle can make it in good conditions, but high clearance and a full-size spare make life easier. Fuel and services are limited, so top off at either end. The road is not maintained in winter and is generally only passable in summer. Check current conditions before you go. Pack out all trash, and use existing sites to keep the tundra intact. Have a dirty day.

Gravel across the Alaskan tundra.