- Sawmill Bay State Marine Park
The best camping in Sawmill Bay State Marine Park, AK
Discover Sawmill Bay State Marine Park's natural splendor.
The best camping in Sawmill Bay State Marine Park, AK
Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Sawmill Bay State Marine Park adventure.
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M
Marti
September 2025
36 ft Class C
With pets
Beautiful campground! Very quiet and the sites are nicely seperated.
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Nicole
September 2025
Tent
With pets
I love this place!! 20 minutes outside of town in the middle of nature, with beautiful mountains surrounding and a nice little lake! Campsites are decently spaced. I will keep coming back!
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Mustafa
August 2025
Tent
Group trip
Excellent campsite, loved the views and facilities - will be back
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Ashley
August 2025
Tent
With pets
This was an excellent camp site! Even though we had folks on both sides, it felt private because of all the trees and bushes. Bathrooms were clean and accessible, nearby water spout, and the grounds were beautiful to walk through. We even had our very people-shy dog with us without incident because it felt so secluded. Great tent spot with a firepit and picnic table. 10/10 would recommend!
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Marissa
August 2025
Tent
Great location! Peaceful, very quiet. Gets very misty and moist here so bring a canopy if you are choosing a spot that doesn’t have one! Spotted a black bear at the lake. 10/10 only 30 minutes from city of Valdez. 5 minutes from main falls pullouts!
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Amber
August 2025
29 ft Class C
My husband and I have stayed at Blueberry Lake for the last few years. The reservation website has always worked well for us. We reserved months in advance and we always have our name on the board.
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C
Crystal
August 2025
Tent
Group trip
Beautiful campsite, it was rainy so only two other campers on the campgrounds. Vault bathrooms were probably one the cleanest I’ve seen.
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Michael
August 2025
Tent
WAS AMAZING!
Will go back.
Clean
Quiet and beautiful.
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S
Sonja
August 2025
19 ft campervan
With pets
Best part of an 8 day camping trip around south central and central Alaska. The views great and it was quiet. Good communication by host.
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Lisbeth
August 2025
14 ft travel trailer
First, the campground is in such a beautiful, serene place that it makes it easy to enjoy the campground. We were lucky to have good weather most of the time, and the outhouses were well equipped and kept clean. Thank you for working to make all campers stays the best they can be!
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Kate
August 2025
22 ft Class C
Group trip
What a lovely campground! We had site 14 and the view from that site was spectacular. It was close to the toilets, too, but not directly across from them, so a great location all around.
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R
Ruth
August 2025
18 ft travel trailer
Great views. Clean bathroom,nice site with fireplace and picnic table.
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Michael
August 2025
With kids
Very nice cabin and location.
It would be nice to have an anchor ball for boats. The bay in front of the cabin has a lot of area that is shale not mud
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Lara
August 2025
35 ft Class A
Beautiful views and very quiet. The flys were really bad while we were there but we would stay again.
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T
Tim
August 2025
20 ft campervan
It was a beautiful location with plenty of privacy snd a short walk to the bathroom. Not overly buggy and we were able to cook outside.
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E
Elisa
August 2025
Tent
The campsite was very nice and well maintained! The signage was a little hard to figure out at first since it’s quite small, but other than that we had a totally seamless experience!
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cathy
July 2025
32 ft Class A
Group trip
We loved staying at Blueberry Lake in our RV rental. The views are spectacular and the lake is very pretty. Nice and quiet at night and we enjoyed the walk along the trail by No 9 pitch. Thank you!
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baukje
July 2025
30 ft Class B
Group trip
It was great to camp on blue berry lake state park!
We made a reservation and we felt welcome when our name was at the right spot.
When we were there the weather was beautiful, so perfect to swim in the lake. The kids enjoyed.
When we left a moose was jumping out of the bushes, and just walked to the green area besides our spot, she took all the time to let us make some great pictures
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T
Teresa
July 2025
Tent
Group trip
Beautiful peaceful campground! We had an awesome stay!
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Rachel
July 2025
Weekend Trip to Valdez Adventure Alliance
Moraine cabin is beautiful! They had recently done trail maintenance which cleared the view of Shoup Glacier. The cabin and outhouse were clean. The heater was not needed in July. I recommend paddling to the cabin so you can then kayak or canoe out to the glacier. We paddled out early one morning and were able to see seals!
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Other options near Sawmill Bay State Marine Park
The best camping in Sawmill Bay State Marine Park, AK guide
Overview
About
Good thing there’s good anchorage here, because you’re bound to want to put down some roots at Sawmill Bay State Marine Park. This pretty park is 15 miles away from Valdez, and it’s one of the premier anchorages in Valdez Arm. Why is it so popular, you ask? Well, the scenery sure doesn’t hurt. The bay is cradled by plenty of 4,000-foot mountain peaks, and they’re definitely Instagram-worthy. If you can tear yourself away from the coast, have a jaunt through the forest, and see if you can spot a land otter or bear. Back near the water, you might also see some sea otters and seals. If you’re looking to pitch your tent, you’ll find two tent platforms with a fire ring and food locker (a must in bear country!).
When to go
The ideal time to visit Sawmill Bay State Marine Park is during the summer months, from June to August, when the weather is warm and the days are long. However, be mindful of the peak season crowds. For a more solitary experience, consider the shoulder seasons of May or September. Winter visits can be challenging due to cold temperatures and limited access.
Know before you go
- Check weather conditions before your visit, as Alaska's weather can be unpredictable.
- Be aware of wildlife in the area; maintain a safe distance and store food securely.
- Wear appropriate clothing and footwear for hiking and exploring the park's terrain.
- Some areas may have limited cell phone reception; plan accordingly.
- Respect park rules and regulations to preserve its natural beauty for future visitors.
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