Chugach National Forest
The Chugach National Forest is a 6,908,540-acre (27,958 km2) United States National Forest in south central Alaska. On the map, it sits 10 mi northeast of Primrose. It is managed by the United States Forest Service.
A national forest, 10 mi northeast of Primrose
Winters are cold
January nights drop to 16°, with about 90" of snow a year. When to go ↓
Primrose is the nearest base
Primrose is 10 miles southwest, with 5 places to stay. Where to stay ↓
Established in 1907
Chugach National Forest dates from 1907 and is run by United States Forest Service. About ↓
Best months: Jul and Aug
July and August are the mild months, with highs of 62–64°. When to go ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
Weather through the year
Plan a visit to Chugach National Forest around the weather below.
Chugach National Forest
The Chugach National Forest is a 6,908,540-acre (27,958 km2) United States National Forest in south central Alaska. Covering portions of Prince William Sound, the Kenai Peninsula and the Copper River Delta, it was formed in 1907 from part of a larger forest reserve. The Chugach includes extensive shorelines, glaciers, forests and rivers, much of which is untouched by roads or trails. It hosts numerous bird, mammal and marine species, including extensive shorebird habitat and a bald eagle population larger than the contiguous 48 states combined. Human industry in the forest includes extensive tourism and some mining and oil and gas operations.
- Type
- National forest
- Established
- 1907
- Area
- 10,795 square miles
- Run by
- United States Forest Service
- Wikipedia readers
- 6.9K a year
A base for Chugach National Forest
Close by, places to stay are in Bear Creek (33) and Seward (42).
Bear Creek
The closest town with somewhere to stay.
1,732 people
19 mi southwest of Chugach National Forest
Compare 7 towns
| Town | From Chugach National Forest | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear Creek | 19 mi southwest | 30 min | 33 3 hotels · 9 inns & B&Bs · 17 lodges & cabins · 4 campgrounds | 1,732 | $475K | — |
| Seward | 25 mi south | 40 min | 42 14 hotels · 3 motels · 5 inns & B&Bs · 11 lodges & cabins · 1 hostel · 6 campgrounds · 2 RV parks | 2,892 | $338K | C+ |
| Primrose | 10 mi southwest | 15 min | 5 2 hotels · 2 lodges & cabins · 1 campground | 89 | $450K | — |
| Moose Pass 43% vacation homes | 12 mi west | 20 min | 6 1 hotel · 1 inn or B&B · 2 lodges & cabins · 2 campgrounds | 202 | $365K | — |
| Cooper Landing 53% vacation homes | 25 mi west | 35 min | 18 1 hotel · 2 motels · 1 inn or B&B · 9 lodges & cabins · 4 campgrounds · 1 RV park | 227 | $428K | — |
| Lowell Point | 29 mi southwest | 45 min | 9 1 hotel · 7 lodges & cabins · 1 RV park | — | — | — |
| Whittier 29% vacation homes | 27 mi northeast | 40 min | 2 1 inn or B&B · 1 campground | 249 | $84K | — |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
After Chugach National Forest
These well-known places are within 61 miles.
48 mi National ParkKenai Fjords National Park425K visitors a year
57 mi Stadium & arenaSullivan Arena
47 mi State parkChugach State Park125 mi Zoo & aquariumAlaska Wildlife Conservation Center35 mi Ski areaAlyeska Resort73 runs · 2,484 ft vertical
60 mi Scenic driveGlenn Highway
51 mi Zoo & aquariumAlaska Zoo
227 mi Zoo & aquariumAlaska SeaLife CenterPhoto credits
Kenai Fjords National Park: Unknown, Public domain · Sullivan Arena: Acez1, CC0 · Chugach State Park: Frank K. from Anchorage, Alaska, USA, CC BY 2.0 · Glenn Highway: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Alaska Zoo: James from Boulder, USA, CC BY 2.0 · Alaska SeaLife Center: Me, Public domain
Quick answers on Chugach National Forest
What town is Chugach National Forest near?
Primrose, AK, about 10 miles southwest.
When is the best time to visit Chugach National Forest?
July and August, with highs of 62–64°.
What is the closest airport to Chugach National Forest?
Merrill Field (MRI), about 57 miles away. The nearest big hub is Ted Stevens Anchorage (ANC), about 58 miles.
Where should I stay near Chugach National Forest?
Bear Creek (19 mi, 33 places to stay), Seward (25 mi, 42 places to stay) and Primrose (10 mi, 5 places to stay).
From people who live in Primrose
No one has shared advice yet; Primrose’s Town Square takes questions.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.