Glacier View Grill & Campground - McCarthy, Alaska

Josh A.

Just camped here for 3 nights. Definitely was sub par for a private camp site. There was no host to be found, the grill was closed, there was no running water or showers as advertised. The one outhouse for the whole place was about to fall over. You had to hike or drive quite a ways if you weren’t down to use the great outdoors.

Most spots were so small you wouldn’t have room for a small car and a tent. Saw a lot of people pull in and were shocked and decided to just take up two spots to hold their car and one for a tent (I don’t blame them). Some spots didn’t have a fire pit, and some spots didn’t even have a place to have a tent if you were on the tent camping side.

They are not 1/4 of a mile from the bridge to McCarthy, it’s about 1 mile away.

It was a very quiet place, some sites had decent privacy but many spots would have you sharing a picnic table and unsure of who’s side is who’s. There was some great views depending on where you stayed as well.

We ran into some trouble and met the manager of Base camp kennicot , he extremely helpful and got us hooked up. Base camp is right next to the walking bridge and has fantastic views all around., while it is mostly open and gravel it would have been much more enjoyable. They also had outhouses.

Elise J.

I recently stayed at the campground over Memorial Day weekend and left a pair of work boots. Not only did they promptly ship the boots, but they also went above and beyond to ensure I received them. I was pleasantly surprised when I found my boots neatly packaged within a day of them getting shipped.
The level of attention and care the team at Glacier View Campground demonstrated truly sets them apart. Their dedication to customer satisfaction is commendable. Thank you so much Glacier View Campground and especially Chris!

Scott T.

Stopped in for the best hamburger on the west side. Need to get the Beef Trust and a cold beer (or three) after a day on the River. Large patio gives a great place relax and enjoy a big juicy burger. Staff is friendly and full of great stories about the local happenings. Say hey to T-bone.

sueb99932625

Nice, affordable little campground with great tent sites. It is a short walk to the McCarthy footbridge. Staff was helpful and friendly. There is a small, open-air restaurant on site, but it's also an easy walk or walk/shuttle to the restaurants in McCarthy. Drinking water is available. The outhouse was clean and always had toilet paper. I will stay here again.

Markus S.

Most reviews are rather old and we were somewhat skeptical when we booked. Unfortunately, the campground is rather poorly maintained, very rocky and with a pretty smelly restroom. The other option in "town" (Basecamp Kennicott) now has dry toilets too and offers spectacular views of the glacier (which Glacier View Campground does not, despite its name!). We really enjoyed our visit to McCarthy once we moved to Basecamp Kennicott.

Manuela V. P.

We were somewhat surprised to find this little oasis near the McCarthy footbridge. As we are tent campers, we enjoy some privacy around our tents. This campground provided just that. Wonderful spots! Although we could not take showers (the heater was broken) the campground host went out of his way to make us feel at home and comfortable. The hamburgers in his outdoor restaurant are legendary! Yummy! He even cooks FREE pancakes Saturday morning, so my hungry husband really indulged himself in the delicious pancakes and sausages! Will certainly recommend this campground to anyone looking for a true Alaskan campground experience. The host deserves 6 stars!

Elizabeth Z.

Reservable campsites near McCarthy are limited, and this is pretty basic. The owners have done a good job trying to provide amenities. They haul water up from the river to provide a sink (and shower for $10) with the pit toilet, which is appreciated. |To camp within walking distance (for super cheap) of McCarthy is a great thing, so we appreciate glacier view! That said, it was insanely buggy. Wish we had brought head netting. When not hiking, we were confined to our tent (eating dinner in the car) to avoid to swarming mosquitoes. Be ready!

Michelle W.

The campsites have nice spacing offering privacy from your neighbors, but it is full at all times with high turn-over. |If you have kids, this is a great place for them to bike and play on the beach. If you are twenty-something and want a lively beach vibe, this might also be good. Think about any beach in any major city and that is what you have here. Think Waikiki beach, Venice Beach, Hampton Beach. The draw of the beach brings crowds from half a dozen campgrounds in the area plus the day-use people from Stanley, Boise and beyond. |The day use parking is full by 10 am. The trailhead parking at the nearby trails is also full. People are parking along the road and walking to the lodge or the beach at Redfish. For me this is a deal-breaker. I go camping to get away from chaos, but this is like Walmart on black Friday.|The scenery is unbeatable. There were no mosquitoes. They have dog beach, a place I should have been able to let my dog run free, but there were too many people. No animals are allowed on and of the beached around Redfish except dog beach, so this was inconvenient. |Most sites don’t have a lake view and only some have a view of the mountains. I camped beginning on Thursday, departing on Monday and didn’t see much of a different between weekday and weekend crowds. |Many of the campsites had short driveways, so if you have a long rig, you might have to unhook your truck and park across your driveway. Do your homework on the length of the site you are reserving.||