Middle Fork Trail

About Middle Fork Trail

Located at mile 169.5 on the west side of the Richardson Highway, this is one of the most highly used trails in the field office. The trail begins in a state highway gravel pit and continues westward approximately 8 miles towards the Gulkana Wild and Scenic River (WSR). Not only does this trail provide access to the Gulkana WSR, it also provides outstanding views of Paxson Lake and the surrounding hills. Primary use is motorized; however more people are beginning to hike along the trail as its condition has improved. Please respect all users of the trail.Motorized travel within the Gulkana WSR corridor is limited to designated trails. Designated trails are marked on the ground with green dot carsonite markers. Undesignated trails are marked with red dot carsonite markers and are not open for motorized travel. This trail is within the State of Alaska Sourdough Controlled Use Area, so motorized hunting restrictions apply.

How to Get There

The Middle Fork trail is located at milepost 169.5 of the Richardson Highway behind a State of Alaska gravel pit.

Plan Your Visit to Middle Fork Trail

Heading to Middle Fork Trail? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)