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Signal Creek Campground is a year-round facility located in the Ward Lake Recreation Area, 7 miles north of downtown Ketchikan and about 4 miles north of the State ferry terminal. The campground straddles Signal Creek and lies on the banks of Ward Lake, with easy access to fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing.
Hiking is a popular option, as the Ward Lake Recreation Area boasts seven trails. The Ward Lake Nature Travel meanders 1.3 miles around the lake.
A large day-use complex with picnic sites and shelters is also available. Freshwater fishing, canoeing, kayaking, wildlife viewing and scenery are favorite draws at Ward Lake.
Signal Creek Campground's sites can accommodate up to 10 people. Each campsite contains a picnic table, a campfire ring with grill and a gravel parking spur. Two hand pumps for drinking water and three vault toilets are provided. Water is provided during the peak season only. During the winter season, only the outhouse closest to sites 1-5 is open. Firewood may be provided but is not guaranteed.
The campground is surrounded by an old-growth temperate rainforest comprised primarily of western hemlock and Sitka spruce. Signal Creek flows through the campground, and Ward Lake is adjacent.
At nearly 17 million acres, the Tongass National Forest covers most of Southeast Alaska and is the largest forest in the national forest system. The Tongass surrounds the Inside Passage, the network of waterways that buffers the jagged Alaskan Coast and a cluster of coastline islands.
The Tongass offers visitors a chance to view wildlife, including eagles, bears and spawning salmon. Expansive vistas, including fjords, glaciers and mountain peaks abound.
From the State ferry terminal, take Tongass Highway north 4.8 miles to milepost 7. Turn right onto Revila Road. Go 1.4 miles and turn right at the Ward Lake Road Intersection. Travel 1.1 miles past Ward Lake Day Use Area to the entrance sign for Signal Creek Campground.
Clean, quiet and pristine. Close to Lake the trail easy access to pretty much everything. just a few steps from your Campground and lake is right there where you can fish or Swim, if you feel like it. The campground number 10 that we stayed on what's a good size you can fit to 10 person tents if you'd like to and you can fit two cars or trucks in the parking spot. Overall we had a great time and had a blast. The only thing that I would say about the camp is the lack of wood for fire.
The campsites and bathrooms we're clean. In the past you could rent a campsite with $10 cash. Place it in an envelope, all good. However there is a notice stating they no longer accept cash. You need to pay online. Well there's no service there. So we drove all the to the Ward lake convenient store. When you use your card they charge you extra for it's use... Not a buck or two, but $8 so we ended up paying $18 for a $10 spot... Why?
Beautiful place to park, designated trash receptacles are bear proof and also keeps camp site clean. Great lake for fishing, hiking, and if your a little more adventurous take the Perseverance Trail over the Traverse and take a taxi back to camp. This is an epic hike. I did not see showers here but there is a gym in town you could use (rec center). There is a bathroom but just a toilet in a building with a hole in the ground.
Overall, this is a very nice campground with very reasonable fees and easy online reservations. We will definitely be staying here again. Stayed here for 2.5 weeks in August-September 2021. I would recommend avoiding campsites 3,4,6, and 7, as they flood when it rains (from the lake coming into the campsite). Site 6 will be completely under water the quickest. Site 8 will also take on water. These sites are also directly on the path to Ward Lake...lots of foot traffic right by your campsite, which can be annoying and loud. The outhouses were simple and clean. There is bear proof storage for your food. Bring your own lock to lock the storage bin though. The park attendant was on site most of the time. Unfortunately, we were harassed by a Forest Ranger for our dog not being on a leash on our campsite (not out in the footpath, not running around, he was right by us, small dog). He kept bugging us for our names to put on a warning list. So beware of bored rangers patrolling the campsite looking for things to harass you over. Otherwise, a wonderful stay!
We were there in June 2016. It was very clean, the camp hosts were very helpful and friendly, but we never saw them unless we sought them out. Was beautiful, private, and quiet. The scenery was amazing. The campground is just far enough away from town to seem isolated for the backcountry experience, but close enough to not be a burden to obtain supplies. The trailheads are well marked and all accurately described the distances and skill levels for hikers.
