Lake Clark National Park - A Close but Remote Alaska Park...

Lake Clark National Park is one of those areas of Alaska that is just remote enough to keep it from being developed - which is good for Nature and those who love it!

Because it is an undeveloped park and is considered more like a huge outdoor museum, there are NO Fees and no facilities.

Lake Clark National Park and Preserve is located directly across Cook Inlet from the Kenai Peninsula. It's on the north end of the Aleutian Peninsula. That's why I said it's close. But you cannot drive to it and I don't think anyone has ever hiked to it from a major road system - not sure about that.

Someone should try hiking from Anchorage, or even the south end of Knik-Goose Bay Road (a much closer location). They would probably set a world record! But I don't know if it is even possible, so don't try it just because I made the suggestion!

The largest lake in Alaska, Lake Iliamna, is just southwest of the Park and Katmai National Park is south of Lake Iliamna.

Lake Clark is a 42 mile long, but narrow lake. It is the largest one in this Park. The Park has numerous other lakes and plenty of rivers. It even has two of Alaska's active volcanoes, Mt. Redoubt and Mt. Iliamna!

There are plenty of bears and other wildlife in the Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. The fishing is some of the best in Alaska - but we can say that about many areas. However, this park was established partly to protect the habitat for the salmon industry in Alaska. The biologists figure there can be up to 6 million sockeye salmon ALONE that enter the Lake Clark Preserve each year. That should tell you there is a lot of great fishing. And that is just ONE species of fish! There are numerous other fish which are abundant in most of the rivers, streams and lakes of the Park and Preserve.

If you do plan on fishing while here, be sure to pick up your Alaska fishing license and find out what the Alaska fishing regulations are for this Park. You can also apply for a hunting license on the same application form - and hunting is allowed the the Preserve portion of the Park.

You could also take a scheduled flight to Iliamna, which is just south of the Park and then hire an air taxi service to take you into the exact place you want to go in the Park.

There are a number of wilderness lodges in the area. Port Alsworth, the main town on Lake Clark, has several. The lodges also provide guide services, so you will find them listed under a number of different guide services, such as those mentioned above. You can also check the Alaska vacation guide page for other types of guide services.

There are 3 Rivers in the Park that are labeled Wild and Scenic - the Mulchatna, Chilikadrotna and the Tlikakila Rivers. The first two are great for river rafting AND for fishing. They have Salmon, Grayling, Dolly Varden and Rainbow Trout in abundance. The third river is also a good rafting river, but fishing is minimal because of the amount of glacial ice in it.

Fishing, as already mentioned, is one of the major reasons people come to this park. The numerous lakes and rivers here supply plenty of opportunities to fish. You'll find many of these lakes nestled along the western edge of the mountain range. Hunting is allowed in Lake Clark Preserve only, which is the land along the western edge of the Park. Any guide will know what the boundaries are.

There is a historical trail that was establish by the original native inhabitants and later followed by trappers, hunters and others. The Telequana Trail, as it is known, starts at Telequana Lake, the second in the series of large lakes going from north to south on the western side of the Park. The trail follows the western edge of the mountain range going south and ends on the north side of Lake Clark. That would be quite a trek!

Wildlife and sealife are quite abundant in Lake Clark National Park. Brown bears roam the coastal areas specifically, though you'll find them inland, too. Dall sheep stay in the high mountains while black bears and moose roam all over the lower elevations. Caribou generally stay in the low hills near the lakes along the western side of the Park. And of course you'll see wolves, if you watch for them, wherever they can find food.

The park is also home to lynx, fox, coyotes and many smaller land animals, such as mink, marten, river otter, weasel, porcupine, beaver and our ever-present squirrels and showshoe hares.

The bays along the coast of Cook Inlet have their share of whales, seals, porpoises and sea lions, as well as sea and shorebirds.

This is also a great place to do bird watching, as over 100 species have been seen. Besides local residents, many migrating birds stop here on their way north, or just stay in this area.

One of the best ways to do any bird watching, wildlife viewing or photography at Lake Clark National Park is by using one of the many different Alaska vacation guide services that operate in this area.

Since this is a wild and undeveloped Park, we want to keep it that way. We have more protected habitat for wildlife which is being pushed out of other areas of the State. Whether you come here to hunt, fish, camp, climb or just enjoy the scenery and wildlife, you will be fully rewarded.

And, as always, we ask you to take care of the Park while you are here. Don't cut down live trees, don't remove wild plants or antlers that are lying around, or damage artifacts. And don't leave any trace of having been here. Follow all the rules for sanitation, food storage and other matters for cleanliness - AND for safety from Alaska bears.

For more information about fishing or hunting licenses and regulations, contact Park Rangers in Port Alsworth: 907-781-2218 or Anchorage: 907-644-3626.

Lake Clark National Park is just one of the numerous remote parks in Alaska. Katmai is another famous park. But now that we've looked at a few of the National Parks, let's try some of the Alaska State Parks...

SBI!

Lake Clark National ParkJust a Stone's Throw Away!

Lake Clark National Park
Just a Stone's Throw Away!