Discover Lake Clark National Park In Alaska
Lake Clark National Park in Alaska is incredibly beautiful. It was created as such in 1980 to protect the natural beauty of an area that hides volcanoes, glaciers and waterfalls. We tell you everything about this wonderful space, they say that it hides all the essence of Alaska. Can you come with us?
Lake Clark National Park Features
Lake Clark National Park covers an area of more than 16,000 km². It is therefore the fifth largest in Alaska, but it is also one of the largest national parks in the United States. There three mountain ranges meet: the Alaska Range, the Aleutian Range, and the Chigmit Mountains.
In the park area there are also two active volcanoes: the Iliamna and Redoubt. In addition to this, there is a wooded coastline washed by Cook’s Inlet, a plateau with tundra and several turquoise lakes, such as the one that gives the park its name.
And, in addition to the beauty of its landscapes, its fauna must be highlighted. There are many animals that live in this place. Its high population of brown bears is particularly noteworthy. But there are also wolves and caribou, birds such as trumpeter cinemas or large serretas and fish such as salmon, rainbow trout or Arctic grayling.
Activities you can do in the park
In the park you can do a lot of recreational activities. You can do a hiking route, go down rapids or kayak, observe wildlife, fish, hunt, camp …
You can find out more about all these activities at the Lake Clark National Park visitor center. There, in addition, there is a small shop where you can buy a souvenir.
However, we want to recommend some of those activities, which will allow you to enjoy more of the essence of the park. For example, you can take a guided boat tour of Lake Clark. It is a huge body of water surrounded by valleys, glaciers and snow-capped peaks.
Another possibility is to visit Crescent Lake, near the Redoubt volcano. A natural spectacle worthy of admiration where, with a bit of luck, you will be able to see a bear and you will even be able to practice sport fishing.
Those who prefer to go on their own can follow one of the trails. The one that allows to know the Tanalian Fall and the Kontrashibuna Lake is of moderate difficulty. More effort implies the one that passes by the Tanalian Mountain. Of course, it is worth it just to enjoy the magnificent views that are observed from above.
Lake Clark National Park hours and price
The place is accessible twenty-four hours a day throughout the year. However, the preferred time for visitors to get to know the park is between the months of June and October. That is, when the weather is warmer and there is more variety of accommodation, transportation or guide services.
On the other hand, that the park always remains open does not mean that all its areas are. For example, the visitor center is closed in winter, but tourists can contact the staff in the building next door. It is best to check the availability of services on the website before going.
Regarding the price, it is not necessary to pay any entrance fee or obtain a permit to carry out the various recreational activities in the park. Of course, to stay in the cabin for public use of Priest Rock you must pay an amount of 65 dollars.
How to get to Lake Clark National Park
The closest town to Lake Clark National Park is Anchorage. There you can catch a plane, as they have permission to land in all the lakes of the nature reserve. The duration of the flight from this city is one to two hours. It is also possible to depart from Kenai or Homer.
It must be taken into account that, unlike other parks, in this one there is no road or path that allows to reach it. It can only be reached by small planes, that is one of the reasons why it is one of the least visited national parks in the country.
