Lake Clark National Park and Preserve

Lake Clark is a protected area in southern Alaska covering around 16,000 square kilometers (about 6,200 square miles) of wilderness between the Alaska Range and Cook Inlet. The landscape combines glaciated peaks, turquoise lakes, rushing rivers, and dense boreal forests into one of the least visited protected areas in the country.

President Carter declared this land a national monument in 1978 before Congress elevated it to national park status in 1980 through the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. The protection aimed to preserve untouched wilderness and traditional native homelands while allowing controlled access.

Dena'ina people have called this territory home for generations and continue to fish and hunt following ways passed down through their families. Along riverbanks and lakeshores you can still find traces of their seasonal camps and gathering spots.

Floatplanes or small charter aircraft bring visitors into the area from Anchorage, as no roads lead here. Hiking and camping trips require careful preparation for changeable weather and remote conditions without infrastructure or cell service.

The volcanoes Iliamna and Redoubt sometimes release plumes of steam, reminding visitors that this mountain range remains geologically active. In autumn, thousands of salmon travel upstream through the rivers, drawing bears, eagles, and other animals to the banks.

Location: Bethel Census Area

Location: Lake and Peninsula Borough

Location: Kenai Peninsula Borough

Location: Matanuska-Susitna Borough

Inception: 1978

Operator: National Park Service

Website: https://nps.gov/lacl

GPS coordinates: 60.96667,-153.41667

Latest update: December 14, 2025 00:44