Lake Clark National Park & Preserve
Designation: National Park & Preserve
Location: Alaska
📘 Park Overview
Lake Clark National Park and Preserve is a land of stunning beauty. Volcanoes steam, salmon run, bears forage, and craggy mountains reflect in shimmering turquoise lakes. Here, too, local people and culture still depend on the land and water. Venture into the park to become part of the wilderness.
🌤 Weather Information
Lake Clark has two distinct climate areas: the coast and the interior. The coast is wetter and experiences milder temperatures. The interior gets half to one fourth as much precipitation, but temperatures are hotter in summer and colder in winter. Frost and snow can occur any time parkwide, but are most common from September to early June. Lakes here typically begins freezing in November and melting in April. Ice conditions dictate whether planes need floats or skis to land on lakes.
🚗 Directions
Lake Clark is located on the Alaska Peninsula southwest of Anchorage and north of Katmai National Park. It is not on the road system; therefore, in order to get here you must travel either via plane or by boat. A one to two-hour flight from Anchorage, Kenai, or Homer will provide access to most points within Lake Clark. Fixed-wing aircraft are allowed to land on all suitable lakes, rivers, beaches, gravel bars, and open ground in both the park and preserve unless the area is closed or otherwise restricted.
Images
The park's namesake lake is the largest lake by volume in the National Park Service.
Credit: NPS Photo / James Kramer
The park protects thousands of waterfalls including Tanalian Falls, which is a popular day hike destination from the town of Port Alsworth.
Credit: NPS Photo / Karen Smigielski
Lake Clark is a land of fire and ice. Active volcanism and retreating glaciers created and continue to shape the peaks, moraines, and river systems in the Chigmit and Neacola Mountains.
Credit: NPS Photo / Paige Spencer
Perenial snow and glacial ice covers ~1,250 square miles, or 20% of Lake Clark National Park and Preserve.
Credit: NPS Photo / Chuck Lindsay
Bear viewing is a popular activity along the Cook Inlet Coast.
Credit: NPS Photo / Kara Lewandowski
Boreal forests encircle the earth's northern latitudes like an emerald necklace. Lake Clark's forest, which covers more than 440 thousand acres or 11% of the park, is dominated by white spruce mixed with black spruce and birch.
Credit: NPS Photo/ J.Mills
A number of glacier fed lakes pepper the western boundary of the Chigmit and Neacola mountains like a string of spectacular turquoise gems.
Credit: NPS Photo / J.Mills
Estuaries where rivers meet the sea provide a mosaic of rich habitats along the Cook Inlet Coast that support high numbers of bears and other wildlife.
Credit: Alaska ShoreZone
The park protects and interprets the Richard L. Proenneke National Historic Site and trail complex as a symbol of the national wilderness movement and a source of inspiration and solace sought out by visitors from throughout the world.
Credit: NPS Photo / Kent Miller
Activities
Topics
Operating Hours
Entrance Fees
No entrance fees listed.
Entrance Passes
No entrance passes listed.
3-Day Weather Forecast
Monday, Feb 9
Sunny
High: 12°F | Low: -6.4°F
Humidity: 82%
Wind: 5.8 mph
Rain Chance: 0%
UV Index: 0.1
Sunrise: 09:11 AM
Sunset: 05:53 PM
Moon: Last Quarter (55%)
Visibility: 6 mi
Dew Point: -4°F
Cloud Cover: 0%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Tuesday, Feb 10
Heavy snow
High: 29.7°F | Low: -0.6°F
Humidity: 90%
Wind: 7.4 mph
Rain Chance: 85%
UV Index: 0.1
Sunrise: 09:09 AM
Sunset: 05:56 PM
Moon: Waning Crescent (46%)
Visibility: 3 mi
Dew Point: 16.6°F
Cloud Cover: 85%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Wednesday, Feb 11
Patchy moderate snow
High: 30.8°F | Low: 10.7°F
Humidity: 90%
Wind: 6.7 mph
Rain Chance: 71%
UV Index: 0.1
Sunrise: 09:06 AM
Sunset: 05:58 PM
Moon: Waning Crescent (36%)
Visibility: 5 mi
Dew Point: 14.9°F
Cloud Cover: 71%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Park Alerts
July 6, 2016: Due to heavy rainfall water levels in all rivers and lakes are very high. Hikers should make contingency plans with their air-taxis for pickup in case rivers are too high to cross.
July 25 Update: Water levels remain high.
Visitor Center & Contacts
📍 Physical Address:
1 Park Place
Port Alsworth, AK 99653
🏤 Mailing Address:
240 West 5th Ave
Anchorage, AK 99501
📞 Voice Phone: 9076443626
✉️ Email: lacl_visitor_information@nps.gov