Photo of blue sky with fluffy white clouds reflect in calm lake with mountains in the background. Photo: NPS Photo / James Kramer

Lake Clark National Park & Preserve

National Park & Preserve · Alaska

Lake Clark National Park and Preserve is a land of stunning beauty.

  • LocationPort Alsworth, AK
  • Entrance No fee listed
  • HoursOpen 24 hours, daily
  • Weather now31°F Sunny
  • Alerts No active alerts

Overview

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.

Topics
  • Animals
  • Archeology
  • Arctic
  • Arts
  • Astronomy
  • Aurora Borealis
  • Aviation
  • Birds
34 more topics
  • Climate Change
  • Coasts, Islands and Atolls
  • Estuaries and Mangroves
  • Explorers and Expeditions
  • Farming and Agriculture
  • Fire
  • Fish
  • Forests and Woodlands
  • Fossils and Paleontology
  • Geology
  • Glaciers
  • Grasslands
  • Headwaters
  • Industry
  • Lakes
  • Marshes
  • Meadows
  • Mining
  • Mountains
  • Native American Heritage
  • Natural Sounds
  • Night Sky
  • Oceans
  • Photography
  • River and Riparian
  • Scenic Views
  • Trails
  • Tundra
  • Volcanoes
  • Waterfalls
  • Watersheds
  • Wetlands
  • Wilderness
  • Wolves
Waterfall surrounded by forest in fall foiliage and mountains in the background.
The park protects thousands of waterfalls including Tanalian Falls, which is a popular day hike destination from the town of Port Alsworth. — NPS Photo / Karen Smigielski

Things to Do

13 experiences from the National Park Service. Check details on NPS.gov before you go.

Showing 2 of 2

All 38 activities in the park

Pick one to find other parks that offer it.

Show 26 more activities

Camping

2 campgrounds listed on Recreation.gov. Check availability and current conditions before you go.

  • Trees in fall colors border a narrow gravel beach that leads to the striking glacially influenced waters of Lake Clark.

    Joe Thompson Cabin

    Reservable Campground

    Come walk in the footsteps of an early 20th century trapper, prospector, and local woodworker with a stay in the Joe Thompson Cabin on the shores of Lake Clark in Lake…

    Reserve on Recreation.gov

    (907) 644-3626

    Details

    Fees: $45.00 dollars per night.

    Overview

    Come walk in the footsteps of an early 20th century trapper, prospector, and local woodworker with a stay in the Joe Thompson Cabin on the shores of Lake Clark in Lake Clark National Park.  

    Recreation

    The cabin is an ideal location for kayaking, boating, fishing and wildlife viewing. Please refer to Alaska Department of Fish and Game for fishing regulations and license requirements. A trip up the nearby Portage Creek trail takes you above the treeline into the highcountry west of the lake for stunning views of the Aleutian and Alaskan Ranges.

    Facilities

    The cabin is rustic and accommodates up to three people. It is equipped with a wood stove, table and chairs and an outhouse nearby. Sleeping accommodations include wooden bunks -- with two twin size beds (bring your own pads). There is no electricity or running water at the cabin. Fresh water is available in the lake but must be treated. The cabin is equipped with a fire extinguisher and smoke detectors. There is no cell phone coverage at the cabin. There are no mooring buoys at this location.

    The cabin does not offer trash service; nor does the nearby community of Port. Alsworth. Air taxis may accommodate visitor trash for a fee in Anchorage or other surrounding communities.

    Natural Features

    The Joe Thompson Cabin sits on the shore of Lake Clark, approximately 14 miles (22.5 km) north of Port Alsworth, Alaska. The cabin is set back in the forest with views of the lake. Streams and a developed trail are neearby.

    Nearby Attractions

    This is a remote backcountry cabin with the closest amenities available in Port Alsworth. The Portage Creek Trailhead is adjacent to the cabin.

    Charges & Cancellations

    If I book this reservation today, what are my options to change or cancel?

    Please remember that reservations at these facilities prevent other visitors from using these sites. Planned changes to your stay should be made as far in advance as possible. You can make changes to your reservation ahead of your arrival date iin your Recreation.gov account in "My Reservations."

    Changes

    If your new stay dates are completely different from your original stay dates, there is a $10 change fee. There are no additional fees for adding or removing nights to your stay. Balances will adjust based on your new stay's nightly rate.

    Cancellations

    You may cancel the reservation any time before the date of your scheduled arrival. You will receive a refund for your stay, minus the following fees:

    • $10 cancellation fee
    • Any reservation fees (only if paid when booking)
    • Any previous change fees

    Late cancellation penalties may also apply:

    What is “Late”?

    For cabins, a late cancellation applies starting from midnight 14 calendar days or fewer before your scheduled check-in.

    Late Fee

    In addition to the fees listed above, a late cancellation will also subtract your first night's recreation use fee from any refund owed. As of the expected check-in day, cancellations or changes to your stay are not possible through your account. It is at the facility's discretion to support additional Late Cancellations, No Show, or Early Departure updates – on-site personnel may not be able to assist. These changes carry penalties and may forfeit recreation use fees. For additional details, please visit the Rules and Reservation Policies page .

  • A lodger views Lake Clark through a window inside Priest Rock cabin

    Priest Rock Cabin

    Reservable Campground

    Take yourself back in time with a stay in the Priest Rock Cabin on Lake Clark. Split some wood and head inside to light a blaze in the wood stove, under the light of the…

    Reserve on Recreation.gov

    240 West 5th Ave, suite 236, Anchorage, AK 907-781-2218 Directions

    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Wildlife Viewing
    Details

    Overview

    Take yourself back in time with a stay in the Priest Rock Cabin on Lake Clark. Split some wood and head inside to light a blaze in the wood stove, under the light of the moon as it shimmers on the lake. Enjoy the warmth as your gear dries out from a day on the water.

    Recreation

    The cabin is an ideal location for kayaking, boating, fishing and wildlife viewing. Please refer to Alaska Department of Fish and Game for fishing regulations and license requirements.

    Facilities

    The cabin is rustic and accommodates up to six people. It is equipped with a wood stove, table and chairs and an outhouse nearby. Sleeping accommodations include wooden bunks -- three single beds and one queen bed. There is no electricity or running water at the cabin. Fresh water is available in the lake but must be treated. The cabin is equipped with a fire extinguisher and smoke detectors. There is no cell phone coverage at the cabin. There are no mooring buoys at this location.
    The cabin does not offer trash service; nor does the nearby community of Port. Alsworth. Air taxis may accommodate visitor trash for a fee in Anchorage or other surrounding communities.

    Natural Features

    The Priest Rock Cabin sits on the north shore of Lake Clark, approximately eight miles (13 km) north of Port Alsworth. The cabin is perched above a small creek that runs into the lake. It commands a sublime view of the upper reaches of Lake Clark backed by mountains soaring to 6,000 feet (1829 m).

    Nearby Attractions

    This is a remote backcountry cabin with the closest amenities available in Port Alsworth. There are no maintained trails surrounding the cabin.

Facilities & Services

Find visitor services available in the park. Check current hours and availability before you go.

Other Visitor Services

  • Port Alsworth Visitor Center

    Port Alsworth Visitor Center

    Facility

    Come and enjoy the visitor center and exhibits and get information from our rangers. Visitors can find a wealth of park information including local hiking trail details…

    Details
    Come and enjoy the visitor center and exhibits and get information from our rangers. Visitors can find a wealth of park information including local hiking trail details and check out a bear resistant container at the Port Alsworth Visitor Center. The Bristol Bay Double-Ender “boat barn” will be open daily. Visitors are free to explore the other outdoor exhibits including the Wassilie Trefon Dena’ina Fish Cache and Denison Sawmill Exhibit anytime.

Plan Your Visit

Hours

Open 24 hours, daily · Lake Clark National Park and Preserve

Hours details
  • Lake Clark National Park and PreserveOpen 24 hours, daily

    The park and preserve are open 24 hours per day, seven days per week year round. However, visitor services are limited Labor Day through Memorial Day. Seasonal and temporary closures are listed by location on the Operating Hours & Seasons page.

Entrance fees

No entrance fees listed.

Address

1 Park Place
Port Alsworth, AK 99653

Weather & conditions

31°F
Sunny · feels like 27°
  • Today 43° 28°
    Sunny
    3% rain
  • Tomorrow 44° 29°
    Sunny
    17% rain
  • Sunday 39° 34°
    Light drizzle
    86% rain

Updated 5 hr ago

What to expect by season

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.

Photos

2 more photos

Getting There

1 Park Place
Port Alsworth, AK 99653

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.

Full directions

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.

Mailing address: 1 Park Place, Port Alsworth, AK 99653

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