National Parks Journal
Photo: NPS Photo / James Kramer
Lake Clark National Park & Preserve
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.
Entrance Fees
No entrance fee. Other fees may apply for tours, camping, or transportation.
Activities
Top Hikes
4 mi · 200 ft gain · out & back
Through birch groves and spruce hillsides with views of Lake Clark to a 30-foot waterfall cascading over ancient lava cliffs.
Starts at: Port Alsworth
5.5 mi · 200 ft gain · out & back
Past Tanalian Falls through wilderness to a spectacular alpine lake with opportunities for fishing arctic char.
Starts at: Port Alsworth
8.6 mi · 3,250 ft gain · out & back
Steep ascent from forest to alpine tundra with panoramic views of Lake Clark and surrounding mountains.
Starts at: Port Alsworth
3.2 mi · loop
Through quiet birch groves past an old beaver pond with nesting shorebirds.
Starts at: Port Alsworth
Upcoming Events
No upcoming events scheduled for Lake Clark National Park & Preserve. Events are updated daily — check back soon or visit nps.gov for the latest.
Best Time to Visit
Best time to visit: January, February, March, April, May, September, October, November, December
Pleasant weather with fewer crowds
Weather & Climate
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.