National park · United States
Lake Clark National Park and Preserve
Go only if you will pay for a floatplane: fly from Anchorage or Kenai to Port Alsworth (about 1 h) and base there, or book a flight-seeing day trip; there is no road in and no entrance fee, so the trip cost is the aircraft, not a gate.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
16,300 km²6,293 sq mi
approximate
Established
1980
Best months
Jun–Aug
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
At a glance
- Country
- United States
- Area
- 16,300 km²6,293 sq mi
- About 16,300 km² (4 million acres) of park and preserve; figures vary slightly by source (check).
- Established
- 1980
- Best months
- Jun–Aug
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Anchorage
Lake Clark is the least visited national park in the United States, with roughly 5,000 visitors a year, because nothing about it is easy: no roads reach it, no entrance station charges you, and almost every arrival is by floatplane or wheeled bush plane. What you buy with that flight is a working subarctic landscape — two active volcanoes, glaciers at the head of valleys, salmon streams with brown bears, and the hand-built cabin of Richard Proenneke on Upper Twin Lake. Port Alsworth, just outside the boundary, is the only real base: two airstrips, a visitor centre open in summer, lodges and the park headquarters. Treat it as a 2–4 night destination, not a stop, and pair it with Katmai if you came this far for bears.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- Special national site · 1980National park and preserve under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act.
Size and age
16,300 km²6,293 sq mi · national park since 1980
About 16,300 km² (4 million acres) of park and preserve; figures vary slightly by source (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Anchorage.
Why go
- The quietest park in the US system: about 5,000 visitors a year against millions at the famous ones.
- Two active volcanoes — Iliamna and Redoubt — rise straight out of the coast and interior.
- Salmon runs draw brown bears to streams you can watch from a respectful distance, with a guide.
- Proenneke's cabin on Upper Twin Lake is a genuine piece of wilderness history, reached only by air or water.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarAvoid
- AprCaution
- MayGo
- JunBest
- JulBest
- AugBest
- SepGo
- OctCaution
- NovAvoid
- DecAvoid
- JanDeep winter; only ski-plane access, no services
- FebCold and dark; flights weather-dependent
- MarStill winter; lakes frozen
- AprIce breaking up; access unreliable
- MayLakes open late in the month; snow on high ground
- JunLong days, wildflowers, early salmon
- JulPeak salmon and bear viewing; book flights early
- AugWarmest, berries, bears still on streams
- SepFewer people, autumn colour, wetter
- OctStorms; most lodges closing
- NovLakes freezing; no visitor services
- DecWinter access only, for the prepared
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown bears on salmon streamsJul–Sep · Best from a guided viewing position; never approach a bear for a photo. | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Sockeye and other salmon runsJun–Aug · Timing shifts year to year with water temperature. | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
| Dall sheep on high slopesJun–Aug · Seen at distance with binoculars; the terrain is not for casual walking. | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
| Peregrine falcons and nesting waterfowlMay–Jul · Cliff eyries; keep away from nesting ledges. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no |
| Beluga and seals in Cook Inlet watersJun–Aug · From boats and the coast; sightings are not guaranteed. | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Anchorage
Floatplane or wheeled bush plane to Port Alsworth, about 1 h; no road access to any part of the park.
1 h flight
Open the page →
From Kenai and Soldotna
Air taxi across Cook Inlet to Port Alsworth or a lodge airstrip.
45 min–1 h flight
From Homer
Air taxi across the inlet; weather can delay or cancel.
1–1.5 h flight
From Southwestern Alaska region
How this park fits with Katmai, Aniakchak and the Alaska Peninsula.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Port Alsworth and Lake Clark shoreline | The gateway settlement outside the boundary, park headquarters, visitor centre and the lake itself. | Open; reached by air or boat. |
| Twin Lakes and Proenneke cabin | Upper and Lower Twin Lake, with the historic hand-built cabin on the south shore. | Floatplane or boat from Lower Twin Lake; no road. |
| Coast and volcanoes | Cook Inlet coastline, tidal estuaries and the flanks of Iliamna and Redoubt. | Open, but landings depend on weather and tides; no facilities. |
| Interior lakes, rivers and tundra | The bulk of the park: glacial valleys, salmon streams, tundra and boreal forest. | Open; travel by boat or on foot, self-supported. |
Sketch map
- 1Port Alsworth · Town≈60.197, -154.323Gateway settlement with two private airstrips and the summer visitor centre.Map ↗
- 2Port Alsworth Visitor Center · Headquarters≈60.197, -154.323Open summer only; rangers, brochures and films about Proenneke.Map ↗
- 3Priest Rock Public Use Cabin · Sleep≈60.309, -154.177Map ↗
- 4Joe Thompson Public Use Cabin · Sleep≈60.348, -154.043Map ↗
- 5Iliamna Volcano · Summit≈60.051, -153.065Map ↗
- 6Redoubt Volcano · Summit≈60.485, -152.744Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entrance | Free | person | No entrance fee is charged for Lake Clark. |
| Floatplane from Anchorage area to Port Alsworth | US$600–1,200 | person round trip | 2026 estimate; depends on operator, aircraft and whether the flight is shared or private (check). |
| Flight-seeing day trip from Anchorage or Kenai | US$500–900 | person | 2026 estimate; usually a few hours including a landing (check). |
| Priest Rock or Joe Thompson public use cabin | US$65 | cabin per night | Rate published by NPS at 2020 levels; confirm the current price on recreation.gov (check). |
| America the Beautiful annual pass | US$80 | pass | 2026 estimate; not needed for Lake Clark itself but useful for Katmai and other parks on the same trip. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Backcountry registration no permit
Commercial guide or lodge booking permit or guide
Public use cabin reservation permit or guide
Park rules
- No entrance fee, but no facilities either
- There is no gate, no road and no ranger station beyond Port Alsworth; you are responsible for your own safety and rescue.
- Food storage
- Store food in bear-resistant containers or hang it well away from camp; bears in the park are wild and food-conditioned animals are dangerous.
- Drones
- Launching a drone is not allowed in national park areas without authorisation (check).check
- Fires
- Keep fires small and only where allowed; driftwood and dead wood rules vary by area — ask at the visitor centre.
- Cultural and historic sites
- Proenneke's cabin and Alaska Native sites are protected; do not remove artefacts or enter closed structures.
Where to stay
Near the park
Port Alsworth lodges and cabins
The only base with beds, meals and airstrip access; book months ahead for July.
In the park
Priest Rock Public Use Cabin
Rustic NPS cabin on the north shore of Lake Clark, about 8 mi from Port Alsworth by boat or floatplane; sleeps up to six, no power or running water.
In the park
Joe Thompson Public Use Cabin
Two-room log cabin about 13 mi northeast of Port Alsworth; sleeps up to three, wood stove and outhouse only.
In the park
Backcountry camping
Allowed across the park; no designated sites, no water sources you can trust without treating.
Safety
Weather grounding your flight high
Bears medium
Cold water and hypothermia high
No rescue infrastructure high
Volcanic ash low
Accessibility
- Port Alsworth visitor centre and the shoreline near it are the most accessible parts of the park; the airstrip is gravel and uneven.
- Beyond Port Alsworth there are no trails, boardwalks or accessible facilities; the park is not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Fly shared charters rather than private aircraft where you can; small planes are the park's biggest carbon cost.
- Pack out everything, including food waste, and use established campsites or bare gravel bars.
- Keep the distances guides set around bears and never bait or feed wildlife for a photograph.
- Buy supplies and services in Port Alsworth so the gateway community benefits from your visit.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Lake Clark National Park and Preserve?
Nothing. There is no entrance fee and no entrance station. The real cost is getting there: a floatplane or bush plane from the Anchorage area to Port Alsworth is roughly US$600–1,200 per person round trip (2026 estimate), and a flight-seeing day trip about US$500–900 per person. Public use cabins are around US$65 per night at published 2020 rates — confirm the current price on recreation.gov.
What are the best hikes in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve?
There is no maintained trail network, so 'best hikes' means the best places to walk. From Port Alsworth, day walks onto the tundra and along the Lake Clark shoreline are the easiest option. The classic destination is the walk from the Upper Twin Lake shore to Proenneke's cabin, reached by floatplane or boat. Longer trips are self-supported backcountry routes on tundra and gravel bars, where you navigate by map and terrain.
When is the best time to visit Lake Clark National Park and Preserve?
June to August. July and August give the longest days, the warmest weather and the salmon runs that bring brown bears to the streams. June is quieter with wildflowers and early salmon. May and September work if you accept snow, rain and fewer services. From October to April the lakes freeze and access depends on ski planes, with almost nothing open.
How do you get to Lake Clark National Park and Preserve?
By air, almost always. Floatplanes and wheeled bush planes fly from the Anchorage area, Kenai, Soldotna and Homer to Port Alsworth, about an hour from Anchorage. There are no roads into the park and no fixed runways inside it; Port Alsworth has two private airstrips with fuel and a ramp fee. The coast can occasionally be reached by boat when weather and tides allow.
Do I need a permit or a guide?
No permit is required for general visits, and backcountry registration is voluntary but recommended. A permitted commercial operator is required for guided bear viewing, fishing and most transport inside the park. Public use cabins must be reserved in advance on recreation.gov.
Is Lake Clark worth it compared with Katmai?
They answer different questions. Katmai is the famous bear-viewing park with the Brooks Falls platform and much heavier demand. Lake Clark is quieter, cheaper at the gate (free) and better for a self-supported wilderness trip, but its bear viewing is less predictable and more dependent on a good guide. If bears are the whole point, book Katmai; if you want solitude and volcanoes, Lake Clark.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Sources
- officialNPS — Lake Clark National Park and Preserve
- officialNPS — Priest Rock Public Use Cabin
- officialNPS — Joe Thompson Public Use Cabin
- officialNPS — Proenneke Cabin
- officialNPS — Iliamna Volcano
- officialNPS — Redoubt Volcano
- officialRecreation.gov — public use cabin reservations
- secondaryWikivoyage: Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, revision 5238895 (CC BY-SA 4.0)