The 4,030,015-acre Lake Clark National Park and Preserve in Alaska has everything tourists want: streams and lakes, salmon-bearing rivers, rainforests, alpine tundra, mountains, and two volcanoes: Mount Iliamna and the active Mount Redoubt. While the natural landscape at this park is stunning, less than 15,000 people visited the area in 2018. This is because no roads are going to this park. Visitors have to take a boat or air taxi.
History
The park is named after its largest lake. Lake Clark is also the sixth largest lake in Alaska, at 860 feet deep and 42 miles long. The park’s unique geological features were brought upon by the collision of the Pacific and North American plates, complemented with the intrusion of volcanic rocks.
The earliest settlers, the Paleo-Arctic Tradition, inhabited Bristol Bay some 10,000 years ago. Between 4,000 and 6,000 years ago, the Northern Archaic tradition also settled in the area, as documented in a couple of archaeological sites. More sites identified various settlers from different periods. Within the boundary of the park is the ghost town of Kijik, the primary archaeological site that has been designated as a National Historic Landmark.
Things to do
The area is a wilderness with various landforms, bodies of water and expansive vegetation. There are no concessionaires in the area, which means the activities visitors can take part in, includes adventures with nature.
Hiking
This is the most popular activity in the park, and it is perfect because of the landscape and imposing natural wonders surrounding trekkers. Following the Tanalian Trail system, one will go through the green hillside, which has a wonderful view of Lake Clark. Then hikers will pass through the Tanalian Falls where cold glacial waters fall off an ancient lava structure. The trail also leads to the Kontrashibuna Lake, which is so calm.
Following the Beaver Pond Trail, which just goes off the Tanalian Trail, visitors come across the beaver pond, which is a favorite nesting area for some birds. Lake Clark is also visible here. For panoramic views of the park, a rigorous hike to the Tanalian Mountain will give visitors that.
Camping & Backpacking
There are no trails for backpacking and camping, so the entire wilderness is the adventurer’s campground. Campers have to consider, though, that Lake Clark National Park and Preserve is bear country. This is both exciting and dangerous. Campers will most likely meet a bear in the coastal area of Lake Clark, which is a great thing for the tourists. The tourists have to make sure that they don't surprise the bear with noise, and should slowly move away from the bear's range, as it might become dangerous. Know the different behavior of bears before camping and backpacking.
Backpacking views include the following: the ghost town of Kijik, Telaquana Lake, Lower Twin Lake, Hope Creek Valley, and the alpine tundra between Fishtrap Lake and Snipe Lake. Kontrashibuna Lake is also a great camping site with its beautifully hued waters with a backdrop of the mountains.
Canoeing & Kayaking
The park is home to several lakes, streams, and rivers, so visitors have the choice to conquer a range of lakes. Lake Clark, of course, is an obvious choice. One may also paddle out to the small Tommy Island from Lake Clark. Getting the gear to the park may be quite a challenge but there are ways to do so.
Visit Richard Proenneke’s cabin
Situated in the remote south shore of Upper Twin Lake, this cabin was handmade by Richard Proenneke, an American naturalist who lived in the park for almost 30 years by himself. Going to the cabin also means seeing the view of the Teetering Rock and Hope Creek Valley.
Fishing
There are various areas where visitors can fish—of course, Lake Clark is a popular fishing area. It is also rich in salmon populations. Tanalian Falls, on the other hand, is a scenic spot for fly fishing. There are 25 species of fish in the park’s waterways.
For those interested in the culture of locals, they can drop by the Wassillie Tefon Fish Cache in Port Alsworth. This structure is a backcountry food storage cabin to preserve the fish for eating.
Wildlife
Bears are the most popular mammals in the park, which makes spotting bears the most popular activity at Lake Clark. There are brown bears, grizzly bears, black bears in different parts of the park. They are mostly seen in Chinitna Bay, Crescent Lake, Silver Salmon Creek (where they catch salmon) and Shelter Creek and Tuxedni Bay.
Other animals in the park are caribou, Dall sheep, moose, red foxes, and wolves. Over 180 species of birds have also been recorded in the park and preserve, the most common of them is the boreal chickadees and gray jays.