6 Best Sights in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, The Kenai Peninsula and Southcentral Alaska

Lake Clark

Centrally located, the park's namesake lake is 50 miles long and filled with nooks, crannies, coves, and islands. Port Alsworth, which is on the lake's south-central shore, is the jumping off point for hundreds of possible adventures: kayaking to a remote campsite, hiking to a public-use cabin, catching a floatplane to a hidden lakeside lodge. Although the lake is an access point for lodges and campsites, it offers sublime solitude and awe-inspiring nature.

Lake Clark National Park and Preserve

The 3.4 million acres on the Alaska Peninsula that comprise Lake Clark National Park and Preserve stretch from the coast to the heights of two grand volcanoes: Mt. Iliamna and Mt. Redoubt. The latter made headlines in 2009 when it erupted, sending ash floating over the region. Both volcanoes top out above 10,000 feet. The country in between holds glaciers, waterfalls, and turquoise-tinted lakes. The 50-mile-long Lake Clark, filled by runoff waters from the mountains that surround it, is an important spawning ground for thousands of red (sockeye) salmon.

The river-running is superb here. You can make your way through dark forests of spruce and balsam poplars or hike over the high, easy-to-travel tundra. The animal life is profuse: look for bears, moose, Dall sheep, wolves, wolverines, foxes, beavers, and mink on land; seals, sea otters, and white (aka beluga) whales offshore. Wildflowers embroider the meadows and tundra in spring, and wild roses bloom in the shadows of the forests. Plan your trip to Lake Clark for the end of June or early July, when the insects may be less plentiful. Or consider late August or early September, when the tundra glows with fall colors.

Mt. Iliamna

The peak of this 10,016-foot stratovolcano, which is in the southeast corner of the park, is home to 10 glaciers. Although not active, it is expected to erupt at some time in the future. It's noted as being the 25th most prominant peak in North America.

Recommended Fodor's Video

Mt. Redoubt

This active volcano, located north of Tuxedni Bay on the eastern side of the park, can be seen from many different vantage points in Southcentral Alaska, but from within Lake Clark National Park, it is a truly impressive sight. Its sister, Mt. Iliamna, has blown plumes of ash and smoke but has had no recorded erruptions, unlike Redoubt, which has errupted 30 times in the past 10,000 years, including four times just in the last century.

Port Alsworth Visitor Center

Only open in the summer months (late May through mid-September), the visitor center is a place to register for outings, learn about the area, pick up a couple of gifts, and start off on your exploration.

Tuxedni Glacier

Most of the park's glaciers are found in the Chigmit Mountains. The longest is 19-mile Tuxedni Glacier, which is one of 10 that radiates from the Mt. Iliamna volcano.