Getting Around Lake Clark: Bush Planes, Boats, Hiking, and Local Logistics

By Erika Müller · Data: National Park Service · ← Complete guide Lake Clark

Lake Clark is one of the few American national parks you can't reach by car. There are no paved roads, shuttles, or overland access. To enter the park, you take a plane or a boat, and that's it. This is the first constraint to account for before making any other plans.

To arrange your charter flight from Anchorage or Homer, the Lake Clark access guide covers operators, departure points, and booking advice for each season.

Access Areas in the Park

Lake Clark has no official entrance station or fee booth. There is no entrance fee. The park is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year-round. Visitor services, however, are very limited between Labor Day (early September) and Memorial Day (late May).

Three access areas shape most visits:

Port Alsworth, on the shores of Lake Clark, is the only permanent community inside the park. It has an airstrip for land planes, a visitor center, and a few places to stay. It's the easiest access point for a first visit.

The interior lakes, accessible only by floatplane, provide direct access to fishing and backcountry hiking areas. In summer, floats allow planes to land on the water. In winter, when the lakes freeze, some operators fit their aircraft with skis. Ice conditions determine the aircraft configuration.

The Cook Inlet coast, wetter and milder than the interior, is accessible by floatplane from Homer or Anchorage. The terrain is flatter, vegetation is denser, and encounters with brown bears are especially common.

Getting Around the Park

By Bush Plane

Inside the park, planes remain the main way to travel between areas. The distances are too great to cover on foot from one area to another.

Charter operators offer flights between areas from Port Alsworth or Anchorage. If your itinerary combines several areas, such as the coast, Lake Clark, and the Chigmit Mountains, each transfer is billed as a separate flight. Transportation is one of the largest expenses on a Lake Clark trip, so plan for it from the start.

By Boat and Raft

You can travel the park's rivers by raft, kayak, or canoe, depending on the waterway. The Tlikakila River, a Wild and Scenic River, is one of the park's most popular trips. Guides offer supported expeditions from mountain camps to the coast.

You can navigate the lakes by canoe or kayak, and most lodges provide them for guests. On Cook Inlet, you need a motorized boat to travel safely along the coast.

On Foot

Once a plane or boat drops you off, you travel on foot. Almost none of the park has marked trails or maintained paths. You'll make your way across open terrain, including tundra, birch forest, and riverbanks. Expect slow progress, around 1.2 to 2.5 miles per hour depending on the surface, and navigate with a compass and a topographic map. This is wilderness in the strictest sense.

The terrain and commitment levels are covered in the Lake Clark hiking guide.

Logistics from Anchorage: Where to Leave Your Car

If you arrive in Anchorage by car or rental vehicle, it stays in Anchorage for the duration of your time in the park. The departure airports, Lake Hood and Merrill Field, have parking, but arrangements vary by operator. Ask your charter company directly when you book.

Distances and Travel Times Between Areas

Lake Clark covers more than 3.7 million acres. You travel between areas by plane, not on foot. Here are a few reference times:

• Port Alsworth to the coastal area: about 30 to 45 minutes by air.
• Port Alsworth to the glaciers of the Chigmit Mountains: 20 to 40 minutes by air, depending on the area.
• Anchorage to Port Alsworth: 1 to 1.5 hours in a small plane.

These times are approximate. Bad weather can keep aircraft grounded for several days in a row, in summer and winter alike. Always build flexibility into your schedule. The Lake Clark itinerary guide discusses timing and the ideal trip length.

Special Cases: RVs, Accessibility, and Pets

RVs and vans: Without road access, the question doesn't arise. You can't enter Lake Clark in a land vehicle.

Accessibility: Port Alsworth has a few basic accommodations. Outside that area, unmarked terrain and a lack of infrastructure make travel with limited mobility very difficult. Contact the rangers in Port Alsworth ahead of time to discuss the options available for your situation.

Pets: Dogs are allowed in the park and must be leashed in developed areas. In the backcountry, bears and wolves make managing a dog especially difficult. Think carefully before bringing one.

Practical Information: Cell Service, Weather, and Gear

Cell service: It's almost nonexistent in the park. Port Alsworth has partial coverage. Once you leave the area, you're out of range. A satellite communicator such as a Garmin inReach or SPOT is strongly recommended and often required by professional guides and outfitters.

Two climate zones: The coast is wet and relatively mild. The interior gets two to four times less precipitation, but summers are warmer and winters are much colder. Freezing temperatures and snow can occur anywhere in the park at any time, and they're common from September through early June. The Lake Clark weather guide breaks down conditions month by month.

Fuel: There is no fuel available inside the park. If you're traveling by motorized boat, calculate your range with a substantial safety margin.

Offline maps: Download your topographic maps before you leave. Gaia GPS and CalTopo with USGS layers are the standard navigation tools in the Alaska backcountry.

Frequently Asked Questions