Chena River State Recreation Area
(Interior Alaska)
(Printer
version Chena River State Recreation Area)
More than ever, Chena River State Recreation Area is a park
for all seasons. Are you interested in a day of hiking and rock-climbing at
Granite Tors? Or would you prefer to harness up the dog team and escape into the
snowy horizon? With 397 square miles of forests, rivers, and alpine tundra, the
recreation area has something to offer everyone. The variety of activities draws
more than 150,000 people to the Chena River State Recreation Area every year.
Campgrounds in the area can accommodate all sorts of outdoor enthusiasts, from
tent campers to those with deluxe recreational vehicles. Three developed
campgrounds exist in the recreation area: Rosehip Campground at milepost 27
Chena Hot Springs Road, Tors Trail Campground at milepost 39, and Red Squirrel
Campground and Picnic Area at milepost 43. See the chart on page 2 for more
information. Opportunities for camping in undeveloped areas can be found along
the many gravel bars and river access roads.
The park follows the Chena River, a clearflowing, class II river ideal for
kayaking, canoeing, or fishing for abundant arctic grayling. Chena Hot Springs
Road parallels the river, providing boaters and anglers many entry and exit
points from which to choose.
Dipping the hook for grayling can be an invigorating experience in the summer.
In addition to the river, four small ponds have been stocked at mileposts 30,
45.5 and 47.9. The river is catch and release only, but fish caught in the
gravel ponds may be kept.
In winter months, two major dog sled races use portions of the old Chena Hot
Springs Winter Trail. Ski touring is also popular. The recreation area contains
numerous winter trails, providing opportunities for motorized and nonmotorized
recreation.
Wildlife is abundant in the Chena River Recreation Area. Visitors frequently
find moose munching in the beaver ponds and sloughs along Chena Hot Springs
Road. Black and grizzly bears also inhabit the area, though they are seldom
seen. Grizzly bears have been spotted by backcountry hikers in alpine areas.
Black bears are found in areas with abundant vegetation.
Source: Alaska State Parks.
For more information on Alaska State Parks, visit the Alaska State Parks web site.
Alaska
National Parks
Denali National Park,
Kenai Fjords National Park,
Lake Clark National Park,
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
Alaska State
Parks by Region
Anchorage,
Interior Alaska,
Kenai Peninsula,
Kodiak,
Mat-Su
Valley,
Prince William Sound,
Southeast Alaska,
Southwest Alaska
Alaska State Parks by Name
Anchor River State Recreation Area and Stariski SRS,
Birch Lake
State Recreation Site,
Caines Head State Recreation Area and Resurrection Bay State Marine Parks,
Captain
Cook State Recreation Area,
Chena
River State Recreation Area,
Chena
River State Recreation Site,
Chilkat Bald
Eagle Preserve,
Chugach State Park,
Clam Gulch
State Recreation Area,
Deep Creek
State Recreation Area,
Delta
Junction Area State Parks,
Denali State Park,
Haines Area State
Parks,
Harding
Lake State Recreation Area,
Independence Mine State Historical Park,
Kachemak Bay State Park and State Wilderness Park,
Kasilof Area State
Parks,
Kenai
River Special Management Area,
Kodiak Area State
Parks,
Nancy Lake State Recreation Area,
Ninilchik
State Recreation Area,
Point Bridget
State Park,
Salcha
River State Recreation Site,
Sitka Area State Parks,
State Marine Parks in Prince William Sound and Resurrection Bay,
Summit Lake
State Recreation Site, Tok
Area Parks,
Totem Bight
State Historical Park,
Upper Chatanika State Recreation Site,
Wickersham State Historic Site,
Wood-Tikchik
State Park
