Lake Clark National Park and Preserve

The Land

The northern boundary of Lake Clark National Park and Preserve is approximately 100 miles southwest of Anchorage and is only accessible only by air. The park includes almost all of the rugged Chigmit Mountains, which are located at the convergence of the Alaska and Aleutian mountain ranges. The southwestern boundary runs approximately 30 miles north of Lake Iliamna.

Flora and Fauna

Several species of big game live in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. Both Black and Brown (Grizzly) Bears are present pretty much throughout the park. Black Bears are absent from the higher elevations. Brown Bears can be found in especially sizable concentrations along Chinitna Bay. Moose live throughout the park with Caribou found mainly in the hills. Dall Sheep number around 600 animals and range at higher elevations along the western flank of the Chigmit Mountains.

Smaller animals found in the park include: Coyotes, Wolves, Red Fox, Lynx, Marten, River Otter, Wolverine, Weasels, Mink, Hares and Beaver.

Over 125 species of waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors, falcons, owls, songbirds, grouse, and ptarmigan live in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve.

The importance of the Bristol Bay watershed, adjacent to Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, to the commercial Sockeye Salmon industry cannot be overstated. Fully 16% of the total world catch of Sockeye Salmon was reared in the Bristol Bay waterhshed. Sportfishing for five species of salmon, rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, lake trout, northern pike, and arctic grayling is a popular attraction.

History

The prehistory of Lake Clark National Park and Preserve is largely unknown given little excavation of prehistoric sites. It is know that Paleoarctic peoples were active near Lake Clark at least 6,000 years ago. The historic native group in the area is Tanaina or Dena'ina Indian.

Salmon canneries opened in Bristol Bay in 1884, and by the early 1900s, some Dena'ina were obtaining cash income from this new industry. Along with salmon, gold-mining activity attracted non-natives into the area.

Lake Clark National Park and Preserve was created in 1980 under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. This act states that it is to be managed, "to protect the watershed necessary for the perpetuation of the red salmon fishery in Bristol Bay; to maintain unimpaired the scenic beauty and quality of portions of the Alaska Range and the Aleutian Range, including volcanoes, glaciers, wild rivers, lakes, waterfalls, and alpine meadows in their natural state; and to protect habitats for and populations of fish and wildlife, including, but not limited to caribou, Dall sheep, brown/grizzly bears, bald eagles, and peregrine falcons."

Transportation

Lake Clark National Park and Preserve is accessible by aircraft from Anchorage.

More Information

For more information on Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, visit the National Park Service website at www.nps.gov/lacl/.

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

For information on Alaska State Parks, visit the Alaska State Parks web site.