Size: 4.03 Million Acres

Year Established: 1980

Annual Visitors: 18,300

Firearms Information in Lake Clark National Park

As of February 22, 2010, federal law lets people who can legally own guns under federal and Alaska state law do so in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. Under federal law, it is still illegal to use or fire a gun.

There are also places in this park where guns are not allowed by federal law. These places are marked with signs at all public entrances. These firearms are not allowed:

• Port Alsworth Field Headquarters Building
• Port Alsworth Visitor Center
• Port Alsworth Field Maintenance Building

Hunting in Lake Clark National Park

Sport fishing is allowed in both the park and the preserve, but sport hunting and trapping are only allowed in the national preserve. The National Park Service and the State of Alaska work together to take care of the wildlife in Lake Clark. Because of this, you must have a valid Alaska state hunting and/or fishing license and follow the rules for sport fishing, sport hunting, and trapping set by the State of Alaska.

Additional Information About Lake Clark National Park

Lake Clark National Park is in southwest Alaska, about 100 miles southwest of Anchorage. In 1978, the park became a national monument for the first time. It became a national park and preserve in 1980 when the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act was passed. There are many streams and lakes in the park that are important to the Bristol Bay salmon fishery, including Lake Clark.

All year long, there are lots of fun things to do in the park and preserve. Along the coast of Cook Inlet, the park protects two volcanoes, Mount Redoubt and Mount Iliamna, as well as rainforests, alpine tundra, glaciers, glacial lakes, rivers full of salmon, and alpine tundra. Mount Redoubt is still active. In 1989 and 2009, it blew its top.

Because the park has so many different ecosystems, you can see almost all of Alaska’s most important land and sea animals in and around the park. Sockeye salmon are especially important to the area’s ecosystem and economy. A lot of brown bears go to the Kijik River and Silver Salmon Creek to eat the salmon that are coming back to spawn. Bears are a common reason why people go to the park.

Best Time to Visit Lake Clark National Park

The best time to visit Lake Clark National Park is between the months of June to September.

Visitor Fees

No fees or registration are needed to get into the park.

Visitor Centers

Port Alsworth Visitor Center

Address

1 Park Place,
Port Alsworth, AK 99653

Phone Number

(907) 781-2117

Hours of Operation

Daily 10:00 AM–5:30 PM

Be sure to check for seasonal closures. This visitor center is typically closed in Winter from September 17 to May 26.