If you are trying to get to every US National Park, you’ll have to spend quite a bit of time in Alaska! Alaska is home to 8 out of the 63 US National Parks (as of July 2021)! The only state with more National Parks is California, which has 9.
While my husband and I were in Alaska this June we had the pleasure of visiting 3 US National Parks! One of which is a National Park that very few people are fortunate enough to visit: Lake Clark. Not because it isn’t worthy of visiting, but because it is remote and not accessible by car. There are no roads that lead to the park.
In 2020, Lake Clark was the 3rd least visited US National Park with less than 5,000 visitors (according to the National Park Service).
But don’t let that stop you from visiting this beautiful, remote location! Lake Clark was a huge highlight of our trip and by booking everything through the lodge we stayed at, it was very easy to plan. Read more to find out how to visit one of the least visited US National Parks: Lake Clark!
Where is Lake Clark?
Lake Clark National Park is in Port Alsworth, Alaska – approximately 100 miles southwest of Anchorage.
How do you get to Lake Clark?
The only way to get to Lake Clark is by plane or boat! There are no roads to get there. We chose to book a flight from Anchorage through Lake Clark Air.
Lake Clark Air offers not only transportation to Lake Clark, but also guided day trip excursions, and lodging at the Farm Lodge.
It was super convenient to book our whole trip through Lake Clark Air and The Farm Lodge.
I researched options on their website and reached out with dates and what we were looking to do. From there, they were able to put together a customized itinerary that worked for our budget!
The Farm Lodge
We loved our stay at the Farm Lodge. The cabins were cozy, comfortable, and relaxing. A perfect retreat to enjoy late evening summer sunsets after a day exploring.
The food at the Farm Lodge was phenomenal. All meals are provided, with breakfast and dinner served at set times. These meals were a great way to meet other guests and exchange stories from our excursions that day! I loved meeting others who love travel as much as I do! As you might imagine, this place draws in people who love to explore new places.
Generous sack lunches were also provided daily for us to take with us.
This family-owned business is truly special. From the luggage handlers, to those working in the kitchen and dining room, and leading day trip excursions – everyone working at the Farm Lodge was so kind, accommodating, and thoughtful. They all went above and beyond to make our stay wonderful.
Things to do in Lake Clark
Custom Packages
If booking through Lake Clark Air – they have so many options for day trips and guided tours! Examples of activities include a tour of Lake Clark by floatplane, fly fishing, bear viewing, a day trip to Katmai National Park, caribou viewing, and many more.
Hiking
We opted to do 2 days of unguided hiking and exploring the area. The first day we did a 4 mile hike (2 miles each way) to Tanalian Falls. The Tanalian Trails are considered “moderate” difficulty.
We took the Falls and Lake Trail to the falls. I would recommend this path over the Beaver Pond Loop as it is much wider, making the trek much easier. The hike was beautiful and was well worth the modest uphill climbs. There are longer, steeper trails up the mountain if you’re looking for more of a challenge.
I will say I was a bit nervous going by ourselves since it is very remote and bears are common in the area. We didn’t see any other people on the trail until we got close to the falls. Luckily, we didn’t see any bears either.
The views at the falls were STUNNING! The powerful falls, crystal blue water, greenery, and snow capped mountains in the background were a sight we won’t forget.
Kayaking
The next day we spent a couple hours kayaking around Lake Clark. The lodge had kayaks that were available to rent. It made for a peaceful afternoon on the water, soaking in the views and watching float planes land and take off right near us!
Our trip to Lake Clark was a nice mix of relaxation and adventure. The Farm Lodge really has something for everyone – whether you’re looking for adventure, time relaxing with family, or just cross another National Park off your bucket list!
Looking for other things to do in Alaska? Check out my other posts about Alaska!
Leave a Reply