State Parks and National Parks

Nancy Lake State Recreation Area

Nancy Lake State Recreation Area is one of Alaska's few flat, lake-studded landscapes preserved for recreation.

Lakes, streams and swamps make up more than half of the 22,685-acre park that lies between the Susitna River in the west and the Talkeetna Mountains in the east.

Unspoiled forests and hundreds of crystal lakes provide a wild, tranquil setting for canoeing, fishing, hiking, camping, cross-country skiing, dog mushing and snowmobiling.

Canoeing through the eight-mile chain of lakes is one of the park's most popular attractions. The Lynx Lake Loop makes a good weekend trip, but can be done in a day. Longer trips can be made to Butterfly and Skeetna lakes.

Campsites have been established on the canoe trail. A private concession rents canoes. Powerboats are permitted on a few of the lakes.

The lakes, wetlands and forests offer ideal habitat for wildlife. Most common are waterfowl and beavers, but moose are sometimes seen foraging in the brush or shallow ponds. Canoe campers often see common loons and hear their haunting call.

Black bears, which are usually shy, inhabit the park. Visitors are cautioned to exercise common sense and avoid confrontations with bears.

Fishing is good, yielding rainbow and lake trout, silver and red salmon and northern pike. Some of the lakes are stocked. Ice fishing is very popular.

A three-mile hiking trail to Red Shirt Lake offers panoramic views of the lakes and Chugach Mountains. Thick underbrush and wet terrain make off-trail hiking difficult.

Nearly 40 miles of trail are maintained for winter recreation, including 10 miles for cross-country skiers. The rest are multi-use trails, shared by snowmobilers, snowshoes, dog mushers and skiers. Winter visitors should be prepared for temperatures that can dip to 40 below.

The recreation area has two campgrounds, accessible by road, with a total of 128 sites. Though camping is permitted during winter, most visitors opt for one of the 13 rustic cabins on Nancy Lake, Red Shirt Lake, Lynx Lake, James Lake and Bald Lake.

Backcountry campsites are also available on Red Shirt, Lynx, Little No Luck, Skeetna and Ardaw lakes.

Nancy Lake State Recreation Area is a 90-minute drive north of Anchorage. It is located on scenic Nancy Lake Parkway, off the Parks Highway.

Photo credits in order: Courtesy of Alaska Department of Natural Resources.