State Parks and National Parks

Wood-Tikchik State Park

With an astounding 1.6 million acres, remote Wood-Tikchik is the largest state park in the United States. Its vast terrain encompasses clear fiord-like lakes, ragged snow-covered peaks, open tundra and alpine valleys.

This is wonderful country for fishing, canoeing and kayaking, hiking and enjoying the wild, idyllic surroundings.

King, sockeye, pink, silver and chum salmon spawn in the Wood River and Tikchik lake systems. Anglers also fish for rainbow trout, lake trout, arctic char, northern pike, whitefish, and arctic grayling.

Moose and brown bear roam the park. Black bear and caribou are more common in the northern and eastern areas. Nesting birds include bald and golden eagles, arctic tern, loons, spotted and least sandpipers, semi-palmated plover and a variety of waterfowl. Many migrating birds also pass through the park.

The climate ranges from humid, maritime air of Bristol Bay to the cool and dry weather of the northern interior. Annual snowfall varies, from 60-70 inches at Dillingham to more than 160 inches at Lake Nerka.

Though the park is technically open year-round, its remoteness and heavy snowfalls make it a seasonal park. Located 300 air miles west of Anchorage, Wood-Tikchik can be reached by amphibious aircraft from Dillingham. Some visitors come by boat on the Wood River from either Dillingham or Aleknagik.

Some commercial sportfishing lodges are located on private property within park boundaries. Park facilities are few, and low-impact camping is required.

The park's mailing address is: Wood-Tikchik State Park, P.O. Box 1822, Dillingham, AK 99576.

Photo credits in order: Courtesy of Alaska