We wrote the book!
Author of
Hiking Alaska's
Wrangell St
Elias Natlonal Park
Falcon Guides
Hiking Alaska's
Wrangell St
Elias Natlonal Park
Falcon Guides
Alpine route through amazing Alaska lake country in the heart of Lake Clark National Park. This is a lake to lake backpacking trip with the added bonus of opportunities to fish at the lakes along the way. Trip originates with flight out of Anchorage so the day we depart is same day we start backpacking in this Alaska gem of a park. Challenging at times but overall not in the overly challenging range.
Lake Clark National Park is a bit more remote and less well known outside Alaska. The only way to get to Lake Clark is to fly - there are no roads! That means you won't have to rent a car and the cost for this trek includes just about everything except airfare to Anchorage. You will eat breakfast in Anchorage and dinner that night at a backcountry camp.
From Lake Telaquana we hike to Turquoise Lake with some detours for exploring along Trail Creek in the middle. So our hiking moves from lakes to high ridges and back down to the next lake. And those lakes are pretty good sized and full of fish. There are opportunities to fish for trout and grayling in Turquoise and Twin Lakes. So if you have a small, backpacking rod bring it along! We usually have at least one meal of fresh fish on the trip.
We may see bears, caribou, red fox and more along the hike.
Group size is kept small and we usually only offer this trip for one slot each summer so book early! Join us to explore the beautiful lake country of Lake Clark National Park.
| Pre Trip | Arrive in Anchorage by late afternoon (preferably the day before) and get checked in to your hotel (not included). The group will meet up with the guide for a gear review and distribution of food and group gear. We'll all get to know each other a bit and go over some logistics for the flight into Lake Clark the next morning. |
| Day 1 | It's and early meet-up at Lake Hood for our float plane flight from Anchorage directly to Lake Telaquana. The plan for our first day depends on what time we arrive at Telaquana. We might camp at the lake or, if we arrive early enough, we will head up the ridge to the south and camp near one of the pot-hole lakes there. |
| Day 2 | From the ridge it's an easy walk down to a Trail Creek that meanders through a broad and beautiful valley. It's a great spot for lunch or just a rest break. We'll spend a couple days expoloring this area with some day hikes without the packs. From here we head up the other side of the valley but it's a gradual hike uphill and the wide open terrain makes for sweeping views of the area. After traversing around the end of the ridge we stop and set camp at a stunning spot with ragged peaks at our back. |
| Day 3 | Today we leave camp set up and do some exploring without the heavy packs. There are lots of options to roam the valleys and ridges in the upper Trail Creek basin. |
| Day 4 | Leaving Trail Creek behind we head back to the high country and make camp on the ridge overlooking Turquoise Lake. |
| Day 5 | We drop down off the ridge to Turquoise Lake. It's a bit rocky on the descent but we are soon on the shores of the lake and setting our final camp. There will be time to try our luck at adding fish to the dinner menu. |
| Day 6 | Today we enjoy our final wilderness breakfast and wait for the float plane to take us back to Anchorage. We usually arrive around 6:00 pm. The group will gather for one last meal and to hoist a few brews as we relish the completion of a great adventure. |
How Do We Get to Lake Clark?
The only way to get to Lake Clark National Park is by air out of Anchorage.
Airfare into Port Alsworth (gateway to the backcountry) is included in Trek Alaska rates for Lake Clark treks. Lake Clark Air provides our flight from Anchorage to Port Alsworth as well as bush flights into the backcountry.
Where Do We Meet?
You'll meet your hiking guide and the rest of the group in Anchorage for an orientation meeting around 6:00 p.m. the evening before the trip begins. On the detailed itinerary this is listed as Day 0. If you are unable to book a flight that arrives in Anchorage by late afternoon of Day 0, it would be advisable to arrive a day earlier. You will be in contacted several weeks before your trip and we will specify the exact location of the orientation meeting at that point.
Drop Off/PickupTimes
We like to get an early start on the first day as it might take two flights to get everyone into the backcountry. Check-in time at Merril field is usually 7:30 am for the flight to Port Alsworth. The guide will review these logistics at the meeting the night before.
Safety Considerations
Your safety is our top priority. Our treks are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are certified wilderness first responders or EMT's, each with years of wilderness experience. On most treks the guide carries a satellite phone. If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 9074.554.1088 for more information.
Guides
Your tour will be led by a trained, experienced professional with a solid guiding background, years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. Check out our Meet Our Team page for staff bios.
Group Size
We prefer to run small groups and our clients like it that way too. The standard group size on backpacking trips is 5 guests and 1 guide. Larger groups are possible for private trips. If you have more questions about group size, please give us a call at 907.554.1088 and we'll answer all your questions.
Weather in the Mountains
Alaska is pretty far north and like any mountain evirronment we are prone to sudden temperature and weather shifts. To be fully prepared, please follow the recommended clothing list closely (this list comes as part of your trip packet when you register). See below for average summer temperatures in the Lake Clark area. July is especialy variable and we have had temps hit the low 80s some summers. Mid August is when things start to cool down a bit but still great hikng weather.
| Average Temperatures (Fahrenheit) | |||
What's Included
What's Not Included
: See the Gear List for detailed information on what clothes and gear to bring on your trek.
Meals: What To Expect
All of our hiking and backpacking tours include a diversity of tasty meals packed full of critical carbohydrates, proteins and fats. We carry foods that travel well in the backcountry – rice, pastas, lentils, beans, packaged meats, nuts, breads, oatmeal, granola, and more.
For optimal taste and energy, we supplement all our meals with spices, herbs, oils, cheeses, butter, sugar, and fruits and vegetables. In addition, we provide you with with an assortment of trail mix, snacks, and dried fruits to eat at your own discretion.
We regularly accommodate vegan, vegetarian and non-gluten diets and will make adjustments for food allergies. These and other special dietary requests may require an additional fee.
