Boating in Alaska

With popular boating and paddling tours located all over the state of Alaska, your on-water activity options are limitless. A few of the best boating lakes include: Kenai Lake, Big Lake and Stormy Lake. To help you plan your boating adventure in Alaska, we thought we’d name just a few of our favorite boating trips in Alaska. Check out the list below!

Residents of Big Lake, a town with a population of over 3,000, often commute to work in Anchorage, some 60 miles south. They choose to live in Big Lake due to the amazing recreation opportunities. It offers views of Mount Susitna, Denali and the Talkeetna Mountains.

The area offers a great opportunity to view dog sledding in the winter. However the summer time outdoor activities are not to be missed. The area centres around the 67 mile shoreline lake. The Lake is great for swimming, camping, boating and fishing as well as a plethora of other watersports. It brings people together to enjoy its waters.

The Big Lake North State Recreation Site is also located on the lake, 13 miles west of Wasilla. It has tent sites, picnic areas, shelters, and parking with a fantastic view of Denali. Boating and fishing are very popular on the lake during summer months. It is known as Alaska’s year round playground with large weekend and seasonal populations.

Fish Creek Park is nearby and offers a salmon spawning observation desk. Big Lake South State Recreation Site offers campsites and a boat launch. The Rocky Lake State Recreation Site offers camping on a lake.

Stormy Lake is another notable lake located on the Kenai Peninsula. It’s located within the Captain Cook State Recreation Area. Stormy Lake’s name comes from the whitecaps produced on the lake due to higher winds. It’s also known as Three Bay Lakes is a lake on the Kenai Peninsula. It is located within the Captain Cook State Recreation Area. The prevailing winds can sometimes produce whitecaps on the lake, giving it its name. It is also known as Three Bay Lake because it consists of three nearly separate areas connected by channels.

Access to the lake is via the Kenai Spur Highway, about 27 miles (43 km) north of Kenai. Facilities include a boat launch, overlook, picnic area, wading/swimming area, and a small, boat-in only campground.

Lake Louise State Recreational Area is located in the Copper Valley near Glennallen. It is a hotspot for Alaskans all year round. Outdoor activities include camping, fishing, boating, bird watching, hiking, biking, berry picking, snow machining, skiing, skating, hunting, and Northern Lights viewing.

Lake Louise offers great year round fishing and sports four species of fish: lake trout, whitefish, burbot and arctic grayling. It also offers a variety of wildlife and birds including cormorants. ‘Bird Island’ is a place for birders to find various nesting sites. Lake Louise is also home to swans, loons, and other water fowl. Wildlife viewing opportunities include moose, wolf, bear, fox, sheep, lynx. There is also the annual migration of the Nelchina caribou herd each October through November.

The Lake Louise State Recreation Area has a large campground, boat launch, and picnic areas. There is also  a trail leading to the hilltop where the Army’s original recreation area’s cabins still stand. However the cabins are in a state of severe disrepair.  In the fall the Nelchina caribou herd passes through this area. 

Kenai Lake is a large zig-zagging lake on the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska and is the gateway to the Kenai River. It is a hot destination spot for fishing and other activities. These include camping, bird watching, hiking, biking, boating and an array of other watersports.

It is accessible from Sterling and Seward highways. Many people stop off take take pictures of the beautiful scenery of the lake. The lake was formed from glacier water and has a picturesque blue/green tone.

Alaska’s State Parks offer outdoor enthusiasts 3.3 million acres of rugged, untouched terrain. Perfect for trailblazers, hikers, paddlers and boaters, the Alaska State Park System provides endless recreational opportunities year-round. You can take an organized boat tour in Glacier Bay National Park. Go kayaking in Kenai Fjords National Park. You can head to Denali National Park to hike up Horseshoe Lake Trail and check out Alaska’s tallest mountaintop! Or strike out on your own to check out the boating opportunities the Alaska’s State Parks have to offer!

Fishing in Alaska

Alaska has more than 627 fish species inhabiting the state’s 3 million lakes, 3,000 rivers and the countless streams. You’ll find world-class fly-fishing, Freshwater Fishing, Salt Water Fishing and Ice Fishing right at your fingertips. Depending on your style, you can charter a boat or plane to whisk you off to a remote fishing hole. Or you can just go for a hike and go fishing in one of the pristine lakes you’ll likely stumble across. Catch everything from wild Alaskan Salmon and Halibut to Red Snapper, Yelloweye and Black Sea Bass! Find out more about fishing in Alaska, including the best places to go fishing, by visiting the official Alaska Tourism website.