Port Alsworth Nature Walk – Lake Clark

Distance: 2.0 miles Elevation Gain: 300 ft Difficulty: Easy Type: Loop Surface: Dirt Activity: Hiking Best Season: Jun-Sep Typical Time: 1-2 hours Fee: Free Dogs: Yes Permit: No

Port Alsworth is the gateway community to Lake Clark National Park, reachable only by small plane from Anchorage or Kenai. This short network of trails around the village explores the boreal forest edge where spruce and birch meet the shores of Lake Clark, one of Alaska's most pristine glacial lakes stretching 42 miles through the park.

The trail winds past beaver ponds and through open meadows with sweeping views of Tanalian Mountain rising 4,727 feet to the north. Moose are commonly spotted feeding in the willow thickets, and Dall sheep sometimes appear on the distant ridgelines. Bald eagles nest in the old-growth spruce throughout the area.

Access requires a fly-in from Homer, Kenai, or Anchorage. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game silver salmon counts at the nearby Tanalian River make late August through September spectacular, when both bears and eagles congregate along the banks.