The best camping near Lake Clark National Park & Preserve

If you’re looking for the quintessential Alaska backcountry experience, it’s hard to beat Lake Clark National Park & Preserve. Accessible only by plane and completely road-free, this park is most frequently visited by tourists on guided day trips, though intrepid campers who aren’t freaked out by the lack of trails (or by the resident bears) in the park will find endless opportunities for backcountry camping. Most people just find a spot and set up camp, but there is a primitive first-come, first-served campground—Hope Creek—with a bear-proof food locker.  

Lake Clark has a fairly short season, opening to tourists on Memorial Day Weekend and closing right back down again in the middle of September. The busiest times to visit are July and August, so if you’re looking to camp at Hope Creek, you’ll be more likely to have it (almost) all to yourself if you opt for a June or September visit.

• The only way to reach the park is by charter plane. Flights usually depart from Anchorage, Homer, and Kenai.
• Lake Clark is in bear country, so it’s crucial that you use bear canisters if you are backpacking with food, cookware, or cosmetics.
• Visitors can learn about the park, get tips on hiking and backpacking, or check out a bear-resistant canister for storing food at the Port Alsworth Visitor Center, which opens around Memorial Day and closes in mid-September.
• The Port Alsworth Visitor Center has a wheelchair ramp, and an all-terrain wheelchair is available to borrow (with advance notice) from the ranger stations.