Crescent Lake: Salmon, Bears, and Boat-Only Exploring

Sockeye salmon, also called red salmon, come in first during the summer, and coho, or silver salmon, follow later. Anglers also catch Dolly Varden, lake trout, and a small number of Chinook salmon, known as king salmon. Anyone fishing here needs an Alaska state fishing license and must observe the state's fishing rules.

When the salmon are running, brown bears move onto the shoreline to hunt for fish. Boats offer the best vantage point for photographs, because the thick plants along the bank make walking it both tough and hazardous. For that reason, most bear viewing at the lake happens from the water.

There are no developed trails or roads around the lake, and walking the shore is not advised. Most people tour the water by motor boat or kayak, usually arranged through a guide or lodge. Dense brush climbs from the steep hillsides straight down to the water, leaving only a few open strips along the shore, and bears use those strips as travel routes. Surprising a bear in that kind of cover is easy to do, and it is a situation to avoid.

Licensed commercial outfitters run day trips and overnight excursions for fishing and bear viewing, which suits visitors who want a guide with local knowledge. The nearby Crescent River is also a favorite fishing spot in the park. Because of the many bears and the dense growth reaching the lake's edge, visitors are advised against pitching tents here.