Lake Clark National Park & Preserve guide · 2 min read
Private Lodges and Remote Base Camping
Lake Clark has no concessionaire running dining or lodging on park property, so every place to stay is on private land and operated by a private business.
Contact each one directly for prices and availability. Options range from rustic camping to bed and breakfasts and all-inclusive lodges with guided excursions. The Park Service lists these lodges for information only and does not endorse them.
Upper Twin Lake, on the western side of the park, is home to Windsong Lodge and the historic Proenneke Cabin. In Port Alsworth, a small settlement on Lake Clark, you can stay at Lake Clark Resort, which runs boating trips in the park. Port Alsworth is also among the simpler spots in the park to reach.
The Park Service also operates two public use cabins, Priest Rock and Joe Thompson. Priest Rock sits about 8 miles from Port Alsworth and Joe Thompson about 13 miles, both on Lake Clark. Reach them by water taxi or floatplane, or by kayak from Hardenburg Bay for experienced paddlers when weather allows. Reservations are required. The Joe Thompson cabin also marks the start of the Portage Creek trail, a 3.25-mile route that climbs onto the tundra.
Remote base camping is the most independent option. Outside the developed Tanalian Trails near park headquarters, you can pitch a tent wherever you choose unless an area is closed to public use. Camping is never allowed at the Richard Proenneke Historic Cabin Site, on private land without permission, or in the restricted zones at Chinitna Bay and Silver Salmon Creek. All camping is primitive, with no facilities or marked sites, so practice Leave No Trace principles.
Lake Clark is trail-less wilderness, so you will rely on your own navigation or hire a guide. You do not need a backcountry permit to camp or hike, but the park's conduct rules still apply.
