Life at Crescent Lake, Alaska, has ethereal romanticism of snow, crystal clear water, and bears. A utopia for grayline anglers, it can be reached through a trail near the Crescent Creek Campground.
Alaska, once purchased from the old Russia, has a variety of natural wonders to deliver. Unlike the countries of the US, Alaska is divided into boroughs. Crescent Lake lies in the Lake Clark National Park under Kenai Peninsula Borough.
Forests, glaciers, and volcanoes surround the Crescent Lake area. It offers good day hiking trails like Carter Lake Trail, Crescent Creek Trail, and Crescent Lake Trail. Under the tall, lugubrious trees, visitors may also enjoy day camping.
5 Things to See at Crescent Lake Alaska
1. The Brown Bears
Crescent Lake, Alaska, is a land of brown bears, a lot of bears. The area is known for its incredible bear viewing with aquatic animals like lake trout and dolly varden. The abundance of salmon and other fish in the lake attracts the bears. The lake is famous for salmon and trout fishing.
Camping is not allowed in the Crescent Lake area due to the high population of bears. Photographers capture the bears catching salmon over their boats. It is advised to view bears on boats as the dense vegetation alters smooth walking around.
2. Fishing
Like bear viewing, watching fish like sockeye salmon, steelhead trout, and others has its own charm. The idea of fishing with the view of bears around has its own excitement and thrill. Every year thousands of visitors come to Crescent Lake, Alaska, to glimpse the biospheric coexistence in natural settings.
There are some guidelines for fishing when bears are around. Visitors are suggested to keep the catch in a packed container to avoid any bear attraction. You need to be conscious of the lake while fishing. Bears also roam freely for their food.
You may also read http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=bearviewing.lakeclark for more information about fishing and bears.
3. The Trails
Settled in the lap of mountains, the Crescent Lake area exhibits an 8.3 mile long less developed hiking trail. Carter Lake Trail is 6.4 miles long, and Crescent Lake Trail measuring 3.4 miles, are two trails. The trails are less paved, overgrown, and have creeks.
Carter Lake Trail is considered good for families. There are wildflowers, and the initial trial is quite steep. You can enjoy the serene view of Crescent Lake. It is a moderate trail where you can also accompany your dog on a leash.
Crescent Lake Trail is quite easy and moderate in comparison to Carter Lake Trail. The trail alternates between meadows and forests where you can see goats and moose with bears. In this trial, you may avail the facility of tent camping staying at Crescent Lake Cabin.
These trails are suitable for the whole family, where you can enjoy fishing and bear watching.
4. Crescent Lake Alaska Cabin
The most astonishing feature of the lake for a complete wildlife expedition is the Crescent Lake Cabin. The rustic cabin is situated on the northeast side of the lake. The view of the unceasing shore of Crescent Lake and the mountains thrills you the whole time.
The cabin provides accommodation for 6 people at a time and can be accessed through prior reservation. The cabin has basic amenities like a rowboat and wooden stove, but you must carry some more stuff with you. An outhouse is also provided with a wooden cabin.
5. Embracing Nature
The lake is situated at the base of the Redoubt Volcano. The glacial-fed waters are crystal clear, where the aquatic life gets nourished in natural revelry. You can also enjoy kayaking here.
The view of the waterfall in the Chigmit Mountains is pacific and memorable. The lake has many tributaries, among which the Upper Crescent River is the primary source. It is expected to keep the water clear. As cleaner the water, the safer the biosphere is.
The Crescent Creek Campground is a haven for birds like chickadees and woodpeckers. There are also black bears, but they are quite shy about public appearance. Pine trees and some vivid wildflowers soothe the eyes.
Also Read: Top 5 Alaska Tour And Travel Packages You Should Avail
How to Reach Crescent Lake Alaska
The lake is situated in a dense forest area, and the road connectivity is nearly insignificant. Visitors generally use air taxis to reach the lake area. It takes around 30 minutes to reach the nearest cities like Anchorage, Homer, or Kenai. The flight cost depends on the size of the group, the distance from the airbase, and the types of planes.
You may follow the following link to get the necessary information about flights:
https://www.nps.gov/lacl/planyourvisit/directions.htm
When to Visit
The Lake Clark National Park, where Crescent Lake Alaska is situated, remains open throughout the year. If you are a fishing enthusiast, then August and July are the best months for a visit. The lake’s uniqueness is the scope of multiple fishing as salmon, dolly varden, and lake trout are abundant here.
The best time for bear-watching at Crescent Lake, Alaska, is May through September. At this period, the daylight is sufficient for planning a trip. Winter could be quite challenging due to freezing temperature and visibility.
Some Suggestive Precautions
Bears are the center of attraction for visitors. These wild bears could be offensive, so the National Park and Preserve, Alaska has issued some guidelines for visitors’ safety:
- Always carry a bear-resistant container to keep the catch. Bears with exceptional sniffing power may reach you.
- Don’t bring any food with you.
- Ask the guide for bear-resistant containers as they have the responsibility to provide them.
Man’s connection with nature is inherent. Nature provides us with all the basic amenities to survive. Crescent Lake, Alaska, provides you with an opportunity to accumulate all the natural fiber threads that support your lives. The biodiversity here inaugurates a collective juncture of natural beauty and freshness.
The crystal clear mossy water, the aquatic animals, and the untamed bears teach us that human civilization may have comfort resources. However, the natural delight of the wilderness is still unmatched and secretively capacitive.
A must-visit place!
