Wilderness

Stand in awe as mountains reflect across still waters in the evening light at Kontrashibuna Lake.

NPS/ K. Knick

 

Map of Lake Clark’s Wilderness Areas. The map indicates the variety of land status designations across the park.

NPS

“The wilderness and all that it encompasses is not a mystery; it is us and it is home. It’s as familiar as looking in the mirror.”

- Karen Evanoff and Michelle Ravenmoon in “Respecting Ełnena (Land)”

Exhilarating. Enlightening. Enduring. Lake Clark Is a Land of Stunning Wilderness.

Steaming volcanoes, vast expanses of tundra and forest, craggy snow-covered mountains, incredible wildlife, free-flowing lakes and rivers. Lake Clark National Park and Preserve is a land of wondrous beauty. As remarkable as the sights are, equally remarkable is what we do not see. Most of Lake Clark National Park and Preserve will never be developed, for much of the park has the highest level of protection offered by the federal government: Wilderness.

Lake Clark National Park and Preserve manages one of the largest wilderness areas in the United States, providing visitors with superlative opportunities for solitude, challenge, and self-reliance in iconic wild landscapes. Wilderness also helps mitigate the effects of climate change, where the impacts of a changing climate are some of the most pronounced anywhere in the world.

Officially named after Governor Jay S. Hammond for his many contributions to Alaska, strong conservation ethic, dedication to the preservation of the Bristol Bay fishery, and his home on Lake Clark, the Jay S. Hammond Wilderness Area encompasses approximately 2.6 million acres and comprises about 64% of the entire park. Additionally, approximately 1.1 million acres is eligible for wilderness designation.

All of Alaska’s National Park Service (NPS) wilderness was designated in 1980 by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, which created a more human-centric lens for wilderness stewardship than that which is found outside the state. However, the NPS’s primary mandate is the same across all federal lands: to preserve wilderness character. The holistic concept of wilderness character protects the biophysical environment, personal experiences, and symbolic meanings that collectively distinguish wilderness from general backcountry and front country areas. Unique social, cultural, and ecological benefits of wilderness are rooted in wilderness character preservation.

The Jay S. Hammond Wilderness Area also protects the connections that people have with the land. Wilderness reflects thousands of years of human residence, further strengthening our connection to these special places.

Wilderness as Homeland

One of the most unique aspects of wilderness areas in Alaska is the role they play to support the continuation of a subsistence lifestyle for rural residents. Nowhere is this more profound than in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, where wilderness protects the water, salmon, wildlife, trees, and plants that rural residents depend on.

 

Cutting Fish

NPS/ D. Khalsa

Ye’uh Qach’dalts’iyi

'What We Live On from the Outdoors'

Subsistence and Traditional Use of the Land - Lake Clark National Park & Preserve (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

Subsistence: The Ethics of Taking Subsistence: The Ethics of Taking (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

 

Building a fire on the shoreline of Lake Clark in springtime.

NPS/ D. Khalsa

The legacy of unseen footprints of the Dena’ina has sustained the place now called Lake Clark National Park and Preserve for millennia. The Dena’ina of Qizhjeh Vena (Lake Clark) believe that everything has a spirit and should be treated with respect. The culture evolved from this relationship with the land, cultivating the Dena’ina language, spirituality, identity, values, and practices that guide a life compatible with this environment. The continued relationship of the Dena’ina to their homeland is as much a part of the wilderness character of Lake Clark as the craggy mountains, impressive wildlife, and the opportunity for an unconfined experience. A Dena'ina Perspective: Respecting Ełnena (Land) (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

Qizhjeh Vena, meaning ‘a place where people gather lake’ in Dena’ina, is the original name of Lake Clark. Living in remote, naturally intact places brings challenges and opportunities that foster a sense of community, deep connection to place, respect for the land, self-reliance, and reciprocity between people and the land. The Dena’ina and park perspectives share many values for stewardship and caring for the land. Many of these are reflected in the park’s Wilderness Character Narrative.

 

Kayakers enjoy solitude and adventure found on the deep turquoise waters at Twin Lakes.

NPS/ K. Miller

Visiting Lake Clark's Wilderness

People are a part of the natural world – we are not separate from wilderness. Whether you experience it from land, water, or sky, adventure awaits in Lake Clark’s wilderness. Here you can dip your paddle, cast a fly rod, stretch your legs, or just watch wildness in motion. Deciding what type of adventure interests you is the first step in forging your own personal connection with this special place. Get started by discovering things to do in Lake Clark. Things To Do - Lake Clark National Park & Preserve (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

From Port Alsworth (the park’s field headquarters), day hikers can experience wilderness by heading up Tanalian Mountain for spectacular vistas of lakes and mountains from the summit. Day Hikes - Lake Clark National Park & Preserve (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

Many backpackers choose to challenge themselves amongst the extraordinary landscape of Lake Clark’s trail-less wilderness where self-reliance and solitude is found to an extent seldom found elsewhere. Thorough preparation and careful trip planning will help ensure you have a safe and meaningful trip. Camping and Backpacking - Lake Clark National Park & Preserve (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

Boating is another popular way to experience Lake Clark’s wilderness. Though rarely calm, the waters of Lake Clark’s inland lakes afford skilled paddlers scenic opportunities for solitude and meeting wilderness on its terms. Boating - Lake Clark National Park & Preserve (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

Though rewarding, visiting Lake Clark’s wilderness can be a challenging experience that carries inherent risk. Adventures in this remote and isolated area demand self-sufficiency. Preparation can make the difference between an adventure of a lifetime and tragedy. Remember, help may be days away. No special permits are required to stay in the wilderness of Lake Clark. Staff in the Port Alsworth Visitor Center can help with trip planning assistance. All visitors must adhere to food storage requirements when camping in bear country and follow Leave No Trace Principles to minimize impact on the landscape.