Day Trip to Lake Clark National Park Alaska (A Complete Guide)

If visiting every National Park in the United States is your goal, then a budget friendly day trip to Lake Clark might be your best bet. After multiple visits to Port Alsworth I've gone ahead and put together a complete guide for you to have the best day trip experience to Lake Clark National Park - think how to get there, meals, and best things to do. Even though I recommend spending at least 2-3 days based in Port Alsworth, a day trip is a great way to check off a visit to Lake Clark National Park!

​My Essential Alaska Travel Resources :
There are plenty of travel companies out there, but these are my favorite websites and resources for planning an unforgettable trip to Alaska. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

For flights, I recommend using Hopper to compare the cheapest dates to travel to Alaska.

Car rentals, arguably the best way to see Alaska, are best through Discover Cars!

I always use Expedia's easy-to-use platform to compare the best rates.
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To keep cell service if you're traveling internationally, I use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required), and NordVPN to stay safe while connecting to different wifi.

For fun things to do, I recommend Viator or Get Your Guide to find the best tours in the area.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance.

Lastly, my Alaska packing list for your travels to the Last Frontier.

Preparing for Your Day Trip

The hardest part of prepping for your Lake Clark Day Trip is figuring out the logistics and deciding who to book with. Personally, I've only ever gone through Lake Clark Resort - they even offer a special "Day Trip" package where everything is scheduled for you at a very reasonable price. Not only do they include a packed lunch for all their day guests, but also include any gear you might need like kayaks, bear spray, and waders & boots for their guests. If you're solely looking to book transportation on your own, I still personally recommend going through Lake Clark Air - but if they're booked out I've also heard good things about Rusts Flying Service which also offers a day trip to Lake Clark National Park.

What you bring with you entirely depends on what you'd like to do during your day trip. If you just plan to go hiking around Port Alsworth then make sure to wear comfortable shoes that you don't mind getting muddy and layers in case of weather changes. I would also bring a daypack for camera gear or any snacks you want, just make sure to pack out everything you bring in. If you're going to try and fit in a day trip out of Port Alsworth during your trip (trust me there's plenty of things to do in Lake Clark) then you might look into bringing some fishing gear or waders & boots.

Some of my Favorite Nearby Tours : ​

Lake Clark Day Trip - A Breakdown

Morning - Scenic Flight Tour
​After checking into Merrill Field Airport (where most small charter planes take off in Anchorage), you'll begin your 1-ish hour scenic plane ride. If you're able to, I recommend trying to sit in as "co-pilot" for some of the best views. You'll pass over Cook Inlet and through Lake Clark Pass. If the weather's good you'll be able to see the most incredible river valleys, glaciers, and mountain views during your journey. If you visit in September (my favorite time to visit) then this will be right around sunrise - trust me it's stunning!

Midday - Hiking or Day Trip
​Depending how long your day trip to Lake Clark is, you might be able to squeeze in an extra "day trip" from Port Alsworth into a different area of the park. There's so many things to do in Lake Clark (my personal favorites are bear viewing or guided fishing), but to be honest if you do this you really won't have any time to explore Port Alsworth or do any of the hikes in the area.

Personally, on a day trip I would recommend heading out on the Tanalian Falls hike from Port Alsworth! I have a full guide out on this hike, but if you take it slow and have a picnic at the base of the waterfall (which is what I recommend) it could take at least a couple hours. You can even try fishing for Arctic Grayling at the bottom! Before you head back to Port Alsworth I would also explore the top of the waterfall for some more incredible views, and if you're a fast hiker you can head a bit further down the trail to Kontrashibuna Lake.

Afternoon - Lake Clark Visitor Center
​When you eventually make it back to Port Alsworth you can explore town and head to the Lake Clark National Park Visitor Center! As you make your way into town from the hiking trail, you'll pass by Cissie's Kitchen Food Truck. They have reasonable priced food and the best milkshakes, in my opinion the best "post-hike" snack. :)

Further down the runway you'll find the Lake Clark National Park Visitor Center. They have a few outdoor exhibits in addition to an indoor area where you can ask the Rangers any questions you have about local wildlife or the National Park! If you have a National Park Passport Book you can also get your Lake Clark stamp here. During the summer months, the Visitor Center is open from 10:00am to 4:00pm.

Evening - Kayaking & Flight Back
​If you have extra time, you can try some kayaking! Lake Clark Resort has kayaks available at the Cranberry Cache for their day trip guests, and the views from the lake are absolutely stunning. Just make sure to keep an eye on the weather so you aren't late for your flight back to Anchorage!

Typically flights back to Anchorage will be around 5:00 or 6:00pm. If you had bad weather on the morning flight you'll have another chance to enjoy the incredible views, and if you had good weather both ways your pilot might take another way home for some different views!

Watch my Day Trip to Lake Clark here!

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Other Alaska blog posts you might be interested in : 
-> 3 Day Port Alsworth Itinerary
-> Bear Viewing in Lake Clark National Park
-> Guided Fishing in Lake Clark

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