Chena Lake Recreation Area

Name: Alaska.org
Price range: $

Chena Lake has two distinct personalities: The Lake Park and The River Park. The two parks were created at the same time an earthfill dam was constructed by the Army Corps of Engineers in response to devastating Chena River floods in 1967. The dam is 7.1 miles long and controls nearly 1,500 miles of watershed that would otherwise freely flow into Fairbanks.

Lake Park, with the 260-acre Chena Lake, includes:

A campground with 45 campsites, including 11 pull-throughs
Two covered pavilions, that may be rented by the hour
Two designated swimming areas with beautiful sandy beaches
A boat rental facility that rents paddle boats, row boats, canoes and kayaks
Two fishing docks (one handicap accessible)
A boat launch
Multiple, day-use picnic sites with tables and fire rings
Two changing rooms/warm up buildings
A playground
Three volleyball courts
One horseshoe pit
Potable water stations
Restrooms

The River Park, along four miles of the Chena River, includes:

A campground with 35 campsites, including 10 pull-throughs
One covered picnic pavilion, that may be rented by the hour
A 4.5 kilometer self-guided nature trail
Multiple, day-use picnic sites with tables and fire rings
One changing room/warm up building
One volleyball court
One horseshoe pit
A boat launch
Potable water stations
Restrooms

For avid fisherfolk, you will enjoy plying waters of the Chena River for its remote setting and for its Arctic Grayling, Northern Pike, Whitefish, Burbot, and an annual run of King Salmon.

Camping is a popular activity at Chena Lake Recreation Area. All campsites are first-come-first-served, and camping is limited to five consecutive nights or 10 nights within a 30-day period. For the visitors seeking a more remote camping opportunity, the Chena Lake island has six tent sites with boat access only. (Campers, remember: you are in Alaska—bear country. It’s a bit deceiving with Chena Lake being located so close to a well-populated community like North Pole, but Chena Lake is at the edge of the Alaskan wilderness and bear activity is always a possibility.

During the winter months, Chena Lake Recreation Area is still a favorite destination for locals. The lake is stocked with Rainbow Trout, Silver Salmon, and Arctic Char, and the park rents three ice-fishing houses by the day. Your ice house rental comes with a bundle of firewood for the woodstove, but pre-drilled ice holes. (They couldn’t make it any easier. Or, more fun…) The Chena Lake park staff also grooms classical cross-country ski trails with 2, 4.5, and 7 km loops, and they maintain a multi-use trail with a 3.8, 5.5, 6.5, 9.5, and 12 mile loops for snowmachiners, skate skiers, skijors, dog mushers, walkers, and runners. For outdoor enthusiasts, Chena Lake is a winter wonderland.