Lake Clark National Park

Lake Clark National Park

Reservation request

DATES

Custom Dates Available for Your Group

REGION

Lake Clark National Park

TRIP COST

$$

DATES

Custom Dates Available for Your Group

REGION

Lake Clark National Park

TRIP COST

$$

Twin Lakes are the heart of Lake Clark National Park and offers the best hiking in the region. Our four day base camp trip has ample time for enjoying the storied lakes and mountains and for enjoying the wilderness solitude.

TRIP DETAILS

Hiking from Twin Lakes is excellent either in the boreal forest or on the gravely ridges. Steep mountains, alpine tundra, rocky canyons and broad glacial valleys beckon us to explore. Dall sheep, caribou and moose along with a great diversity of bird life make the hiking all the more intriguing.

In addition to the natural history, Twin Lakes is famous because of naturalist Dick Proeneke who spent almost 30 years living in the area. He was an exceptional craftsman and writer who made numerous films and wrote “One Man’s Wilderness” which is required reading for the trip. A long day hike from our camp will take us to his handcrafted cabin on Upper Twin Lake.

Last updated: December 7, 2021

Itinerary

What follows is a general flow of events. Expect the unexpected and prepare to be flexible.

Day 0

Meet your guide(s) in Anchorage for a pre-trip meeting.

Day 1

Fly from Anchorage to Port Alsworth, flying over Cook Inlet, through the spectacular Lake Clark Pass and over the immense Lake Clark. In Port Alsworth transfer to a float plane for a short flight to Twin Lakes. We will camp on lower Twin Lake on a nice gravel ridge with commanding views and good hiking.

Days 2-3

Explore the area on foot. We can day hike to Dick Proeneke’s cabin one day and another great day hike around Emerson creek. Emerson woods has tall cottonwoods with generations of Goshawks, and not far up creek there is a canyon to explore (wolverine seen at mouth of it, Dipper nest near falls) and a fine valley above where caribou are often grazing. Or we can head for the high country and enjoy vistas and blueberries on the mountain sides. Our time is ours to enjoy the park.

Day 4

One last cast of the fishing rod. One last photo of sunrise over the lake, and its time to pack our tents. Weather permitting we meet the float plane for the flight back to Port Alsworth and then back to Anchorage.

The great food throughout the trip shouldn’t have been a surprise, but it was a delight. As I review the meals, it sounds more like an immobile glamping excursion than an Arctic expedition — French toast and pancakes (with maple syrup!) and bacon and oatmeal and Mexican egg scramble, hummus and couscous and cheese and eggplant and jerky and smoked oysters and nuts and chocolate, Mexican feasts of pork quesadillas and enchiladas and a weenie roast and fusilli with salmon al fredo (with sun-dried tomatoes and rosemary) and Thai chicken stew and the Thanksgiving feast (I mean, really, turkey and stuffing and mashed potatoes in the wilderness?)

- Tom, Cape Town, South Africa

DETAILS

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Transportation beyond Anchorage

Food while in the wilderness

Stoves, cooking & eating utensils, boats, paddles, life jackets, safety & repair gear

Professional guide service

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

Lodging

Non-camp meals

Personal clothing and gear per our equipment list

Rental equipment is available

Fishing gear, and fishing license

Gratuity for guide(s)

WEATHER & BUGS

Temperatures vary dramatically in the Alaska. Temperatures will range from the 20s to 70s. Snow is possible any day of the year, but we get plenty of sunny weather this time of the year. Mosquitoes should not be an issue but bring a mosquito head net and a small bottle of DEET repellent just in case.

RECOMMENDED READING

One Man’s Wilderness, Dick Proeneke

Ordinary Wolves, Seth Kantner

More Alaska reading is available from our Bookstore

"The wilderness was spectacular, the leadership perfect."

"I am just finishing my tenth trip with you guys. As always, the trip was more than I expected and I had a great time. See you next year!"

"Of all outfitters with whom we have worked (and that is quite a number), you were by far the most organized and responsive."

"That feeling of wide open wonder, the possibilities for nearly limitless wandering, and the image of those proud caribou...that will stay with me a long time"

"Our guide was an encyclopedia on legs. He was always willing and ready to teach, to talk, to listen, to do another hike, or to lie low in camp if we were beat. He truly gave us the trip we wanted!"

Eileen - Canning River

ASK US A QUESTION

REQUEST A RESERVATION