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Natural Glacial•Alaska Lakes•Lake and Peninsula Borough County

Lake Clark, Alaska: Map, Depth, Size & Information

Comprehensive hydrographic guide to Lake Clark featuring verified USGS & USACE water statistics, interactive topographic mapping, shoreline facilities, boating ramps, and game fisheries.

Directions
Surface Area
82,000 acres
331.8 km²
Max Depth
860 feet
262.1 m
Elevation
220 feet
67 m ASL
Shoreline
140 miles
225 km
Coordinates
60.333°, -154.333°
GPS WGS84
Verification
Official Data
2026-02-25
Live Hydrographic & Conditions Telemetry

Lake Clark Live Water Level Status & Wind Conditions

Reservoir Hydrography
Water Level Status & Capacity
Current Water Elevation
220.38 ft
Normal Full Pool: 220.00 ft
Normal Conservation Pool
Difference from Full Pool
+0.38 ft(above)
Reservoir Waterline & Storage Capacity96.2% of Conservation Pool
0%
25%
50%
75%
100% Full
Full Pool: 220.00 ft
24h Change: -0.06 ft / 24hEst. Volume: 26,031,720 acre-ft
Inflow Rate
5,188 cfs
River tributaries
Dam Outflow
4,006 cfs
Hydro & spillway
Water Temp
51°F
Surface layer
Water Clarity
69.0 ft
Secchi disc depth
Hydrologic balance: Current net flow is +1,182 cfs (Gaining volume). Water level is falling at 0.06 ft per day.
Atmospheric & Surface
Live Wind & Wave Simulator
Good Boating Conditions
Nautical Wind Compass Rose
NESW
NNW 331°
15 mph
Gusts: 24 mph
Blowing from NNW (331°) at 15 mph
Surface Wave Conditions1.5 ft wave height
Light Chop (0.5 - 1.0 ft)
Whitecap Chop & Swell
Barometer
30.19 inHg
Steady pressure
Solunar Bite
Moderate Activity
High game fish bite
Hourly Forecast Timeline Scrubber:12 PM • 15 mph NNW
Calculate Water Level & Volume ChangesModel acre-feet storage loss, shoreline recession, and drought reserve projections for Lake Clark.
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Interactive Map of Lake Clark

60.3333° N, 154.3333° W|Get Directions
Centroid Coordinates: 60.3333° N, -154.3333° WOpen Directions in Maps

Where is Lake Clark?

Lake Clark is located in Lake and Peninsula Borough County in the state of Alaska, at geographical coordinates 60.3333° North latitude and 154.3333° West longitude. The water body lies at a surface elevation of approximately 220 feet (67 meters) above mean sea level.

Nearby Cities & Distances

Port Alsworth
1 miles away
Anchorage
100 miles away

About Lake Clark

Milky turquoise water of Lake Clark surrounded by snow capped Alaska mountains
Natural Glacial • Wilderness Glacial Trough LakeVerified 2026-02-25

Lake Clark is a magnificent 42-mile-long glacial lake situated at the headwaters of Bristol Bay in southwest Alaska. Encased by the rugged Chigmit Mountains within Lake Clark National Park & Preserve, where the Alaska Range meets the Aleutian Range, the lake receives glacial runoff giving it a striking milky-turquoise coloration. It is one of the world’s vital spawning nurseries for wild sockeye salmon.

Hydrographic Classification:

Lake Clark is categorized as a Wilderness Glacial Trough Lake. Its designated primary authorized uses include Wilderness Preservation, Salmon Nursery Ecosystem, Subsistence Living, Wildland Research.

Activities & Recreation

Sport Fishing

Lake Clark is known for its resident game fish species. Common targets include:

Sockeye Salmon (Bristol Bay Run)Arctic CharLake TroutDolly VardenNorthern PikeRainbow Trout
Boating & Watersports

Popular watercraft activities permitted across regulated channels:

Brown Bear ViewingFloatplane Fly-In FishingWilderness KayakingBackpackingCabin Retreat (Richard Proenneke Historic Cabin)

Boat Ramps, Marinas & Public Parks

Marinas (1)

  • •Port Alsworth Floatplane Dock (No road access)

Public Boat Launches (1)

  • •Port Alsworth Beach Launch (Foot / ATV access)

Parks & Recreation (2)

  • •Lake Clark National Park & Preserve
  • •Katmai National Park (south)

Boating Safety, Wake Zones & Aquatic Regulations

• Speed & Wake Buffer Zones:

A mandatory 100-to-200-foot no-wake zone is enforced around all public boat launches, designated swimming areas, private docks, and moored vessels. Vessel operators must maintain idle speed in narrow coves and bridge passes.

• Safety Gear & AIS Protocol:

Coast Guard-approved Type I, II, or III PFDs are required for all vessel occupants. To prevent aquatic invasive species (quagga mussels, hydrilla), boaters must adhere to Clean, Drain, and Dry inspection procedures prior to launching.

Seasonal Fishing Patterns for Lake Clark

Spring (March – May)Pre-Spawn & Spawn

Game fish move into sheltered secondary coves, shallow flats (4–12 ft depth), and creek mouths as surface temperatures climb into the 50s and 60s. Target submerged timber, riprap, and emerging vegetation with spinnerbaits, suspending jerkbaits, and soft plastics.

Summer (June – August)Thermocline & Main Basin

Predators retreat to deep underwater humps, main river channel ledges, and thermocline layers (20–45 ft). Peak activity shifts to dawn, dusk, and night trolling. Use deep-diving crankbaits, spoons, drop-shots, and downrigger spreads.

Autumn (Sept – November)Fall Turnover & Feeding Blitz

Cooling weather triggers lake turnover and intense schooling feeding. Bass, trout, and walleye push baitfish into primary points and pocket coves. Fast-moving topwater plugs, lipless crankbaits, and swimbaits produce explosive strikes.

Winter (Dec – February)Deep Suspension & Ice

Fish consolidate around deep wintering holes (40–80+ ft) or under safe solid ice on northern waterways. Slow finesse presentations—vertical jigging spoons, blade baits, and live bait rigs—dominate the cold-water season.

Lake Clark Statistics & Hydrography

MeasurementImperial ValueMetric Equivalent
Surface Area82,000 acres331.8 km²
Maximum Depth860 feet262.1 meters
Average Depth330 feet100.6 meters
Water Surface Elevation220 feet above sea level67 meters
Shoreline Length140 miles225 km
Lake ClassificationNatural Glacial (Wilderness Glacial Trough Lake)
GPS Coordinates60.3333° N, 154.3333° W

Frequently Asked Questions about Lake Clark

7 verified answers
Can you drive to Lake Clark?+
No road leads to Lake Clark. Access is exclusively by small floatplane or wheeled bush plane landing on gravel strips or water, typically originating from Anchorage or Homer.
How deep is Lake Clark in Alaska?+
Lake Clark reaches a verified maximum depth of 860 feet (262 meters), with an estimated mean operating depth of approximately 330 feet (101 meters). The lake bathymetry features typical natural glacial bottom topography with distinct drop-offs, deep submerged channels, and shallow littoral zones that support aquatic vegetation and forage species.
What is the surface area, shoreline length, and elevation of Lake Clark?+
At normal conservation pool, Lake Clark covers approximately 82,000 surface acres (about 128.1 square miles or 331.8 km²) at an elevation of 220 feet above sea level. The shoreline extends for 140 miles (225 km) throughout Lake and Peninsula Borough County, featuring numerous sheltered coves and bays.
What game fish can you catch in Lake Clark?+
Anglers on Lake Clark target Sockeye Salmon (Bristol Bay Run), Arctic Char, Lake Trout, Dolly Varden, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout. Peak fishing occurs during spring spawning runs in shallow bays and submerged timber, followed by summer deep-water trolling near thermocline depths and structural humps. Autumn brings aggressive feeding activity along windward points.
Can you boat on Lake Clark and where are the public ramps?+
Yes, recreational boating is permitted on Lake Clark. Public boat launch facilities include Port Alsworth Beach Launch (Foot / ATV access). Full-service marinas including Port Alsworth Floatplane Dock (No road access) offer slip rentals, marine fuel, and boat repair services. Boaters must adhere to state navigation laws, maintain required life jackets and safety gear, and respect posted no-wake zones near docks, coves, and designated swimming beaches.
Who manages Lake Clark and are there campgrounds or parks nearby?+
Lake Clark is managed and monitored in coordination with National Park Service & Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Lakeside recreation areas and campgrounds include Lake Clark National Park & Preserve, Katmai National Park (south). Visitors can take advantage of developed campgrounds with tent and RV hookups, scenic hiking trails, day-use picnic areas, and boat launch access.
Where does the data for Lake Clark come from and how is it verified?+
All hydrographic statistics, water surface elevation gauges, surface acreage measurements, and bathymetric soundings for Lake Clark are cross-referenced from authoritative federal and state geospatial databases, primarily National Park Service & Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD). Records undergo programmatic sanity verification and were last verified on 2026-02-25. Detailed ingestion pipelines, calibration procedures, and agency citations are published on our Data Methodology page (/methodology/).
Review Full Data Methodology & Verification Guidelines
Authoritative Data Source: National Park Service & Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Last verified: 2026-02-25 • Record ID: lake-clark-ak
View Official Source

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