Views from Crescent Lake - Lake Clark National Park

While on our bear-viewing cruise on Crescent Lake in Lake Clark National Park, we circled the lake staying near the shore to see as many bears as possible. The weather forecast called for wind and rain, so staying near the shore also meant smoother sailing. Fortunately, the weather cooperated for most of the day and allowed us to see the Chigmit Mountains surrounding the lake as well as the bears. Other than Redoubt Volcano, also known as Mount Redoubt, none of the mountains visible from the lake have been officially named. Redoubt is an active volcano with its most recent eruption occurring in 2009 and lasting several months. We visited in early September 2022.

Snow-covered Redoubt Volcano (10,197' 9.8 miles)

The wind and rain finally arrived

There is no entrance fee at Lake Clark National Park.

The Lake Clark National Park website is https://www.nps.gov/lacl/index.htm.

Bear Viewing Cruise - Lake Clark National Park

Upon arrival at Redoubt Mountain Lodge on Crescent Lake in Lake Clark National Park, we had a quick pit stop, donned raincoats, and boarded one of four covered pontoon boats. Our boat had a capacity of more than a dozen people. On our cruise, only nine guests were assigned to our boat leaving us with plenty of space. Our morning cruise was confined to the southeast end of the lake and a one-mile run down the Lake Fork Crescent River. As we cruised, Mike, our captain and tour guide, provided running commentary about the bears, the lodge, Crescent Lake, and Lake Clark National Park. 

After stopping for a gourmet lunch in the Redoubt Mountain Lodge dining hall, we continued on our cruise this time circling the lake in a counter-clockwise fashion. While the lake is only about six miles long and 1½ miles wide at its widest, circling the lake took almost two hours before we concentrated on the bears along the southeast shore of the lake again. We also made one nine-minute stop on the gravel shore where everyone had a chance to stretch their legs and take selfies and other pictures of the lake and the Chigmit Mountains.

This cruise did not disappoint as we saw more brown bears around Crescent Lake than in any other national park. We visited Lake Clark National Park in early September 2022.

Morning cruise

Afternoon cruise

There is no entrance fee at Lake Clark National Park.

The Lake Clark National Park website is https://www.nps.gov/lacl/index.htm.