The 10 Biggest Lakes in Alaska
Of all the three million lakes in Alaska, these are the 10 biggest.
Written by Matthew Lynaugh
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Table of Contents
- Iliamna Lake (736,000 acres)
- Becharof Lake (293,120 acres)
- Teshekpuk Lake (201,600 acres)
- Naknek Lake (154,880 acres)
- Lake Clark (81,920 acres)
- Tustumena Lake (74,880 acres)
- Chilkoot Lake (64,000 acres)
- Skilak Lake (24,711 acres)
- Kenai Lake (13,813 acres)
- Lake Aleknagik (10,880 acres)
- Protect yourself while you travel
- FAQs
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With nearly 3,200 natural lakes and another mind-blowing three million unnamed lakes, there is no shortage of aquatic scenes and activities in
Alaska
. The remote areas, backdropped by world-famous mountains, provide rich opportunities for both residents and tourists to enjoy the lakeside destinations of the Last Frontier.Alaska
is renowned for its hunting and fishing, and with over 86,000 square miles of the state covered by water, wildlife is abundant for whatever game your heart desires. The extreme Alaska weather and incredibly dramatic seasons can give you a unique lake experience every time you visit—but which lake is the best to set up camp?That’s where your Alaskan travel guide
Jerry
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for car insurance
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Iliamna Lake (736,000 acres)
Address: Iliamna, AK 99606
This behemoth freshwater lake is the biggest lake in Alaska, and the second biggest in the entire country, behind only Lake Superior. Iliamna Lake is 1,000 square miles and home to the largest sockeye salmon run in the world. World-class fishing here also includes the likes of Dolly Varden, arctic char, and lake trout.
Get a true sense of Iliamna’s size by chartering a flight over it and taking in its awe-inspiring sights. If you are looking to escape the fishing scene, you can have a floatplane zip you over to the many lodges where you can enjoy other activities such as hiking, kayaking, and wildlife observation.
Becharof Lake (293,120 acres)
Address: Brown Bear Rd, Bldg 4, King Salmon, AK 99613
A remote wildlife refuge located in Southwest Alaska, Becharof Lake features not only an enormous watering hole but also an active volcano with over 200 different species of wildlife. If you dare, take a stroll around Mount Peulik, and admire its beauty that emerges from volcanic flow and hot springs.
The abundance of fish at Becharof is the perfect catch for any sport or leisure fisherman—or hungry brown bear. Remote bear viewing experiences are offered, but if you’d rather observe wildlife from the safety of the air, flightseeing is your best bet to see the moose, whales, and sea lions along the shore of the lake.
Teshekpuk Lake (201,600 acres)
Address: North Slope, Borough, AK
Located in the Alaskan Arctic, Teshekpuk Lake is one of the most important habitats for Northern Alaska wildlife and acts as a sanctuary for several threatened bird species. The lake’s deep waters protect so many fowl that the District Court of Alaska blocked access to any oil development and lease here due to the contaminants that could surface.
Perhaps not the best tourist destination, the majority of the focus at Teshekpuk is environmental conservation. If you want to support the work being done here, you can donate to the
Teshekpuk Lake Observatory
.Naknek Lake (154,880 acres)
Address: King Salmon, AK 99613
Naknek Lake is the centerpiece of
Katmai National Park
on the Alaskan Peninsula and is the largest lake in the national park system. Known for fishing, boating, bear viewing, and volcanic exploration, there is something for all wilderness lovers to enjoy. For those serious about paddling, test the waters on the Savonoski Loop—an 80-mile circuit that takes you around Naknek Lake and its connecting rivers. If you prefer your activities to be on land, you can visit the viewing platforms to snap the perfect shot of the bears fishing for salmon at Brooks Falls.
Lake Clark (81,920 acres)
Address: 1 Park Place, Port Alsworth, AK 99653
It’s hard to believe something 128 square miles is a well-kept secret, but with an annual average of only 20,000 visitors, Lake Clark fits the profile. That’s not to say it lacks any of the natural beauty or outdoor activity found at other lakes—it has that in spades.
Calling all cross country athletes, lace up your hiking boots because Lake Clark National Park is home to the historic 50-mile
Telaquana Route
. For the experienced only, this trail will take you through forests and across glacial rivers on a journey generally completed in five to seven days. If aquatic activity is more of your wave, Lake Clark is also a paddler’s paradise, with three National Wild and Scenic Rivers flowing through the park.Tustumena Lake (74,880 acres)
Address: Tustumena Lake Rd, Soldotna, AK 99669
Surrounded by boreal forests and streamside meadows, there is only one road—Tustumena Lake Road—to reach the Tustumena Boat Launch. Otherwise, you’ll have to carry the boat or enter through one of the feeding waterways—just as the Tustumena’s native people did before naming it “Lake With Peninsula.”
Seasonal cabins and bed and breakfasts are available to rent to give you a place to rest after a day of hiking, horseback riding, or hunting. If you are driving around the Kenai Peninsula, be sure to drive slowly as moose and black bears can be crossing the road at any time.
Chilkoot Lake (64,000 acres)
Address: 10 Mile, Lutak Rd, Haines, AK 99827
Resting between the Takshanuk Mountains and the Ferebee Glacier, Chilkoot Lake offers stunning sights to behold in every direction. Head to the intersection of Chikloot and Lutak Inlet for some great fishing, and if you’re lucky enough, you might just see a bald eagle swoop in for some lunch.
Aside from the awesome bird-watching opportunities, visitors can enjoy kayaking, canoeing, and immersive camping. Surrounded by the towering mountains, the
Chilkoot Lake State Recreation Site
area offers over 30 campsites equipped with latrines, water pumps, and picnic shelters. This might not be for everybody, but it is ideal for any camper trying to get an old-fashioned camping experience.Skilak Lake (24,711 acres)
Address: Kenai Peninsula, AK 99611
Skilak Lake features nearly every major Alaskan habitat type and has been appropriately nicknamed“Miniature Alaska.” The wildlife observation and hunting opportunities are endless, and the
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
operates a cabin so you can see all the moose, bears, and coyotes that stroll by.Skilak is also well known for its deepwater fishing, and the fish change with the seasons. You will have ample opportunities for ice fishing in the winter or catching Kenai rainbow fish if you prefer to cast your line in the summertime.
Kenai Lake (13,813 acres)
Address: Cooper Landing, AK 99572
Formed from glacier water, the boomerang-shaped Kenai Lake is famous for its majestic blue-green tone and having all five species of Pacific salmon inhabiting it. Coming as no surprise, the fishing here is plentiful, and Kenai offers boating services and fishing guides to help you make the catch of the day.
Check out
Cooper Landing
for a great selection of spas and restaurants, or explore the history of the area’s Indigenous people at the peninsula’s oldest prehistoric site. Hiking, mountain biking, and snowmobiling are also offered if you crave a little more extremity.Lake Aleknagik (10,880 acres)
Address: Aleknagik Lake Rd, Aleknagik, AK 99555
Translating to the “wrong way home,” the Yupik people named this lake Aleknagik because the tides of the Wood River would send them off course on their journeys home, and they’d wind up here. As time went on, however, the discovery of this lake proved beneficial and became a fishing camp during the ice-free summer months. Today, fishing the abundance of different species living beneath this lake’s surface remains popular.
Just a few miles up the road is
Lake Aleknagik State Recreation Site
. Here, you can access boats, kayaks,and even float planes, so you can take in everything Lake Aleknagik has to offer from above.Protect yourself while you travel
With so many lakes of such enormous size and copious wildlife, you may want to visit one or even all of them all—and we wouldn’t blame you! If you’re thinking about an Alaskan
road trip
, you’ll want to protect your car on those winding and unpaved roads in the wilderness. Jerry customers save an average of $800+ per year on insurance.
“When we added a new car to our family, we were shocked at how high our current insurer was going to hike our rates. We usedJerryfor some comparison shopping and are now saving around $1000 a year. Thank you, Jerry!” —Darius P.
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FAQs
What is the deepest lake in Alaska?
Of all three million (including named and unnamed) lakes in Alaska, Iliamna Lake is the deepest. With a maximum depth of 988 feet, Iliamna offers some of the best fishing in the entire state.
Can you swim in Alaska’s lakes?
The average lake temperature reaches 53 degrees in the summer, so it is possible to swim in the lakes, although you may be more comfortable wearing a wetsuit.
