{"id":49,"date":"2024-07-10T12:13:00","date_gmt":"2024-07-10T12:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/\/?p=49"},"modified":"2024-10-04T19:39:00","modified_gmt":"2024-10-04T19:39:00","slug":"boating-in-alaska","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/boating-in-alaska\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Places to Go Boating in Alaska"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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With popular boating and paddling tours located all over the state of Alaska, your on-water activity options are limitless. A few of the best boating lakes include Kenai Lake, Big Lake, and Stormy Lake.<\/p>\n

Looking for new places to enjoy your boat<\/a>? To help you plan your boating adventure in Alaska, we thought we\u2019d name just a few of our favorite places for boating in Alaska. Check out the list below!<\/p>\n

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Big Lake<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Residents of <\/span>Big Lake<\/span><\/a>, a town with a population of over 3,000, often commute to work in Anchorage, some 60 miles south. They choose to live in Big Lake due to the <\/span>amazing<\/span> recreation opportunities. It offers views of\u00a0Mount Susitna, Denali, and the Talkeetna Mountains.<\/span><\/p>\n

The area offers<\/span> an excellent opportunity to view dog sledding in the winter. <\/span>However, the summertime outdoor activities are <\/span>not<\/span> to be <\/span>missed<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The area centers around the 67-mile <\/span>shoreline lake. The lake is <\/span>great<\/span> for swimming, camping, boating, and fishing, as well as a plethora of other watersports. It brings people together to enjoy its waters.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Big Lake North State Recreation Site is also located on the lake, 13 miles west of Wasilla. It has tent sites, picnic areas, shelters, and parking with a fantastic view of Denali. <\/span><\/p>\n

Boating and fishing<\/span><\/a> are very popular on the lake during<\/span> the summer months. It is known as Alaska\u2019s year-round playground, which has <\/span>large weekend and seasonal populations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fish Creek Park is nearby and offers a salmon spawning observation desk. Big Lake South State Recreation Site offers campsites and a boat launch. The Rocky Lake State Recreation Site offers camping on a lake.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Stormy Lake<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Stormy Lake<\/a> is another notable lake located on the Kenai Peninsula. It’s located within the Captain Cook State Recreation Area.<\/p>\n

The lake’s name comes from the whitecaps produced on the lake due to higher winds. The\u00a0prevailing winds\u00a0can sometimes produce whitecaps on the lake, giving it its name.<\/p>\n

It is also known as\u00a0Three Bay Lake because it consists of three nearly separate areas connected by channels. Access to the lake is via the\u00a0Kenai Spur Highway, about 27 miles (43\u00a0km) north of\u00a0Kenai. Facilities include a boat launch, overlook, picnic area, wading\/swimming area, and a small, boat-in-only campground.<\/p>\n

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Lake Louise<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Lake Louise State Recreational Area<\/a> is in the Copper Valley near Glennallen. It is a hotspot for Alaskans all year round. Outdoor activities include\u00a0camping, fishing, boating, bird watching, hiking, biking, berry picking, snow machining, skiing, skating, hunting, and Northern Lights viewing.<\/p>\n

Lake Louise offers excellent year-round fishing and sports four fish species: lake trout, whitefish, burbot, and arctic grayling. It also offers a variety of wildlife and birds, including cormorants. “Bird Island” ‘is a place for birders to find various nesting sites.<\/p>\n

The lake is also home to swans, loons, and other waterfowl.\u00a0Wildlife viewing opportunities include moose, wolf, bear, fox, sheep, and lynx. There is also the annual migration of the Nelchina caribou herd each October through November.<\/p>\n

The Lake Louise State Recreation Area has a large campground, boat launch, and picnic areas. A trail leads to the hilltop where the original recreation cabins still stand. In the fall, the Nelchina\u00a0caribou\u00a0herd passes through this area.<\/p>\n

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Kenai Lake<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Kenai Lake<\/a> is a large zig-zagging lake on the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska and is the gateway to the Kenai River. It is a hot destination spot for fishing and other activities. These include camping, bird watching, hiking, biking, boating, and various watersports<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It is accessible from Sterling and Seward highways. Many people stop off to take pictures of the beautiful scenery of the lake. The lake was formed from glacier water and has a picturesque blue\/green tone.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Alaska’s State Parks<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Alaska’s State Parks<\/span><\/a> offer outdoor enthusiasts 3.3 million acres of rugged, untouched terrain. Perfect for trailblazers, hikers, paddlers, and boaters, the Alaska State Park System provides endless recreational opportunities year-round. <\/span><\/p>\n

You can take an organized boat tour in\u00a0Glacier Bay National Park. Go kayaking in\u00a0Kenai Fjords National Park. You can head to\u00a0Denali National Park to hike up Horseshoe Lake Trail and check out Alaska’s tallest mountaintop! <\/span><\/p>\n

Or strike out on your own to check out the boating opportunities Alaska’s State Parks <\/span>have to<\/span> offer.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Fishing in Alaska<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Alaska has more than 627 fish species inhabiting the state’s 3 million lakes, 3,000 rivers, and countless streams. You’ll find world-class fly-fishing,\u00a0freshwater fishing,\u00a0saltwater fishing, and ice fishing \u2014 right at your fingertips.<\/p>\n

Depending on your style, you can charter a boat or plane to whisk you off to a remote fishing hole. Or you can just hike and go fishing in one of the pristine lakes you’ll likely stumble across. Catch everything from wild Alaskan Salmon and Halibut to Red Snapper, Yelloweye, and Black Sea Bass!<\/p>\n

Learn How to Boat Safely Before Boating in Alaska<\/h2>\n

We hope you’re excited to book some trips to some of these lakes and parks for outdoor and boating fun!\u00a0<\/p>\n

Before you go, make sure you’ve taken the Alaska boater education course<\/a> to learn about boating safety (and to get your boating license). BOATsmart! makes it easy to do these things by providing online courses that are fun and engaging \u2014 making it easy to learn and retain the information for the exam and for your adventures on the water.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Originally published in November 2018. Content most recently reviewed and updated for accuracy and relevancy October 4, 2024.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\u00a0 With popular boating and paddling tours located all over the state of Alaska, your on-water activity options are limitless….<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":39902,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[663],"tags":[714,672],"yoast_head":"\nBoating in Alaska: Popular Boating Spots | BOATsmart! Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Ready for fun on the water? 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