This U.S. State Has More Lakes Than Anywhere Else—With Over 3 Million to Explore

Whenever I’m asked about my recent trip to Alaska—a journey to visit Katmai National Park & Preserve and Kenai Fjords National Park—I nearly always mention the scale. The scale of the glaciers, the mountains, the sunsets, and the utter wilderness; every aspect of the landscape was just so much larger and more grand than anything I’d ever experienced. 

Magnitude is a continuous theme all across Alaska. Not only is it the largest U.S. state by land area, but it also has seven of the 10 largest national parks, the most active volcanoes, and the most lakes. The latter is a particularly impressive number.

According to data compiled by World Population Review, Alaska boasts more than three million lakes—3,197 named natural lakes and 3 million unnamed natural lakes. For context, the state with the second-most lakes, Kansas, only has 120,000. (Editors’ note: This number includes lakes and ponds created with dams and dikes.)

Alaska’s wealth of lakes can be attributed to a few factors, including erosion, tectonic processes, the thawing of permafrost, and volcanic and glacial activity. The glaciers that carved valleys in this part of the world during the last ice age eventually shifted, retreated, or melted, leaving behind some of the lakes we see today.

But with over three million lakes across the state, how do you choose which ones to visit? Well, you can start by checking off some of the most iconic ones, located in or near other popular tourist destinations.

As I headed south from Anchorage toward Seward via the Alaska Railroad, we passed by the shockingly blue-green Kenai Lake. The 22-mile lake on the Kenai Peninsula is the headwaters of the Kenai River, a waterway known for trout and salmon fishing. In Katmai National Park & Preserve, which is doable as a day trip from Anchorage or King Salmon, you’ll find Naknek Lake. Covering more than 150,000 acres, its claim to fame is that it’s the largest lake wholly contained within any American national park.

Another national park favorite is Wonder Lake in Denali National Park. The body of water is one of the most incredible sights within the park, with unbelievable views of the Alaska Range on clear days. Note that road access to the lake is currently closed due to a landslide.

If you like to fish, there are quite a few other lakes in Alaska to have on your radar. The streams that flow into Mendenhall Lake, 13 miles from Juneau, are home to sockeye salmon and cutthroat trout. Chilkoot Lake, near Haines, also has sockeye, pink, and coho salmon. As its name suggests, Lake Clark National Park and Preserve has its fair share of lakes. Crescent Lake is one of the park’s most notable fishing destinations.

Ready to plan your lake-filled trip to Alaska? Start by learning about the best times to visit, checking out the best cruises, and researching the top-rated wilderness lodges.