State Parks

From breathtaking views of Denali to the clogged parking lot at the mouth of Willow Creek, the Alaska State Parks system encompasses a wide variety of locations.

The state parks system operates parks around the state, from marine parks in Prince William Sound to historical parks like those at Independence Mine in Hatcher Pass and Big Delta Historical Park on the Tanana River near Fairbanks.

The Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation does much more than just have a lot of land open to the public.

The agency also operates public use cabins in several state parks, runs recreation sites and maintain trails.

If you are looking to explore Southcentral Alaska, try some of these state parks:

Denali State Park. Trails to Kesugi Ridge offer amazing views of Mount McKinley, as does the Parks Highway for those less inclined to get out and stretch their legs a little.

There are also boating, camping and hiking trails throughout the state park.

Independence Mine State Historical Park. The Hatcher Pass area is fun to explore, and a trip to Independence Mine is well worth the trip. You can visit old gold miners' buildings, many of which are dilapidated now.

The mine managers' house and assay building have been restored and have displays in them.

Nancy Lake State Recreation Area. A water lover's dream, the Nancy Lake State Recreation Area has more than 130 lakes and ponds, connected by easy portages.

You can canoe and fish for a wide variety of species, from landlocked silver salmon to northern pike. There are also 12 public use cabins in the area, as well as canoe rental facilities at various lakes.

There are 22,685 acres in the park, making it one of the largest.

Kenai River Special Management Area. The Kenai River is one of the most famous rivers in the country.

Enormous king salmon and giant rainbow trout beckon thousands of anglers to the area from May through September.

The Kenai River Special Management Area consists of more than 100 miles of rivers and lakes, encompassing Kenai Lake, Skilak Lake and the Kenai River.

Caines Head State Recreation Area. The scenic site of an abandoned World War II fort can be reached from Seward. There are numerous trails you can use to visit the old fort, which rises 650 feet above Resurrection Bay and affords hikers a spectacular view of the bay.

Chugach State Park. One of the most popular state parks, Chugach State Park is the third largest state park in America, with more than a half-million acres. The backdrop of Anchorage offers plenty of hiking, camping and wildlife viewing opportunities to visitors.

Local state recreation areas. There are several state recreation areas around the Mat-Su Valley, some of which were not opened last year because of budget restraints.

Some of the more popular state recreation areas in the Valley include Willow Creek State Recreation Area, the Kepler-Bradley Lakes State Recreation Area and the Big Lake area parks.

Enjoying the state parks comes at a price -- many charge fees for parking, camping or other activities, such as launching canoes or boats. A one-year camping pass is $100, and an annual parking pass is $30. Boat launch passes are $75 a year. If you want all three annual passes, you can save money -- it costs $190.

Nightly camping fees range from $5 to $5, while daily parking ranges from $3 to $5.

Some parks are managed by private firms, however, and do not accept annual passes.

For more information about state parks, you can visit the Web site www.dnr.state.ak.us/parks.

You can also stop in at the Mat-Su area parks office at Mile .7 Bogard Road. There, you can pick up numerous publications and brochures about the state parks, as well as reserve one of the public use cabins.

The phone number for the Wasilla office is 745-3975.