Skilak Lake

Skilak Lake
from the beach at lower Skilak campground, Frying Pan Island is visible at lower right
Location	Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
Coordinates	60°24′59″N 150°20′02″W / 60.41639°N 150.33389°W / 60.41639; -150.33389Coordinates: 60°24′59″N 150°20′02″W / 60.41639°N 150.33389°W / 60.41639; -150.33389
Primary inflows	Kenai River
Primary outflows	Kenai River
Basin countries	United States
Max. length	15 mi (24 km)
Max. depth	528 ft (161 m)
Frozen	late Nov.- late April
Islands	Frying Pan Island, Caribou Island

Skilak Lake is a large lake on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. The lake is part of the Kenai River system but also contains glacial runoff. The water is exceptionally clear with a mostly rocky bottom, relatively free of aquatic vegetation. It is within the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, and can be accessed by Skilak Lake Loop Road via the Sterling Highway. Maximum depth is 528 feet (161 m), it is 15 miles (24 km) long and up to 4 miles (6.4 km) wide in places. Early Russian explorers mistakenly believed Skilak and Tustumena Lake to be a single body of water.^[1] It is a popular destination for Alaskans due to it being only about a half hour drive from Soldotna, and about two hours from Anchorage. There are two campgrounds at the lake, one is a developed campground with a host, the other is unhosted and has only basic facilities.^[2]

See also

• List of lakes of Alaska

References

External links

• Skilak Lake information
• photo gallery

v t e Kenai River system Bodies of water Snow River Trail River Trail Lakes Kenai Lake Kenai River Skilak Lake Russian River Settlements Primrose Crown Point Moose Pass Cooper Landing Sterling Soldotna Kenai Protected areas Chugach National Forest Kenai Mountains - Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area Kenai National Wildlife Refuge