11 gorgeous Alaska lakes you’ll want to visit

It's a popular lunch spot — for bears, that is. Located near Skagway and Haines, this popular salmon run lake attracts fish-hungry bears (and fishers) from June through October.  

Named after the Tlingit Natives who live along the edge of the lake, Chilkoot Lake is surrounded by Sitka spruce trees and the Takshanuk Mountains.

One of the best ways to take in the views is from the surface of this southeastern Alaska gem: Spend your Princess excursion from Skagway kayaking the salmon-rich lake. You'll enjoy vistas of the towering mountains and can spot wildlife like bald eagles.

Round lakes are out, and zig-zag-shaped ones are in! Kenai Lake near Seward is more than 20-miles long as it weaves in and out of towering mountains and the Chugach National Forest. Its turquoise waters are packed with Arctic grayling, rainbow trout and steelhead trout, making it a popular spot for anglers. 

Take in the views of this gorgeous lake from the cozy Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge, a luxury resort offering access to the turquoise waters and some of the best activities Alaska has to offer, like kayaking and hiking.

Imagine a sparkling clear lake, set within the picturesque wilderness of the Kenai Peninsula. Fed by glacial meltwater from Skilak Glacier, this crystalline body of water is surrounded by a legendary 18-mile road that provides breathtaking views of the area. It's the perfect locale to spot bears looking for fish, or even moose among the bushes and in the shallows.

For a heart-pumping adventure, the Kenai Canyon river rafting excursion offers the chance to experience 3-foot-high waves and rapids as you take in the scenery on the Kenai River and pass across Skilak Lake. Keep your eyes open to see if you can spot a bald eagle diving for its lunch!

One of the biggest draws of Alaska is the iconic Denali — but the tallest mountain in North America is often covered by clouds, making it quite the elusive landmark. However, on a clear day, some of the best views of this majestic mountain can be had at Wonder Lake.

Located in the heart of Denali National Park, this lake attracts visitors from all over the world, who come for its views of the mountain, a chance to photograph its reflection in the lake water and to hike the shoreline on the McKinley Bar Trail. 

For the best access to Denali National Park, Wonder Lake and the adventurous side of Alaska, book a stay at Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge®, located just 1 mile outside the park.

Note: Wonder Lake is currently inaccessible from the park road due to recent landslides, and Denali National Park anticipates repairs to finish in 2026.

For jaw-dropping views of a rugged Alaska glacier, don't miss Eklutna Lake. With pristine blue waters and snowcapped mountains in the distance that reflect on its surface, this lake is a standout sojourn during a port visit in Anchorage. 

Get out on the water in a kayak to spot the moose, small muskrats or Dall’s sheep, a species native to this area. Or hike some of the nearby trails — especially the Twin Peaks Trail that brings you to a vantage point to take in the icy Eklutna Glacier.

Set out into some of Alaska’s most remote and untouched landscapes by visiting the second largest freshwater lake in America. Iliamna Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Alaska spans  more than 1,000 square miles with vast, crystal-clear waters kayakers and boaters love. It’s also home to the most extensive run of its kind in the world, making it a hot spot for sockeye salmon and their natural predators — bears and bald eagles. 

This lake is right on the coast, so it’s accessible as a day trip from the town of Iliamna or even from Anchorage.

Talk about remote: You can only access this spot on the Kenai Peninsula by water! Tustumena Lake is an excellent example of Alaska's remote natural beauty — and a great place to pull out your kayak. Visit during a port stop in Seward, or during a longer stay at Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge.

Whether you're searching for hungry brown bears in need of salmon or taking in views of Tustumena Glacier, the fifth-largest lake in Alaska offers wilderness like you've never seen before.

Ducks, bald eagles and brown bears, oh my! Becharof Lake in Katmai National Park is the lake to see the wildlife of your dreams, like herds of caribou, moose and foxes. About 6 million sockeye salmon live beneath the waves here, which is why so many brown bears call this lake home — in fact, it’s the largest concentration of brown bears in Alaska!

Picture this: soaring the top of an active volcano and peering over the lip. But there’s no lava inside. Instead, it’s a lake! Katmai Crater Lake is a body of water nearly 800 feet that appeared after a 1912 eruption. While the lake disappeared in 1923, it’s been back for several decades and isn’t going anywhere soon. Since it is still an active volcano, you can only see this lake by guided flight-seeing.

While most Alaska lakes are remote, this one is in the downtown area of the biggest city in the state. While it’s right next to the university and five minutes from shopping centers, Goose Lake still feels like a northern paradise. Rent a paddleboat and sail out to find the Pacific loons nesting at the far end of the lake during the summer or hike the 3-mile trail along the edge. Keep your eyes peeled for Canada Geese and herring gulls on the water.

With more than  3 million lakes, it’s tough to determine the most beautiful. A lot of people might say Chilkoot is while others love Wonder Lake. Ultimately, the best one depends on your personal preference since there’s something unique about each — like Kenai Lake’s shape and Goose Lake’s location. When you have a great experience, you can visit any lake in Alaska and find it to be the most beautiful in the state.

These stunning lakes are only the beginning of what you can see in Alaska: there are breathtaking mountains, icy fjords, ancient glaciers, vibrant wildlife and unique salmon runs to see too!  

Experience these stunning Alaska lakes aboard a Princess Alaska Land and Sea Cruisetours, where you can immerse yourself in the pristine wilderness and breathtaking landscapes only Alaska offers. Book your adventure today to discover these natural Alaska lakes up close and create memories that will last a lifetime.