There are rivers to ford, mires to avoid, weather to sit out and experiences of a life time to be found here. As varied as Lake Clark National Park and Preserve is, so is its hiking. Vegetation and terrain usually dictate the difficulty of the hiking. Generally the western slopes of the park and preserve are higher and dryer than the eastern or coastal portions of the park, which tends to have more precipitation and denser vegetation. Be aware that willows, alders and birch brush found along the water courses and on many of the lower mountain slopes generally mean slower and tougher going.
Some areas are virtually impassable because of the vegetation.
Hikers should also be prepared for wet feet, from either occasional soggy tundra or river fords. Keep in mind that all streams and rivers must be forded, and during high water levels, this may prove to be impossible. You may want to leave your itinerary with us at our field headquarters at Port Alsworth before departing into the backcountry.