Chilkoot Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chilkoot Lake |
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Looking up the Chilkoot River valley and at Chilkoot Lake from the Takshanuk Mountains
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 Chilkoot Lake
Location in Alaska
Chilkoot Lake
Location in North America
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| Location | Haines Borough, Alaska, United States |
| Coordinates | 59°21′11″N 135°35′38″W / 59.35306°N 135.59389°W |
| Primary inflows | Chilkoot River |
| Primary outflows | Chilkoot River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 3.6 miles (6 km) |
| Surface elevation | 30 feet (9 m) |
Chilkoot Lake is a beautiful lake in Haines Borough, Alaska. It's also known as Chilcoot Lake, Akha Lake, or Tschilkut S(ee). The name "Chilkoot" comes from the Tlingit people, who are Native Americans from this area. It can mean "big fish" or "without a storehouse."
The lake is a popular spot for outdoor fun. You can go kayaking or fishing for red salmon. There's a special "Recreation Site" at the south end of the lake, surrounded by tall Sitka spruce trees. The Chilkoot River flows out of the lake and into the Lutak Channel, near the town of Haines.
Chilkoot Lake is famous for its red salmon fishing. Salmon swim into the lake to lay their eggs from mid-June to mid-October. This is also when bears often visit the lake to catch their favorite fish!
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Exploring Chilkoot Lake
Chilkoot Lake sits at an elevation of about 30 feet (9 m). It's about 3.6 miles (6 km) long and can be as deep as 300 feet (90 m). The lake is nestled at the base of the Takshanuk Mountains and is fed by glaciers, which gives its water a beautiful turquoise color.
The Chilkoot River flows from the lake. The upper part of the river comes from a glacier and is quite wild, with lots of rocks and logs. Because of this, you can't use boats there. However, canoes are great for fishing on the lake itself.
The lower part of the Chilkoot River, below the lake, is about 1.5 miles (2 km) long. This section is affected by tides and is navigable for about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) upstream from the Lutak Inlet.
You can reach the lake and its recreation area by driving along the Lutak-Chilkoot River Roads. This road is sometimes called the "Bear Highway" because brown bears are often seen there looking for salmon! The lake is about 10 miles (20 km) from Haines. To protect the important salmon spawning grounds, new buildings or roads above Chilkoot Lake are not allowed.
History of the Lake
Chilkoot Lake and River were traditionally owned by the L’uknax Adi clan of the Tlingit people. Their main symbol was the red salmon. The Tlingit people have a long history in this area. They used to live in a village called Chilkoot, near where the lake's water flows out. The village was split into two parts by the river, with different Tlingit clans living on each side.
The Tlingit people lived by fishing for salmon and Hooligan fish. They even made fish oil from hooligan fish for cooking! The word "Chilkoot" in the Tlingit language means "without a storehouse." This is because the Chilkoot people used to store their fish in snow between branches, instead of in special buildings.
Over time, the village became smaller. Many Tlingit families moved to Haines when fish canneries (factories that process fish) opened in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The last Tlingit people reportedly left the village in the 1940s. Today, modern fishing rods are used instead of the traditional nets and hooks.
In 1976, biologists built a special "fish weir" across the Lower Chilkoot River. This helps them count how many Sockeye salmon swim from the lake downstream.
The road to the lake was improved in the 1950s to make it easier for people to visit for fishing and recreation. Later, another road was built on the west side of the lake. In the past, people used canoes to travel on the lake for fishing and hunting. Now, commercial boats offer tours for fishing, sightseeing, and hunting. Kayaking tours are also very popular.
Every year on Fourth of July, there's a fun "Mad Raft Race" on the Lower Chilkoot River, starting from the lake. People use homemade rafts for the race!
Animals of Chilkoot Lake
Chilkoot Lake is home to many animals, especially fish. Sockeye salmon (also called red salmon) are found in huge numbers here. In 1896, there were so many fish that the local cannery had to limit how many fish they would buy from fishermen each day!
Besides salmon, you can also find other fish like Dolly Varden and coho salmon. The area around the lake is also full of wildlife. You might see Bald eagles soaring above, harbor seals in the water, bears fishing for salmon, and mountain goats on the hillsides.
Chilkoot Lake State Recreation Site
The Chilkoot Lake State Recreation Site is a great place to visit. It's located among Sitka trees on the southern shore of the lake. This site was created by the State Parks and Outdoor Recreation Division of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources.
It's about 10 miles (20 km) northeast of Haines. The site covers about 80 acres (32 ha) and has places for camping, picnic areas, and a boat launch. It's a fantastic spot for salmon fishing from mid-June to mid-October. During this time, many brown bears from the Tundra come to the river and lake to catch salmon, which is why the road here is sometimes called the "bear highway."
Fun on the Water
Chilkoot Lake is a perfect place for water sports like ice skating and kayaking!
Ice Skating
In the middle of winter, Chilkoot Lake completely freezes over, making it a popular spot for Ice skating. The lake looks like a big bowl surrounded by snowy mountains. The ice is often described as "hard and shiny as a marble floor," reflecting the dark spruce trees and mountains. Skating here is a quiet and peaceful experience, very different from skating at an indoor rink.
Kayaking
Chilkoot Lake is known as a safe and calm place for kayaking, especially for beginners learning how to paddle. You can launch your kayak from the State Park at the southern end of the lake. There's a ramp, a floating dock, free parking, picnic shelters, and restrooms.
Kayaking offers amazing views of wildlife, like bald eagles catching fish and salmon swimming to lay their eggs. A trip around the lake usually takes about 5 hours. While a map is available, the lake is small enough that you might not need one to navigate. The most important safety tip for kayakers is to avoid disturbing any bears you might see fishing along the shore!
Gallery
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View of Chilkoot Lake
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Outlet from the lake forming the Chilkoot River
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Rainforest surrounding the lake catchment
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Devil's club shrub in the rain forest in the lake catchment
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Chilkoot Lake on a cloudy day - the lake is near Haines, Alaska
Images for kids
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Chilkoot Lake on a cloudy day - the lake is near Haines, Alaska
