Our Backyard Wilderness at Crystal Creek Lodge

Crystal Creek Lodge, located on the Naknek River in King Salmon, Alaska, was chosen with great intention. Notably, the lodge is only 5 miles downriver from the world-renowned Katmai National Park. While Katmai is famous worldwide for its brown bears, fishing, and wilderness, we also have another significant wilderness complex in our backyard.

Just a short 20-minute flight south from the lodge lies the Becharof National Wildlife Refuge. This 1.2 million-acre roadless landscape is entirely wild, with large lakes and rivers that offer some of the best fishing in Southwest Alaska.

The Becharof National Wildlife Refuge features a variety of terrains, from the towering cliffs and sandy beaches of the rugged Pacific coast to the towering peaks and volcanoes of the Kejuoik Mountains. In between, you’ll find giant glacial lakes, wild rivers, vast expanses of tundra, and broad valleys. Becharof Lake alone spans 300,000 acres and is the second-largest lake in Alaska. It boasts the second-largest sockeye salmon run in the world, surpassed only by the Kvichak River/Iliamna Lake. Becharof is home to Alaska’s most notable wildlife, including brown bears, moose, caribou, wolverines, foxes, wolves, beavers, otters, and much more.

With its variety of landscapes and wildlife, the Becharof National Wildlife Refuge is a paradise for those seeking an Alaskan experience. At Crystal Creek Lodge, we are fortunate to have access to this incredible wilderness. The fishing opportunities, wildlife viewing, archaeology, bird hunting, geology, and flightseeing are simply world-class. You could spend a lifetime exploring the Becharof region and still not see it all.

Call us to learn more about our fly-out trips into the Becharof National Wildlife Refuge.

Check out our Fishing page and our Adventure page to learn more about opportunities to enjoy the Alaska fishing season. Discover the wonders of Crystal Creek Lodge through our Instagram page, where you can immerse yourself in stunning visuals and learn more about our exciting adventures in the Alaskan wilderness!

Crystal Creek Lodge, nestled on the banks of the Naknek River, near King Salmon, Alaska is a renowned Luxury Alaska Fishing and Adventure Lodge with over 400 5-star reviews. Since 1988, we’ve been delivering thousands of exciting and memorable flyout excursions.