The Crystal Creek Lodge Blog is a place of possibilities, where you can learn deeper insights into how to explore the tens of millions of acres of wild Alaska surrounding us. Whether you’re after fishing, wildlife, the perspective of history or simply feeling the awe of being in wide-open spaces, it’s all here. Enjoy the journey.
Catch-and-Release When Crystal Creek Lodge first opened its doors in 1988, we were early adopters of the “Catch-and-Release” policy for native fish such as rainbow trout, char species, and grayling. Despite initial resistance, this practice has proven to be a highly successful conservation strategy, ensuring the survival of fish populations and maintaining healthy fisheries. Now,…
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Katmai National Park Fishing The world of Alaska is yours to discover, experience, and cherish. The staff of Crystal Creek Lodge takes pride in opening up that world to you through hospitality, adventure, and interaction with nature. Let’s take a minute to walk together in Katmai National Park to see many of its natural wonders….
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Brown Bear Photo Safari in Katmai National Park & Preserve Bears, Bears, Bears! We are surrounded by millions of acres of roadless, untamed wilderness full of wild Alaska brown bears. The nearby Katmai National Park and Preserve alone holds an estimated, stable population of 2,250. Without searching for them, the guests of Crystal Creek Lodge often…
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Fishing Monument Creek, Alaska At Crystal Creek Lodge, finding wild and unique adventures for our guests is just as important as the quality of the fishing. While we do offer our guests the opportunity to visit the “classic“ locations of Katmai National Park, we constantly search for and then offer destinations that provide the true…
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A truly exceptional wilderness experience offering diverse scenery, wildlife viewing, and some of the most amazing fishing in the world is at American Creek. It is a world-famous, prolific rainbow trout, dolly varden, and grayling fishery. Located in Katmai National Park, the American is deep in the Naknek River watershed but is a short 20-minute seaplane…
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Explore the Naknek River with Crystal Creek Lodge, King Salmon, Alaska. Take a cruise with us and explore the Naknek River, our home water. A short walk from the lodge down our boardwalk brings you to our floating dock, the launchpad of the great daily seaplane, and boating adventures. Twisting 35 miles from Naknek Lake…
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The Wildlife, Scenery, and Brown Bears of Katmai National Park & Preserve When people envision Katmai, they think of brown bears and salmon… mostly bears. Yes, Katmai is one of the premier brown bear viewing areas in the world but it is also a wonderful backyard playground for guests at Crystal Creek Lodge to explore…
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Vastness of Alaska How big is Alaska? It’s easy to lose yourself in the vastness of Alaska. For the unprepared, it can be a shock and many times an overwhelming feeling. Whether you are with us and exploring it for the first time or you’ve been multiple times, it never gets old or smaller. This…
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It is a deep love of the Alaska wilderness that drives us to keep exploring the remote and undeveloped areas that we call our backyard. The sky’s the limit, above Alaska. Fly out fishing and adventures are what we specialize in. Check out our Fishing page and our Adventure page to learn more about opportunities…
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Despite all that is going on in the world, salmon will continue to thrive this year in Bristol Bay just as they have for thousands of years. Salmon will run and navigate back to their natal streams, the place of their birth. Bears will fish and a wonderfully complex ecosystem supported by salmon will flourish….
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