Chena Lake Recreation Area is not what you might expect in Alaska’s Interior. It’s near Fairbanks and next to North Pole, yet remote enough to give you the feeling of wilderness. 
Chena Lake Recreation Area offers an escape from the busyness of everyday life.  With over 2,100 acres to explore and enjoy, Chena Lake Recreation Area has activities for all visitors. Chena Lake Recreation Area covers over 2,000 acres and has two distinct personalities; the Lake Park, with a 260 acre lake the River Park, covering 4 miles of the Chena River. Lake Park hosts three volleyball courts, one horseshoe pit, a playground, multiple day use picnic sites with tables and fire rings, two covered pavilions, two changing room/warm up buildings, two designated swimming areas with sandy beaches, a boat rental, two fishing docks (one handicap accessible), a lake boat launch, potable water stations and restrooms.  River Park is stretched along 4 miles of the south bank of the Chena River and hosts one volleyball court, one horseshoe pit, one covered pavilion, one changing room/warm up building, a 4.5 kilometer self guided nature trail, river boat launch, potable water stations, restrooms, and multiple day use picnic sites with tables and fire rings.

Chena Lake Recreation Area has two campgrounds, one at Lake Park and one at River Park.  Each campground has two camping loops and a combined total of 80 campsites (some pull throughs), offering an extraordinary opportunity for both locals and out of town visitors.  Each camping loop has potable water and restroom facilities available during the summer and early fall.  For the visitor seeking a more remote camping opportunity, our Island has an additional 6 tent camping sites with only boat access. 

Day-use fees are collected the Wednesday before Memorial Day through Labor Day and include access to all parts of Chena Lake Recreation Area. Please contact Parks and Recreation for more information on fees. Free hospitality passes for senior citizens and the handicapped are available upon request.

Chena Lake is stocked annually by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game with Rainbow Trout, Silver Salmon, and Arctic Char.  The Chena River has Arctic Grayling, Northern Pike, Whitefish, Burbot and an annual run of King Salmon.

During the winter months Chena Lake Recreation Area offers groomed classical cross-country ski trails with a 2km, 4.5km, and 7km loop as well as a multi-use trail with a 3.8, 5.5, 6.5, 9.5 and 12 mile loops for snowmachining, ski joring, dog mushing, walking, running, etc.  Chena Lake also offers three ice-fishing houses.