Nancy Lake State Recreation Area Winter Information and Activities
Trail Descriptions
Nearly 40 miles of trail are maintained throughout Nancy Lake State
Recreation Area including 10 miles of trail only for skiers. With the
exception of the ski trail, all trails are multi-use trails, which means
that they must be shared by snowmachiners, dog mushers, skiers and snowshoers.
The Winter Trailhead,
mile 2.2 on the Nancy Lake Parkway, is the focal point for all winter recreational
activities in the area. A large parking lot is maintained and a self service fee station is located near the winter trail entrance where visitors will also finds maps and posted current conditions of the park.
The unplowed portion of the Parkway,
4.5 miles from the Winter Trailhead to South Rolly Campground, is heavily
traveled by all users. In early winter, dog teams use the road for training;
motorized users should exercise caution when meeting or overtaking dog
teams.
The Red Shirt Lake Trail is a 15
mile loop from the Winter Trailhead to the second largest lake in the
area. The west side of the loop goes from South Rolly Campground to
the outlet creek from the lake and parallels the creek to the north
end of Red Shirt Lake. The eastern portion of the loop leaves the Parkway
at Mile 5.7 and travels through frozen bogs and along ridges to where
Lynx Creek enters Red Shirt. There is a crossover trail from the east
side of the Red Shirt Trail to the Lynx Lake Loop about two miles south
of the Parkway.
The Lynx Lake Loop Trail is a 13
mile trail which generally follows the portages from the Canoe Trailhead
at Mile 4.7 on the Parkway.
The Bald Lake Trail is a winter
only shortcut from mile 2.5 on the Nancy Lake Parkway to Ardaw Lake.
It provides access to the east side of the Lynx Lake Loop without having
to travel to the Canoe Trailhead.
Ski Trails
The recreation area's gently rolling terrain, forested hills and open
swamps make ideal cross country skiing conditions. There are nearly
10 miles of trail maintained strictly for skiing, plus over 30 miles
of other multi-use trails in the recreation area. The ski trail, which
begins across the Parkway from the Winter Trailhead, is located in the
non-motorized area north of the Nancy Lake Parkway. This 9.7 mile trail
consists of three interconnected loops.
Parkway Loop Trail is a 3.0 mile (4.7
km) trail through hilly, forested terrain. This trail begins and ends
at the Winter Trailhead.
Jano Pond Loop is a 3.6 mile (5.6
km) trail that leaves the Parkway Loop Trail about 1.8 miles out. If skied
together, the total distance is 6.6 miles (10.7 km). The terrain on
this trail is gentle hills and frozen, open swamps.
Rhein Lake Loop is a 3.1 mile (5.0
km) loop which starts midway around the Jano Pond Loop. The trail travels
across several open swamps and over some steep hills. If all three trails
are skied, the total distance is 9.7 miles (15.6 km).
Ice Fishing
Ice fishing is another recreational activity offered at Nancy Lake. Most lakes in the area have limited fisheries but Nancy Lake, Lynx Lake, and Red Shirt Lake offer fair to good fishing for rainbow trout. Red Shirt Lake and Lynx Lake have good fishing for pike. Pike have also populated several lakes on the Lynx Lake Loop Trail from Tanaina Lake to Little Frazer Lake and may offer fair ice fishing. Additionally, Big and Little Noluck lakes are stocked with rainbow trout by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. These two lakes usually offer good ice fishing for trout up to 14 inches.
Winter and ski maps of Nancy Lake State Recreation Area.
Winter Safety Tips
Winter temperatures at Nancy Lake can fall to 40 below and colder. Come
prepared for your visit. Dress in layers so you can take
off or add clothing as you warm up or cool down. Bring a map, extra
clothing, matches or lighter, a first aid kit, and try to travel with
a partner. Snowmachiners should carry tools, extra spark plugs and a
spare drive belt. Skiers should bring an extra ski tip and strong tape
for emergency repairs.
Plan your visit according to your ability, equipment, the prevailing
temperatures and weather conditions. Don't overextend your skills or
equipment. Before leaving on a long trip into the backcountry,
leave a trip plan with a responsible person or at the Nancy Lake ranger's
Overflow
A common hazard of winter travel in the recreation area is overflow,
the presence of water on top of the frozen surfaces of lakes, ponds
and streams. This condition is usually concealed beneath a layer of
undisturbed snow which acts as an insulator to keep the water from
freezing even when temperatures are well below freezing.
The biggest risk from overflow is not from breaking through the ice
but in having a snowmachine become bogged down in cold water and slush.
A snowmachiner can become exhausted and have his/her clothing soaked with
perspiration trying to free the machine. In deep overflow of 12" or
more his/her boots can be flooded with ice water. In very cold weather,
a person in this condition is a potential victim of hypothermia and
frostbite.
Skiers and dog mushers can also get wet feet in overflow. Iced-up
skis or sled runners can slow the team down and make them work much
harder. This can lead to exhaustion and/or hypothermia. A person is more likely to avoid overflow by staying on packed trails across lakes and wetlands.
Stay near the shoreline because the lake ice will sag towards the middle,
causing overflow to generally be the deepest there. Avoid the mouths of streams along
the shore to reduce the risk of overflow and thin ice.
If you should encounter overflow while snowmachining, try to maintain
momentum and slowly steer towards shore. If the machine does bog down
it is usually easier to get out the way you came in. If you are traveling
with companions, the machine can usually be freed without any overexertion.
Travel with enough space between snowmachines so that only one will
get caught in the overflow. If you are alone, don't struggle to the
point of exhaustion. Pack a "snow island" and put the machine up on
it so it won't freeze into the slush. Then get to shelter (or make one)
and wait for the open track in the overflow to freeze.This may take
only a couple of hours or overnight depending on the temperature.
Nancy Lake State Park Brochure
Ice Safety Information.
See summer information on Nancy Lake State
Recreation Area.
