Nancy Lake State Recreation Area
- Status
- Status not posted
- Entrance fee
- $5 parkingAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Not stated — check with park
- Camping
- YesAlso cabins
- Official site
- dnr.alaska.gov
Official page last checked Oct 30, 2026. Details last changed Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Nancy Lake State Recreation Area is a 11,897-acre recreation area in Matanuska-Susitna County, about 22 miles west of Wasilla.
The park supports cross-country skiing, winter sports, canoeing and kayaking, fishing, and hiking. Overnight options include campsites, with tent sites. If you'd rather not camp, the park offers cabins.
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Nancy Lake State Recreation Site: Parking | $5 |
| Camping | $20 |
| Boat Launch | $20 |
Official wording
Nancy Lake State Recreation Site: Parking $5; Camping $20/site; Boat Launch $20 Nancy Lake State Recreation Area:
Alaska park passes
- Annual Day Use Parking Pass — $60. Day-use parking at most state parks for the calendar year (not Pillars/Eagle Rock boat launches, Arctic Valley, Eagle River Nature Center) Details
- Annual Boat Launch Pass — $150. Boat launch fees for the calendar year Details
- Disabled Veterans Camping Pass. Camping for qualifying disabled veterans Details
From the Alaska state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Camping
- Required
- Booking system
- Reserve Alaska State Parks (reservealaskastateparks.com)
Use of the cabins is by reservation only.
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
See the park’s wording
In winter, the rolling topography is ideal for cross-country skiing, dog mushing and snow machining.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
Campsites (see fee page)
No RV size limit
Camping Limit - 14 days
South Rolly Lake Campground
From the official park page, checked Oct 30, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Cabins and lodging
- Nancy Lake 2 Cabinhttps://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspcabins/nancylakecabin2.htm
- Red Shirt Lake 4 Cabinhttps://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspcabins/redshirtlakecabin4.htm
- Bald Lake Cabinhttps://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspcabins/baldlakecabin.htm
- Rhein Lake Cabinhttps://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspcabins/rheinlakecabin.htm
- Nancy Lake 4 Cabinhttps://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspcabins/nancylakecabin4.htm
- Red Shirt Lake 2 Cabinhttps://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspcabins/redshirtlakecabin2.htm
- Nancy Lake 3 Cabinhttps://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspcabins/nancylakecabin3.htm
- Nancy Lake 1 Cabinhttps://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspcabins/nancylakecabin1.htm
- Lynx Lake 1 Cabinhttps://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspcabins/lynxlakecabin1.htm
- Lynx Lake 3 Cabinhttps://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspcabins/lynxlakecabin3.htm
- Red Shirt Lake 3 Cabinhttps://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspcabins/redshirtlakecabin3.htm
- Lynx Lake 2 Cabinhttps://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspcabins/lynxlakecabin2.htm
- James Lake Cabinhttps://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspcabins/jameslakecabin.htm
- Red Shirt Lake 1 Cabinhttps://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspcabins/redshirtlakecabin1.htm
Cabins
Nancy Lake 2 Cabin
Red Shirt Lake 4 Cabin
Bald Lake Cabin
Rhein Lake Cabin
Nancy Lake 4 Cabin
Red Shirt Lake 2 Cabin
Nancy Lake 3 Cabin
Nancy Lake 1 Cabin
Lynx Lake 1 Cabin
Lynx Lake 3 Cabin
Red Shirt Lake 3 Cabin
Lynx Lake 2 Cabin
James Lake Cabin
Red Shirt Lake 1 Cabin
Things to do
CampingCanoeing and kayakingWinter sportsCross-country skiingFishingHiking
Trails
Campground; in winter the parkway is not plowed beyond the Winter Trail head at mile 2.2. The community of Willow lies two miles north of this junction, and has a full range of services for the traveler.
Fishing
Nancy Lake State Recreation Area is different from most Alaskan park areas. It is one of the few flat, lake-studded landscapes in Alaska preserved for recreation purposes. The recreation area's clear waters are ringed with unspoiled forests, and provide tranquil settings for canoeing, fishing, hiking and camping. In winter, the rolling topography is ideal for cross-country skiing, dog mushing and snow machining.
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
Camping
- Tent camping
Lodging
- Cabins
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
ADA Facility - No
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 67.2 Parks Highway
AK - Nearest town
- Wasilla — about 22 mi west (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 61.6362, -150.1148
Google Maps directionsApple Maps
Directions from the park
Nancy Lake State Recreation Area is a ninety minute drive north of Anchorage along the Parks Highway. To enter the recreation area, turn west onto Nancy Lake Parkway at Mile 67.3 of the Parks Highway. From there, the Nancy Lake Parkway travels 6.5 miles southwest to South Rolly Lake.
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Alaska State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 30, 2026
- Alaska DNR ArcGIS 'ASP Park Boundary' layer (OpenData/Recreational_ParkBoundary MapServer/2, refreshed daily), with unit pages from the region 'List of Units' tabs
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. “Last changed” (Oct 29, 2026) is when the information shown here last differed from the previous check. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology