Quartz Lake State Recreation Area
- Status
- Status not posted
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Not stated — check with park
- Camping
- 103 campsitesAlso cabins
- Official site
- dnr.alaska.gov
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Quartz Lake State Recreation Area is a 583-acre recreation area in Southeast Fairbanks County, about 59 miles southeast of North Pole.
Visitors come for ice fishing, winter sports, swimming, boating, and fishing. Water access includes a boat ramp. For overnight stays there are 103 campsites (tent sites). Roofed lodging includes cabins.
Fees and passes
Per vehicle daily parking fee at developed units (typically $5), per-site/vehicle camping (typically $20) and boat-launch fees; many remote units and marine parks are free. Listed by unit in the statewide fee table.
Statewide fee rule from Alaska's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.
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
- Not required
- Booking system
- Reserve Alaska State Parks (reservealaskastateparks.com)
Campsites are FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED.
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
See the park’s wording
During the winter months popular activities include ice fishing, snowmachining, dog mushing, skijoring, and even staying at a rustic cabin when the temperatures can drop to well below zero.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
| Campground or site type | Sites | Hookups / features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campsites Camping Limit - 15 days | 103 | RVs up to No RV size limit | — |
Camping details from the park
103 Campsites (see fee page) No RV size limit Camping Limit - 15 days Quartz Lake Campground Lost Lake Campground
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Cabins and lodging
- Quartz Lake Cabinhttps://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspcabins/quartzlakecabin.htm
- Glatfelder Cabinhttps://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspcabins/glatfeldercabin.htm
Cabins (see fee page) Quartz Lake Cabin Glatfelder Cabin
Things to do
CampingFishingHikingIce fishingWinter sportsSwimmingBoating
Trails
For travelers and locals alike, Quartz Lake State Recreation Area is a great place to visit. Recreational opportunities abound. Whether you enjoy the feel of a 20 inch rainbow trout on the line, the breathtaking view after a hike to Bluff Point, or sitting around the campfire with friends, these opportunities and more are available. Wildlife viewing, camping, picnicking, swimming, playing volleyball, and water skiing are also popular summertime activities. During the winter months popular activities include ice fishing, snowmachining, dog mushing, skijoring, and even staying at a rustic cabin when the temperatures can drop to well below zero.
Swimming
For travelers and locals alike, Quartz Lake State Recreation Area is a great place to visit. Recreational opportunities abound. Whether you enjoy the feel of a 20 inch rainbow trout on the line, the breathtaking view after a hike to Bluff Point, or sitting around the campfire with friends, these opportunities and more are available. Wildlife viewing, camping, picnicking, swimming, playing volleyball, and water skiing are also popular summertime activities. During the winter months popular activities include ice fishing, snowmachining, dog mushing, skijoring, and even staying at a rustic cabin when the temperatures can drop to well below zero.
Boating and paddling
Boat Launch (see fee page)
Fishing
For travelers and locals alike, Quartz Lake State Recreation Area is a great place to visit. Recreational opportunities abound. Whether you enjoy the feel of a 20 inch rainbow trout on the line, the breathtaking view after a hike to Bluff Point, or sitting around the campfire with friends, these opportunities and more are available. Wildlife viewing, camping, picnicking, swimming, playing volleyball, and water skiing are also popular summertime activities. During the winter months popular activities include ice fishing, snowmachining, dog mushing, skijoring, and even staying at a rustic cabin when the temperatures can drop to well below zero. Fishing is the primary attraction of Quartz Lake State Recreation Area. Quartz Lake has some of the best road accessible fishing in Interior Alaska. Each year more than 34,000 fish are harvested.The Alaska Department of Fish and Game stocks Quartz Lake annually with over 300,000 fingerling rainbow trout, and coho salmon. By the end of their three year life cycle, coho salmon can reach up to 13 inches in length. Rainbow trout reach up to 18 inches or more in five years. In 1980 a trophy rainbow trout was caught which weighed 8.3 pounds and measured 25.5 inches long. Quartz Lake is also stocked biennially with subcatchable-size Arctic Char and catchable-size Chinook Salmon. Effective lures include spinners, woolly worms, damsels, shrimp, and eggs. Daily bag and possession limit is 10 per day in any combination, only one of which may be longer than 18 inches. Be sure to consult your fishing regulations for more information. In the winter, ice fishing is a popular attraction, and Quartz Lake has ice fishing huts available for rental. Due to the thickness of ice and general weather conditions, the availability of the ice huts can vary. Lost Lake also has some good fishing. Alaska Department of Fish and Game stocks this lake annually with 40 broodstock and 1000 catchable size rainbow trout. Fishing from the dock or a canoe is best. Spinners and corn are effective lures. Bag and possession limits are 10 per day / 10 in possession with no size limit.
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Picnic areas
- Picnic shelters
Water
- Boat ramp
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 - Yes Toilets - ♿ Picnic shelters - ♿ Fishing - ♿
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Rules and permits
Effective lures include spinners, woolly worms, damsels, shrimp, and eggs. Daily bag and possession limit is 10 per day in any combination, only one of which may be longer than 18 inches. Be sure to consult your fishing regulations for more information.
Getting there
- Address
- Mile 277.8 Richardson Highway
AK - Nearest town
- North Pole — about 59 mi southeast (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 64.2029, -145.8414
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
From Anchorage - Take the Glenn Hwy to the Richardson Hwy. Milepost 277.8 of the Richardson Hwy, turn right on Quartz Lake Road, right on Quartz lake Road Access.
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Alaska State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 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
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology