October 3, 2012
A Drive to Salmon Lake, Alaska in Pictures
Posted by Evelyn Mervine
On one of our last days in Nome, Alaska, my husband and I had the opportunity to drive up the road to a little place called Salmon Lake. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management operates a summer campground on the shore of Salmon Lake. We drove up to Salmon Lake to check out the beautiful scenery (especially the gorgeous, snow-capped Kigluaik Mountains) and also to take a look at some regional geology. We were fortunate enough to have a beautiful, sunny September day for our drive. I thought I would share some pictures that we took along the drive. Enjoy!
First, here’s a map showing the location of Nome:
And here’s a map showing the route from Nome (A) to Salmon Lake (B):
On our drive, we actually continued past Salmon Lake for a few miles before turning around and heading back to Nome.
Second, here’s an informational blurb on Salmon Lake from the BLM website:
The Nome Field Station maintains Salmon Lake Campground, 40 miles north of Nome on the Nome-Kougarok Road. The campground offers 6 campsites with fire pits and picnic tables, a natural boat launch at Salmon Lake, and an outhouse. The campground opens in late June after the Nome-Kougarok Road is free of snow and remains open until mid October, depending on snow and road conditions. The Salmon Lake area offers outstanding recreational opportunities. It’s the spawning grounds for the northernmost run of sockeye salmon in the United States.
And now for the pictures:
Nice pictures–reminds me of a work experience I had in the northern Yukon about the same time of year, back in 1980. Photo #30 looks like some nice solifluction lobes on the lower slope.
I love it! Great pictures, the tundra looks like the tundra on the North Slope.
Love your pictures – thanks for taking the time to share. I’ve been in Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula – this whole area from Nome is a place I plan to visit in the future.
I was at Salmon Lake in July, 2013, on a beautiful and calm day; the reflection of the mountains on the lake provided some stunning photos. The mosquitoes were fierce. Wish I could go back. Nome is really a fun place.