🌤 Weather at Johnson Lake State Recreation Area by season
| Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12–56 °F | 40–66 °F | 12–55 °F | 5–28 °F |
Each range runs from the coldest monthly average low to the warmest monthly average high in that season (1991-2020 climate normals), measured at Soldotna 5SSW, 10 mi away, elevation 180 ft. Conditions at the park can differ from the station, especially where elevation differs — check a forecast before you go.
A Wooded Lake Campground at Mile 110 of the Sterling Highway, Near Kasilof
Johnson Lake State Recreation Area is a 332-acre wooded area wrapped around Johnson Lake, at Mile 110 of the Sterling Highway on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula. The town of Kasilof, about fifteen miles south of Soldotna, is the nearest community. You come here to camp under the trees, fish the lake for rainbow trout, paddle a canoe or walk the shore, with the Kasilof River a short drive away.
Alaska State Parks lists 48 campsites, 16 day-use parking sites and a group picnic area. The facility summary on the same official page gives 51 campsites, so expect a count in that range. RVs up to 35 feet fit, and you can stay up to 15 days.
This page covers the Alaska unit. A different Johnson Lake State Recreation Area lies in central Nebraska, near Elwood: see Johnson Lake State Recreation Area (Nebraska).
Things to Do
- Camping: 48 wooded campsites, some reservable online, plus a group camping area and the Arctic Tern Cabin
- Fishing: rainbow trout in Johnson Lake
- Canoeing: put in at the boat launch on Johnson Lake
- Walking: through the woods that surround the lake
- Picnicking: picnic sites, picnic shelters and a group picnic area
- Wildlife watching: moose, black and brown bear, lynx, squirrels and hares live in the area
Park Information
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Mile 110 Sterling Highway, via Johnson Lake Loop Road, near Kasilof, Kenai Peninsula Borough |
| Size | 332 acres |
| Camping | 48 campsites (facility summary: 51), RVs up to 35 ft, 15-day limit; group camping area; Arctic Tern Cabin |
| Day Use | 16 parking sites, picnic sites, picnic shelters, group picnic area |
| Boat Launch | Yes |
| Fees | $5 daily parking, $20 per campsite per night, Arctic Tern Cabin $120 per night (as of October 2026) |
| Accessibility | Accessible toilets, water and picnic shelters |
| Managed By | Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation |
| Coordinates | 60.2962, -151.2651 |
Fees and Reservations
As of October 2026, the Alaska State Parks fee schedule lists a $5 daily parking fee and $20 per campsite per night at Johnson Lake. The same schedule lists the Arctic Tern Cabin at $120 per night, the picnic shelter at $30 per time block and the group camping area at $120 per night for up to 30 people and 6 vehicles. Some campsites, the cabin, the shelter and the group camping area can be booked online at reservealaskastateparks.com; the reservation company adds $4.50 per reservation. Groups of more than 12 people need a reservation for the group picnic area. Check the official fee page before you go, since fees can change between seasons.
Wildlife and Camp Safety
Alaska State Parks names moose, black bear, brown bear, lynx, squirrels and hares as residents around Kasilof and Johnson Lake. Do not feed them, and keep a clean camp: store food and trash where bears cannot reach it.
Getting There
Drive the Sterling Highway to Mile 110 and turn onto Johnson Lake Loop Road. From Soldotna, Kasilof is about fifteen miles south.
Nearby State Parks
Kasilof River State Recreation Site lies about 1.3 miles north as the crow flies and gives you access to the Kasilof River. Crooked Creek State Recreation Site is about 2.5 miles northwest, and Clam Gulch State Recreation Area about 6 miles southwest on Cook Inlet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you camp at Johnson Lake State Recreation Area in Alaska?
Yes. Alaska State Parks lists 48 wooded campsites (51 in its facility summary) at $20 per site per night as of October 2026, with a 15-day limit and room for RVs up to 35 feet; some sites can be reserved online at reservealaskastateparks.com.
What can you fish for at Johnson Lake?
Alaska State Parks names rainbow trout as the lake’s fish; check the current Alaska Department of Fish and Game regulations and license rules before you cast.
Is there a fee at Johnson Lake State Recreation Area?
Yes. As of October 2026, day-use parking costs $5 and camping costs $20 per site per night, according to the Alaska State Parks fee schedule.
Is this the same park as Johnson Lake State Recreation Area in Nebraska?
No. This unit is on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula near Kasilof; the Nebraska park of the same name is near Elwood in Gosper County and has its own page on this site.
Sources: Alaska State Parks, Johnson Lake State Recreation Area; Alaska State Parks fee schedule. Last updated: October 2026.
🐾 Dogs & Pets at Johnson Lake State Recreation Area
- Pets allowed? statewide rule
- Pets are welcome in Alaska State Parks and campgrounds when leashed and accompanied by the owner; unleashed dogs are allowed in the backcountry if under voice control.
- Leash rule statewide rule
- Leash not exceeding 9 feet required in developed facilities (campgrounds, picnic areas, trailheads, swim beaches, boat ramps).
- Beaches & swim areas statewide rule
- No statewide pet ban on beaches; swim beaches count as developed facilities where the 9-foot leash rule applies.
- Statewide exceptions statewide rule
- In the backcountry leashes are not required but pets must remain under voice control; in trapping areas (e.g. Chena River SRA) leashing is strongly advised for dog safety.
- Dogs & wildlife
- ADF&G's statewide moose guidance applies on these trails: moose see dogs as enemies and will sometimes go out of their way to kick at one even when it is leashed, so give any moose an extremely wide berth when you have a dog along and never let the dog chase it.
Are dogs allowed at Johnson Lake State Recreation Area?
Pets are welcome in Alaska State Parks and campgrounds when leashed and accompanied by the owner; unleashed dogs are allowed in the backcountry if under voice control. Individual parks can post stricter rules — check signage on arrival.
Rules verified July 2026 via dnr.alaska.gov. More: Alaska state parks guide · Dog rules in all 50 states compared
🐻 Wildlife at Johnson Lake State Recreation Area: What to Watch For — and Watch Out For
Worth watching for: Johnson Lake SRA is 332 wooded acres wrapped around the lake at Mile 110 of the Sterling Highway, about fifteen miles south of Soldotna near Kasilof. Alaska State Parks writes that moose, black and brown bear, lynx, squirrels and hares are plentiful throughout this stretch of the Kenai Peninsula, so watch the spruce-birch edges along the campground loop road and the day-use area in the low light of early morning and evening. On the water, the park lists canoeing and fishing for rainbow trout as the main draws, with a boat launch, picnic shelters and a group picnic area on the lakeshore.
Watch out for: Alaska State Parks names moose and both black and brown bear as residents here and asks visitors to help them by not feeding them and keeping a clean camp - which in a 15-day-limit campground means food and scented gear go away after every meal, not overnight in the tent. For moose the concrete behavior comes from ADF&G statewide guidance, not from the park: never approach a moose and give it plenty of space; raised hair on the hump, ears laid back and lip-licking mean it is agitated; if it charges, run and get something solid like a tree between you and it, and if you are knocked down, curl up, protect your head and stay still until it moves off. ADF&G also flags the seasons: cow moose with young calves are very protective in spring and early summer, and bulls can turn aggressive during the late-September and October rut.
Are there bears at Johnson Lake State Recreation Area?
Yes — see above for where they occur in the park and how to behave. Sightings are a normal part of a healthy park; incidents are rare when visitors keep distance and store food properly.
Wildlife information verified July 2026 via dnr.alaska.gov.
Park Map
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