Mosquito Lake State Recreation Site

🏆🏆🏆🏆 Alaska Wilderness — Small lake near Haines — surrounded by massive Chilkat Mountains, surprisingly not as buggy as the name suggests! Rainbow trout fishing.

Visitor Information

About Mosquito Lake

Mosquito Lake State Recreation Site near Haines provides camping on a scenic lake in the upper Lynn Canal — surrounded by the towering peaks of the Chilkat Range. Despite its name (mosquitoes are indeed present), the lake offers beautiful mountain scenery and fishing. The area is near the Haines Highway connecting Alaska to the Canadian Yukon.

Things to Do

Fishing for trout, camping (10 sites), canoeing, wildlife viewing for moose and bears, birdwatching, and using as a base for exploring the Haines area — gateway to the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve.

About Mosquito Lake

Mosquito Lake State Recreation Site near Haines in the northern panhandle provides freshwater lake camping in the Chilkat Valley — home to the world’s largest concentration of bald eagles. Each November, up to 4,000 eagles gather on the Chilkat River to feed on late-running chum salmon — the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve protects this globally unique congregation. Mosquito Lake sits in this eagle-rich corridor.

Things to Do

Camping, fishing, canoeing, bald eagle watching (especially November — 4,000+ eagles), wildlife observation for moose and bears, and exploring the Chilkat Valley near Haines.

Insider Tips

Don’t let the name scare you: Yes, mosquitoes exist, but the fishing and scenery are worth it. Pro tip: Head nets and DEET are standard Alaska field gear — consider them part of the experience. Haines connection: Mosquito Lake is near Haines, the gateway to the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve and the only Southeast Alaska town connected to the road system.

Best Time to Visit

June-August: Fishing and paddling (yes, with bug spray). November: Eagle festival season — 3,500+ eagles gather nearby. Winter: Heli-skiing — Haines has some of the best heli-skiing in North America. May: Early season before peak mosquito emergence.

Frequently Asked Questions

How bad are the mosquitoes really?

Interior and northern Alaska mosquitoes are legendary — thick clouds of them emerge after spring snowmelt. Head nets, long sleeves, and DEET (or picaridin) are essential June-July. By August, mosquito numbers decrease significantly.