Moon Lake State Recreation Site is a fantastic place for RV lovers to experience some unique Alaskan flair. Located 15 miles northwest of Tok near mile 1332 of the Alaska Highway, Moon Lake is a popular getaway destination for both local residents and travelers during the summer months.
As implied by its name, the park is situated on the banks of Moon Lake, which is the main hub for all recreational activities as the land mass in the park is only 22 acres. Moon Lake has an excellent variety of water recreation opportunities, including swimming, boating, and water skiing. The area in and around the lake also offers visitors a boat launch, picnic area, a sandy beach area, fresh drinking water and latrines. If you are lucky you might be able to see some classic Alaskan local float planes that are flown by Alaskan bush pilots. These planes will sometimes land on the lake and it is a sight to be seen.
Camping facilities at Moon Lake State Recreation Site are provided in the form of 15 campsites that are all RV friendly. All of the campsites are primitive and while there is no official RV size limit anything over 50 feet will struggle to make it into the campground. Moon Lake State Recreation Site peak season is during the summer.
Moon Lake State Recreation Site is located near mile 1332 of the Alaska Highway around 15 miles northwest of Tok. The park can only be accessed via one road that leads in and out of the park, which is known as Moon Lake State Recreation Site Road. It can be found just off the Alaskan Highway and there is a sign on the highway before the exit that will indicate where to turn off.
Apart from the small town of Tok the only other places near the park that have people are small towns that don't have many (if any) amenities. These include Tanacross (around eight and a half miles away), Dot Lake (around 30 miles away) and Tetlin Junction (around 30.5 miles away). The closest city to Moon Lake State Recreation Site is Anchorage and it can be found 336 miles to the south-west.
Moon Lake State Recreation Site is completely inaccessible for RV's during the winter because of the high snowfall and ice on the roads. If you are worried about the weather conditions at any time you can contact the park to make sure that it will be open.
There is plenty of parking available at Moon Lake State Recreation Site.
The campground at Moon Lake State Recreation Site is known to be a very nice experience and many people have enjoyable stays during the summer. The campground is set around the banks of the lake and features a few separate areas that allows for campers to have privacy from each other. The sites are a mixture of gravel and grass and all sites are primitive with no water, electric or sewer hookups. Also note that there is no dump station located within the campground.
In total there are 15 campsites that are all RV friendly. If you are wanting to stay in a site that is close to the lake we recommend choosing between sites 2,3 and 4. The campground is also pet friendly but there is little to no phone reception available on all of the major cell providers. Reservations can be made online or via phone call and the campground is open during the summertime only.
One of the most popular recreational activities it do at Moon Lake State Recreation Site is boating. Visitors to the park are welcome to use the boat ramp on the lake to launch their watercraft into the lake. Waterskiing is especially popular with visitors, along with canoeing and kayaking. If you do want to go boating during your stay make sure that you bring your own as no rentals will be available for you to use at the lake.
Another popular recreational activity within Moon Lake State Recreation Site is to cast out a line and try catch a big one. Fishing is allowed in all areas of the lake and if you don't have a boat you can cast out from the banks of the lake.. If you do plan on fishing during your stay you must bring all your own fishing tackle and bait as there will be no rentals available for you to use during your stay.
There is no better way to spend a summers day than by cooling off and taking a refreshing dip. Moon lake is a fantastic place to go for a swim and the park does allow swimming. If you do want to go for a swim we recommend going to the small sandy beach area where you can put down your things while you jump in the water. There will be no lifeguards on duty at the swimming beach so make sure you take precautions and swim to your abilities.
Unfortunately there are no public transport options to reach Moon Lake State Recreation Site.
Just across from the swimming beach area there is another fantastic place that you can sit down and relax at. The picnic area is very popular and it has some great amenities that you can use. These include picnic tables, drinking water, grills and toilets. You cannot book any of the picnic tables in advance so we recommend getting there early. Remember to bring all your own food as none will be available for purchase within the park.
Due to the small size of Moon Lake State Recreation Site there are no specifically named hiking trails that you will find, however there are plenty of small trails that you can adventure on and explore. We recommend going for a peaceful walk around the lake if you are looking to get some hiking done during your stay. Take precautions if you do go hiking and remember to tell the park staff your plans before you depart.
Love to go birding? If you are a fan, Moon Lake State Recreation Site is a great place for you to get the binoculars out and view the majestic birds that call the park home. Moon lake is a major highlight of the birding available at the park due to the lake attracting numerous migratory waterbirds throughout the year. If you are lucky you may get to see northern shoveler, harlequin duck, red-necked Grebe and the emperor goose in their natural habitats. For more information on bird species found within the area contact the park office.
