Sitting by the shore of the 56-acre Rocky Lake, in a well-forested and intimate setting, is Rocky Lake State Recreation Site, a wonderful place to enjoy RV vacations. Located off Rocky Lake Drive, by Big Lake Road in Alaska, this 49-acre recreation site that sits at an elevation of 170 feet features 10 spacious campsites to enjoy recreational activities and fun RV camping. With a lake that is larger than the actual acreage, you know what the main attraction probably is at this park.
Some of the most popular summer activities to enjoy at Rocky Lake State Recreation Site include boating, canoeing/paddle boating, fishing, picnicking, and nature/flora observation. And many brave people like to enjoy some swimming as well. However, it is Alaska, so the temperatures typically don’t get above the 60s even in the summer.
Winter is even more popular here with the locals as well as travelers who come for the beauty of the Alaskan mountain ranges and scenic valleys. The wildlife here is amazing with more moose and polar bears than you can see at the local zoo. But what most people visit Rocky Lake Recreation Site in the winter is for is the same thing they come for in the summer: the lake. Once the water freezes over, which doesn’t take long in Alaska, visitors flock to the lake to do some snowmobiling, skiing, and even ice fishing. You may even see some people ice skating.
Rocky Lake State Recreation Site is located in Wasilla, Alaska, which is the sixth-largest city in the state. It is located in the middle of southcentral Alaska, and it is an easy drive from Anchorage, which is less than 60 miles to the south. The park is located off Rocky Lake Drive, which you can get to from AK-3 to the west or AK-1 to the east. However, being in Alaska means there are a lot of forests and mountains, which means a lot of curvy roads that may be slick depending on what time of year you visit.
It is a nice scenic drive, so you won’t mind having to drive slowly here as the roads meander along the Susitna River. You’ll also pass Nancy Lake State Recreation Area, which is only about 17 miles from the park. Crossing over the Little Susitna River, you are almost to your destination as you pass by Loon Lake and then Big Lake South Recreation Site, which is only three miles to the south.
The roads inside the park are small, narrow, and gravel or dirt, for the most part, with only one way in and one way out. The park is a small place, and the turns can be tricky with an RV or trailer. The length limits here are 30 feet, but you will have to do some skilled driving to get a 30-foot RV into one of the smaller spots.
Rocky Lake State Recreation Site Campground in Wasilla, Alaska, features 10 spacious campsites with four sites set right on the water. There are no utility hookups, and the sites can only accommodate RVs and trailers up to 30 feet in length. Each campsite has its own campfire ring, a picnic table with a grill for cooking, and an ample cleared space for hanging out around the fire. Amenities at the campground include toilets, fee stations, water stations, trash disposal, and a day-use area with picnic tables and a playground for the kids.
Some of the campsites in the park are close to the dirt and gravel road, while some are the lake's edge. The maximum camping stay at the campground is seven days. You are more than welcome to bring your furry family members along, too, as long as you supervise them and keep them properly restrained at all times.
There are no actual designated hiking trails within Rocky Lake State Recreation Site; however, campers might enjoy walking along the shores, and the road in the park as both offer various opportunities to see the natural features. There are also quite a few carved-out footpaths in the wooded areas from wildlife and other park visitors. It is always nice to be one of the first ones to make a new path, as well. However, make sure you do not harm any flora or fauna while on your trek for a new trail and bring bear spray with you should you decide to meander off-path.
Rocky Lake State Recreation Site features picnic sites available for campers and visitors to enjoy meals with family and friends while at the park. The picnic sites are equipped with picnic tables in beautiful shaded settings with scenic backdrops of Rocky Lake and the mountains. Each of the picnic areas is also supplied with a barbeque pit so you can cook up some of the fish you catch in the lake. If you don't like fish, then grill up some hot dogs or burgers instead. After you are done with your picnic, please dispose of all food-related items in a bear-proof trash receptacle.
Rocky Lake State Recreation Site is a fantastic RV destination for its beautiful wooded vegetation and forested setting. RV campers enjoy the sight of resplendent trees that decorate the shores of the Rocky Lake and make it a great place to relax and take in the beauty of nature. Lovers of solitude and nature enjoy their time at the park. Be sure to pack your camera in the camper so you can get some photographs to share on your favorite social media sites.
As winter closes in on Alaska, the snow piles up, and the ice freezes over, giving you and your family the perfect opportunity to test out those skis you packed in the RV. You’ll find over a hundred miles of trails that are groomed for winter sports like skiing, snowmobiling, and even dog sledding. You are not far from the famous 1,000-mile Iditarod Trail if you want to ski or snowmobile over and take a look at some of the historical sites along the path.
In addition to boating on the lake, RV campers also enjoy canoeing and paddleboats here. Canoes and paddleboats of various sizes are allowed on the lake. However, there are no rental facilities available in the park, so you will have to pack your own in or atop the RV. Paddleboards are also a popular way to enjoy the lake, and it is easy to learn if you have never done it before. Similar to a surfboard, a paddleboard is a long floating board that you stand on. The only difference between a surfboard (aside from its infrastructure) and a paddleboard is that you use a paddle, and paddleboarding is best done on calm water rather than in heavy surf.
Be sure to pack that fishing gear in the RV before heading to Rocky Lake State Recreation Site. The 56-acre lake is 25 feet deep in most places and is full of all kinds of aquatic species. Some of these include trout, salmon, and crappie, as well as catfish, bluegill, and bream. The lake has been annually stocked with trout since 1953, so there are plenty of lunkers in there. Make sure you bring a big net because there are some record-breakers in the lake.
Rocky Lake State Recreation Site is an excellent place for RV campers to enjoy boating activities while on vacation. The 56-acre Rocky Lake is open to campers of all ages. Jet boats, jet engines, or jet skis are not allowed on Rocky Lake. However, trolling motors are permitted, and trolling gives you more than enough power to get your boat around the lake. Whether you are headed out on the water to catch some fish, or you just to catch some rays, you will love the scenery of the mountains as you boat around the lake.
Have you ever wanted to find a buried treasure? Of course, you have! Especially when you were a kid, right? Well, whether you are a kid, have kids, or just want to find treasures, geocaching is a fun way to do that. All you need is your phone, and you can get out there and find some buried (or hidden) geocaches. These are typically waterproof boxes or capsules that contain small trinkets or toys, as well as a logbook for you to sign your name and date. Make sure you bring a toy or trinket to replace the one you take and put the geocache back exactly where you found it for the next treasure hunter.
