Birch Lake State Recreation Site

As described by many different sources, the Birch Lake State Recreation Area is a cozy-but-beautiful spot that's "nestled between a lilypad covered lake and forested wetlands" in Salcha, Alaska. This recreation site is a campground that sits on the edge of a lake that is stocked with fishers, jet-skiers, water skiers, and more in the summer, but also ice fishers and snow machines in the winter. 

The lake itself is stocked with rainbow trout, king and silver salmon, grayling, and arctic char, making this an ideal fishing spot all year round. Because of this, the campground is open all year round, even in the dead of winter. 

The area covers about 191 acres and offers campers 19 camp spots, 17 long parking spaces, 5 walk-in campsites, vaulted toilets, water, a boat launch, and even cabins (those require reservations. Another cool thing? Ice fishing huts are available, too, for those who want to explore the Birch Lake State Recreation area in the wintertime. The campground suggests you bring your own firewood and that you come prepared to deal with the surrounding wildlife. 

Your dog is allowed to enjoy the Birch Lake State Recreation Site with you, though, there are no listed requirements for how your dog should behave. Because of this, we suggest only bringing your dog if they're on their best behavior, if they behave well on a leash, and if they're under strict voice control command. 

This is because, no matter how nice the campground facility, you're still in Alaska, where wildlife and forest animals rule the roost, and you'll need to keep a close eye on your dog in order to keep yourself, your pooch, and the wildlife safe. Always clean up after your dog, keep them with you at all times, and don't allow them to wander the area.