Cottonwood Lake, Alaska, USA

Cottonwood Lake, located near the town of Wasilla in the Mat-Su Valley of Alaska, is a year-round destination. The Mat-Su Valley region, short for Matanuska-Susitna, contains over 3,000 lakes and covers an area of approximately 24,000 miles surrounded by the Talkeetna and Chugach Mountains. Cottonwood Lake, a natural freshwater lake, is one of the warmer lakes in the Mat-Su Valley. Swimming and water skiing are exciting summer…
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    • All About Cottonwood Lake, AK

    Lake Locations: USA - US West Region - Alaska - Southcentral Region, AK -

    Cottonwood Lake, located near the town of Wasilla in the Mat-Su Valley of Alaska, is a year-round destination. The Mat-Su Valley region, short for Matanuska-Susitna, contains over 3,000 lakes and covers an area of approximately 24,000 miles surrounded by the Talkeetna and Chugach Mountains.

    Cottonwood Lake, a natural freshwater lake, is one of the warmer lakes in the Mat-Su Valley. Swimming and water skiing are exciting summer activities on Cottonwood Lake, but with the cold winter freeze, bundle up to enjoy the winter fun as it becomes a great area for skating. Cottonwood Lake also boasts year-round plane service with its ski and float plane operations.

    Canoeing is another very popular activity on the lake. Connected to Finger Lake and Wasilla Lake by short portages, Cottonwood Lake is part of a seven-mile canoe trail. Motorized boating is also abundant but because Cottonwood Lake is primarily a residential lake, the entire lake is a “no wake zone” from 10pm to 8am to ensure that a quiet restful night is guaranteed for residents and visitors alike. Cottonwood Lake has one public access entry with a primitive boat ramp on the western shore at the end of Spruce Street.

    Fishing on Cottonwood Lake is a twelve-season adventure. Anglers find that the Coho salmon, Dolly Varden trout, rainbow trout, and sockeye salmon are plentiful whether fishing from the scenic shores of Cottonwood Lake or in a boat out on the clear water. Once the lake has frozen over for the winter, anglers can literally walk to their favorite fishing spot and enjoy ice fishing. There are numerous guides that can assist you with fishing during any season.

    The majority of Cottonwood Lake shoreline is privately owned real estate with homes, vacation rentals, and bed and breakfasts. The Cottonwood Lake area is a very affordable place to live with a wide range of homes from moderately priced two or three-bedrooms to homes that are much larger and more expensive.

    Just over an hours’ drive from Cottonwood Lake is Denali State Park. Denali which means “the high one” is a perfect name for the park as it boasts great vantage points for superb views of Mt. McKinley, the highest peak in North America. Visitors will enjoy great recreational opportunities from roadside camping to wilderness exploration as well as salmon fishing from the many streams that run through the area. As you are enjoying the fishing or exploring, be wary of the large moose, grizzly bears, and black bears that call the area home.

    Cottonwood Lake and the Mat-Su Valley offer year-round adventures. Numerous trails that are used for hiking, biking, and ATVs during warm weather double as trails for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiles during the colder weather. The Mat-Su Valley is one of the few agricultural areas of Alaska known for producing huge vegetables during the long daylight hours of their 100-day growing season.

    Cottonwood Lake is a great place to visit while enjoying the untouched beauty of Alaska’s Mat-Su Valley. Summer or winter, it does not matter as Cottonwood Lake is an all-weather destination for fun, nature, and adventure.

    Things to Do at Cottonwood Lake

    These are some activities in the Cottonwood Lake, AK area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Ice Fishing
    • Boating
    • Swimming
    • Canoeing
    • Water Skiing
    • Camping
    • Hiking
    • Biking
    • Cross-Country Skiing
    • Snowmobiling
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • State Park

    What Kind of Fish Are in Cottonwood Lake?

    Cottonwood Lake has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Coho Salmon
    • Dolly Varden Trout
    • Rainbow Trout
    • Salmon
    • Sockeye Salmon
    • Trout
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    Find Places to Stay at Cottonwood Lake

    If you’re considering a Cottonwood Lake lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

    Note: These are affiliate links and we may earn a small commission if you click and make a purchase. Read our full disclosure policy here.

    More Sites to Book a Cottonwood Lake Vacation

    Our interactive Cottonwood Lake lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Cottonwood Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Not Dammed

    Surface Area: 262 acres

    Shoreline Length: 4 miles

    Minimum Elevation (Min Pond): 0 feet

    Maximum Elevation (Max Pond): 329 feet

    Average Depth: 11 feet

    Maximum Depth: 39 feet

    Water Volume: 2,835 acre-feet

    Drainage Area: 15 sq. miles

    Cottonwood Lake Map
    Local Weather Forecast

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