Harding Lake

This article is about the lake. For the community around the lake, see Harding-Birch Lakes.

Harding Lake is a lake in the Fairbanks North Star Borough in Interior Alaska. It is named for President Warren G. Harding, who visited Alaska just before he died. Prior to that it was known as Salchaket Lake ^[3] Access to the lake is via the Richardson Highway^[4][5]

Harding Lake
Salchaket Lake
View from boat launch, in a lagoon at the State Recreation Area
Harding Lake Show map of Alaska Harding Lake Show map of North America
Coordinates	64°25′21″N 146°51′16″W
Primary inflows	3 small, unnamed creeks[1]
Primary outflows	1 unnamed creek[1]
Basin countries	United States
Surface area	887.2 ha (2,192.3 acres)[2]
Max. depth	43.0 m (141.1 ft.)
Shore length1	11.9 km (7.4 mi.)
Surface elevation	218 m (715 ft.)
Frozen	late autumn to late spring
Settlements	Harding-Birch Lakes, Salcha
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Fish species

The lake contains a wide variety of native and stocked^[2] fish, including Arctic char, burbot, Arctic grayling, and northern pike, as well as several salmon and trout species.^[2][5] Anglers are advised to check current regulations with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game before fishing.^[4]

Recreation Area

The lake is home to the Harding Lake State Recreation Area a 325 acres (132 ha) park^[4] which features a large campground, boat launch, and facilities for sports and outdoor games.^[5] This is one of the oldest units in the Alaska State Park system, having been founded in 1967,^[4] before the formal state park network was even in place.^[6]