Finger Lake Vacation Rentals

Why Rent On Finger Lake

Finger Lake occupies a gentle basin in the Cook Inlet Lowlands of southcentral Alaska, approximately five miles west of Palmer and a mile from the Trunk Road and Bogard Road intersection in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. At 362 acres, the lake earned its name in 1898 from Captain Edwin F. Glenn of the U.S. Army, who noted on his survey map that a projecting point of land creates the outline of an outstretched finger. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has stocked the lake annually since 1953, building one of the most productive small fisheries in the Mat-Su Valley: rainbow trout, Arctic char, landlocked Chinook and coho salmon, and Arctic grayling share the water with a resident population of invasive northern pike that ADFG continues to actively manage. Finger Lake State Recreation Site, administered by Alaska State Parks, provides the primary public footprint, with 69 acres of camping, picnicking, a boat launch, and the southern anchor of the Seven-Mile Canoe Trail, an exceptional paddling route that connects through portage to Wasilla Lake. A few things to know before you go: most of the lake’s shoreline is privately owned, and public access is limited to the recreation site. The site operates from mid-May through mid-September, with camping and launch fees applying throughout. The Matanuska-Susitna Borough enforces restrictions on motor type, noise, and wake zones on the lake, so confirm current regulations before launching a motorized vessel.

Things to do at Finger Lake

The recreation site packages camping, fishing, and paddling into a single well-managed location, and the access it provides to the canoe trail network substantially extends what the lake alone would offer. Fishing is the core draw, with approximately 27,110 rainbow trout fingerlings stocked annually alongside Arctic char, landlocked Chinook and coho salmon, and Arctic grayling. Ice fishing through the winter months, once ice thickness is confirmed safe, extends the season with rainbow trout and char as the primary winter targets. The Seven-Mile Canoe Trail is the experience that most rewards planning: the route connects Finger Lake to Wasilla Lake by water and portage, covering terrain that few visitors who drive past on Trunk Road ever see. Twenty-four campsites accommodate RVs up to 35 feet and a separate tent loop, with select sites reservable in advance through the Alaska State Parks reservation system. Twenty-five picnic sites fill out the day-use options. Birdwatching in the surrounding Cook Inlet Lowlands can be genuinely productive, with the migratory flyway and wetland habitat combining to attract exceptional variety through spring and fall. An Alaska fishing license is required; Arctic char and salmon species carry specific season dates and bag limits. Northern pike are present and non-native to the Cook Inlet watershed, and anglers are encouraged to report catches and follow ADFG guidance on handling. Check current rules at adfg.alaska.gov before fishing.

What to do near Finger Lake

The Mat-Su Valley’s compact geography places the lake within reach of a surprisingly varied set of destinations for visitors based anywhere in the Wasilla-Palmer corridor. Hatcher Pass, reached by driving north from Palmer, offers alpine hiking, snowshoeing, and in winter some of the finest backcountry skiing in southcentral Alaska. Independence Mine State Historical Park in Hatcher Pass preserves the restored facilities of a 1930s gold-mining operation at approximately 3,500 feet elevation, with a visitor center and guided tours available in season. The Matanuska Glacier, a two-hour drive northeast on the Glenn Highway, is one of the most accessible large glaciers in Alaska, with guided walking tours available from the glacier’s edge for visitors of most fitness levels. Kepler-Bradley Lakes State Recreation Area, a few miles south of Finger Lake, adds non-motorized lake access on Matanuska Lake and King Lake for paddlers who want to extend the day without a long drive.

What is the best time to visit Finger Lake?

The Finger Lake State Recreation Site operates from mid-May through mid-September, and that window defines the practical visiting season. Late May and June offer the first productive fishing of the year as water temperatures rise and recently stocked rainbow trout begin actively feeding near the surface. July and August bring the full Alaska summer, with extended daylight, comfortable temperatures in the Mat-Su Valley, and the peak of the paddling season on the canoe trail to Wasilla Lake. The fall closure of the state recreation site typically falls mid-September, though day use may extend beyond that. Winter ice fishing begins once ice thickness is confirmed safe, generally from January through March. For visitors who prefer a roof overhead, vacation rentals and cabin properties in the Wasilla and Palmer area provide full kitchens and practical access to the lake and the broader valley. Browse Lake.com for cabin and vacation rental listings in the Wasilla and Palmer area near Finger Lake.