Alaska lakes

Chelatna Lake Fishing

An Alaska lake of 3,906 acres in Matanuska-Susitna Borough.

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Photo of Palmer: Cecil Sanders, CC BY 2.0

Matanuska-Susitna Borough

Chelatna Lake: the Alaska short version

ADF&G lists Chelatna Lake at 3,906 acres, and it lies in Matanuska-Susitna Borough. The USGS hydrography layer traces about 3,952 acres of mapped outline for it. For lodging and groceries the closest page-listed town is Houston, near 80 miles out.

The database puts it in Mat-Su (Susitna River Drainage), one of the areas of ADF&G’s Southcentral region. No ADF&G launch ramp is tied to it.

3,906ADF&G acres
0ramps
1fish on ADF&G lists
1borough or census area

Lake record from the ADF&G Sport Fish Lakes Database, lake page, read November 14, 2026.

Acres as the ADF&G lake layer lists them, read November 14, 2026.

Mapped outline area computed from the USGS National Hydrography Dataset waterbody polygon, read November 14, 2026: outline area is not a surface-acre figure from ADF&G.

Population from the 2020 Census (TIGERweb), places and boroughs from the Census 2023 Gazetteer, read November 14, 2026.

ADF&G

What ADF&G records about Chelatna Lake

The drainage name on file is Lake Creek/ Yenta River. That layer gives 3,906 acres for it.

Area and stocking fields from the ADF&G PikeWaters layer, read November 14, 2026.

Species

How ADF&G rates the fish in Chelatna Lake

The names below are presence entries in ADF&G records for Chelatna Lake: 1 fish from the ADF&G lake and survey layers. They describe agency layers, not a promise of fish on the line.

Lake record from the ADF&G Sport Fish Lakes Database, lake page, read November 14, 2026.

ADF&G rules

Alaska water-specific limits at Chelatna Lake

Because no heading carries the name Chelatna Lake, no limit is printed here and the booklet for the area applies.

Rules and fees are the 2026 edition: ADF&G prints "Effective until the 2027 summary is issued" on every 2026 booklet, and no 2027 booklet exists. Emergency orders supersede the booklet. Emergency orders supersede the printed regulations, so check the ADF&G emergency order page before fishing.

A resident annual sport fishing license is $20 and a nonresident annual license $100.

Rules as printed in the 2026 ADF&G Sport Fishing Regulations Summary (booklet). Effective until the 2027 summary is issued; emergency orders supersede the booklet (ADF&G emergency orders). Read November 14, 2026.

Compare

Where Chelatna Lake ranks among Alaska area lakes

Of the closest Alaska waters with pages, Hewitt Lake is the largest at 697 acres.

WaterDistanceSizeBorough or census areaRampsFish ADF&G lists
Chelatna Lake3,906 acresMatanuska-Susitna Borough01
Donkey Creek Lake23 miles south113 acresMatanuska-Susitna Borough01
Kroto Lake25 miles east170 acresMatanuska-Susitna Borough01
Bunco Lake30 miles east200 acresMatanuska-Susitna Borough01
Schnieder Lake33 miles southeast51 acresMatanuska-Susitna Borough00
Hewitt Lake33 miles south697 acresMatanuska-Susitna Borough02

ADF&G lake records and the USGS hydrography outline where ADF&G gives no acres; outline size is a mapped figure, not surface acres. Read November 14, 2026.

Nearby

Minutes from Chelatna Lake on Alaska roads

Alaska impoundments a short drive from Chelatna Lake

  • Donkey Creek Lake23 miles south
  • Kroto Lake25 miles east
  • Bunco Lake30 miles east
  • Schnieder Lake33 miles southeast
  • Hewitt Lake33 miles south

Next-closest Alaska launches to Chelatna Lake

  • Talkeetna River Boat Launch44 miles
  • Susitna Landing59 miles

Where to buy flies and jigs near Chelatna Lake, Alaska

  • Sportsman's Warehousebait and tackle shop, Wasilla
  • Three Rivers Fly & Tacklefly shop, Wasilla
  • Burkeshore Marinamarina, Big Lake

Alaska guide services that fish Chelatna Lake

Lodging towns scattered around Chelatna Lake, Alaska

  • Houston80 miles
  • Big Lake82 miles
  • Meadow Lakes83 miles

Which borough or census area on the Alaska map owns Chelatna Lake

  • Matanuska-Susitna Boroughborough seat: Palmer
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Photos

Glacier-fed shorelines and silver-run riffles around Chelatna Lake, photographed

Susitna River, Alaska
Susitna River 46 mi
Photo: Bernt Rostad, CC BY 2.0
Nancy Lake, Alaska
Nancy Lake 72 mi
Photo: Bernt Rostad, CC BY 2.0
Answers

Straight replies for a trip to Chelatna Lake, Alaska

Which road leads to Chelatna Lake?

ADF&G places it in Matanuska-Susitna Borough; the nearest listed town, Houston, is about 80 miles away.

Is Chelatna Lake a big lake or a small one?

About 3,906 acres by the agency figure; the mapped outline is about 3,952 acres of mapped outline.

Where can an Alaska boat go in on Chelatna Lake?

Nothing is recorded, so a cartop boat or a tow elsewhere is the plan.

Which species does the agency name at Chelatna Lake?

ADF&G maps sockeye there.

Has ADF&G written special rules for Chelatna Lake?

With no matching heading, the area booklet is the place for limits.

What must a nonresident buy first for Alaska's Chelatna Lake?

A resident annual sport fishing license is $20 and a nonresident annual license $100. The state license page lists every fee and exemption.

Does ADF&G list bank fishing at Chelatna Lake?

ADF&G maps no trail or harbor on it; launch areas may allow bank casting.

Which store on our Alaska list is the shortest drive to Chelatna Lake?

Our list points to Sportsman's Warehouse in the same borough or census area.

Plan a long summer day at Chelatna Lake

Read the dated rules, then pick a ramp.