Paxson Lake Fishing
An Alaska lake in Copper River Census Area.
Pick for lake troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Tangle Lakes: Bureau of Land Management, CC BY 2.0
Sizing up Paxson Lake before the Alaska drive
ADF&G leaves the acreage of Paxson Lake blank, while the hydrography layer draws about 3,918 acres of mapped outline in Copper River Census Area. It is remote: no town page here is within 120 miles.
ADF&G lists the Upper Copper/Upper Susitna area and the Interior region for it. It has no ramp in the goFishAK data.
Record from the ADF&G Sport Fish Lakes Database (SF_Lakes), 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.
ADF&G details for Paxson Lake
In goFishAK the agency words Paxson Lake like so:
Paxson Lake is located along the Richardson Highway at mile 180 of the Richardson Highway. The lake is easily navigated with either prop or jet boats.
| goFishAK field | Text as published |
|---|---|
| Getting there | The Richardson Highway parallels the eastern shore of the lake and offers three separate pullouts with lake access. BLM maintains a campground at mile 175 of the Richardson highway with a well maintained boat launch. |
| Parking | Three pullouts along the lake offer some parking. The BLM campground offers parking for trucks and trailers. |
| Facilities | There are pit toilets at the BLM campground boat launch along with a dump station and potable water in the camping area. RV's and tents can use the camping areas for a fee. |
| Tackle | From April 16 – October 31 anglers are limited unbaited, single-hook, artificial lures and flies. From November 1 – April 15 anglers are still limited to single hooks but may use bait. |
Description, access and tackle text as published in the ADF&G goFishAK Sport Fishing Opportunities and Access layer (ADF&G titles it a draft), read November 14, 2026.
The Paxson Lake fish list, per ADF&G
The list for Paxson Lake merges 4 fish from the ADF&G lake and survey layers, and none of it measures catch rates.
Record from the ADF&G Sport Fish Lakes Database (SF_Lakes), read November 14, 2026.
For the lake trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 How Paxson Lake departs from the area limits
ADF&G prints no water-specific lines under Paxson Lake, and this site does not guess a limit; the area booklet is the place to read them.
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.
Paxson Lake and nearby Alaska lakes in one table
At about 9,140 acres of mapped outline, Crosswind Lake outsizes the other nearby waters below.
| Water | Distance | Size | Borough or census area | Ramps | Fish ADF&G lists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paxson Lake | about 3,918 acres of mapped outline | Copper River Census Area | 0 | 4 | |
| Swede Lake | 12 miles west | about 464 acres of mapped outline | Copper River Census Area | 0 | 4 |
| Fielding Lake | 16 miles north | – | Copper River Census Area | 0 | 3 |
| Tangle Lakes | 16 miles northwest | – | Copper River Census Area | 0 | 3 |
| Rapids Lake | 40 miles north | – | Southeast Fairbanks Census Area | 0 | 2 |
| Crosswind Lake | 44 miles south | about 9,140 acres of mapped outline | Copper River Census Area | 0 | 4 |
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.
A short stretch past Paxson Lake, Alaska
Backup Alaska lakes when Paxson Lake is slow
- Swede Lake12 miles west
- Fielding Lake16 miles north
- Tangle Lakes16 miles northwest
- Rapids Lake40 miles north
- Crosswind Lake44 miles south
Alaska ramps a short tow past Paxson Lake
- Paxson Lake BLM undeveloped rampunder a mile
- Paxson Lake northern undeveloped rampunder a mile
- Paxson Lake BLM Campground Developed Ramp4 miles
- Tangle Lakes Campground Launch16 miles
- Fielding Lake Boat Launch17 miles
Angler access sites by Paxson Lake
- Swede Lake Trail12 miles
- Rapids Lake Trail40 miles
Alaska guide businesses close to Paxson Lake
- Grove's Copper River Salmon Charterscharter, Copper Center, (907) 822-5822
- Klutina Salmon Charters/Campgroundcharter, Copper Center, (907) 822-3991
- Salmon Grove Campground & Fishing Charterscharter, Copper Center, (907) 822-5822
- Salmon Grove Charterscharter, Copper Center
- Chugach Outfitters Incfishing guide, Copper Center, (907) 822-4103
- Copper River Guidesfishing guide, Copper Center, (907) 960-0069
- King for A Dayfishing guide, Copper Center, (907) 822-3092
Alaska borough and census-area write-ups naming Paxson Lake
- Copper River Census Areaadministrative center: Glennallen
Piscifun gear an angler could bring north to Paxson Lake
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
The usual puzzlers about Paxson Lake, Alaska
Which Alaska town is closest to Paxson Lake?
Borough lines put it in Copper River Census Area.
Roughly how many surface acres does ADF&G credit to Paxson Lake?
ADF&G prints no acres; the mapped outline is about 3,918 acres of mapped outline.
What ADF&G put-ins serve Paxson Lake?
ADF&G's site data hold none, so use the nearby ramp lists.
Which fish do ADF&G records list for Paxson Lake?
On the lists: lake trout, burbot, Arctic grayling and whitefish.
What limits does Alaska set at Paxson Lake?
Read the regional booklet for its area; no section matches its name.
Which Alaska paperwork should I carry for Paxson Lake?
A resident annual sport fishing license is $20 and a nonresident annual license $100. See the license and regulations page for each type.
Does the agency map shore access at Paxson Lake?
The data show no land-side point for it.
Where do Alaskans shop for supplies before heading to Paxson Lake?
No shop on the Alaska list lies within 80 miles, so bring bait.
Mark a midnight-sun evening for Paxson Lake
License prices and the 2026 booklet notes are on the Alaska license page.