For the first time in years, Alaskans are enjoying warm sunny days by exploring the Tony Knowles Trail or taking a refreshing dip in one of the local lakes in town. Anchorage boasts numerous lakes, but which ones are the best for swimming?  According to the city, Goose Lake and Jewel Lake are the only lakes in Anchorage officially approved for swimming. Both feature designated swimming areas where kids and adults can splash around safely within buoys, supervised by lifeguards. On hot, sunny days, hundreds of people might crowd the beaches there. However, due to a shortage of lifeguards, it’s a swim-at-your-own-risk situation.

Mirror Lake in Eagle River is another great swimming spot. There are also many other unofficial spots, like “Beer Can Lake” (officially Little Campbell Lake) near Kincaid Park, Beach Lake in Eagle River, Taku Lake, and DeLong Lake. Some of these lakes have docks, but no other facilities, so swimming is at your own risk. Selected recreation areas also offer other amenities such as playground equipment, covered picnic shelters, picnic tables, swimming areas, beaches, paved parking, bike trail access, and areas for non-motorized small crafts, along with portable toilets, volleyball sand lots, and softball fields.  How clean are Anchorage’s lakes? According to city water specialists, they are quite clean. In the mid-2000s, the city tested Jewel Lake and Goose Lake for fecal coliform bacteria from June to August. These bacteria indicate contamination from human or animal feces, with resident geese often being the culprits for high readings. The water quality was very good, according to city hydrologist Jeffrey Urbanus. For a complete list of local lakes, you can visit the city’s website here.

Photos courtesy of www.muni.org/Departments/parks/pages/lakes.aspx