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Lena Beach Picnic Site
This picnic area is on the beach at the head of Lena Cove. It is a prime location for viewing sunsets. There are 7 picnic sites with picnic tables, 5 of which have shelters, and 3 vault toilets. The facilities and trails meet accessibility standards. The King Salmon shelter is available for reservation (maximum 4 hours; 907-586-8800), and there is no fee at this point. The area is a 15.5 mile drive from downtown Juneau.
At a Glance
| Operational Hours: | 6 am - 10 pm |
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| Reservations: | Permit application required. Please call the Juneau Ranger District, 8510 Mendenhall Loop Road, Monday - Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm. 1 (907) 586 8800. |
| Fees: | No fees are associated with the use of this area. |
| Permit Info: | No permits are required for the use of this area. |
| Usage: | Heavy |
| Closest Towns: | Juneau, AK |
| Water: | Available during the Summer season |
| Restroom: | Vault Toilet (3) |
| Operated By: | Forest Service |
General Information
Directions:Travel north on Veteran’s Memorial/Glacier Highway approximately 15 miles from downtown Juneau. Turn left onto the second entrance to Lena Loop Road, and then shortly thereafter, turn right into the Lena Beach Picnic Site. The road through the picnic area is one way, and the exit is back onto Veteran’s Memorial/Glacier Highway. Parking for the picnic area is adjacent to the picnic sites. The shelter sites are named after the five species of Pacific salmon in our local waters. In order from the entrance to the exit the shelter names are: Pink Salmon, Chum Salmon, Coho Salmon, King Salmon, and Sockeye Salmon. There are also two picnic sites with tables, grill, and fire rings that do not have shelters. They are called Cutthroat Trout, and Dolly Varden Char. All sites are available first come, first serve. However, the King Salmon shelter can be reserved through the Juneau Ranger District office for up to a four hour period. If someone has a reservation for the King Salmon shelter, it must be vacated for their use.
Activities
Sand Play
Tidepooling
Check the tide tables for minus tides (tides below the zero foot tide). Hike along the rocky beach with rubber boots as there may be some wet muddy areas also. Watch your traction on slippery kelp beds and other sea weeds. Sea life will usually get trapped in depressions in the rocks as the tide recedes. Look for limpets, small hermit crabs, sculpin, sea stars, jelly fish, and anemones.Viewing Scenery
Views from the beach are beautiful scenes of Lynn Canal and the Chilkat Mountains. The orientation of the beach makes this a great spot for summer time sunsets.| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
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Picnicking
This picnic area is on the beach at the head of Lena Cove. It has 7 sites, 5 of the sites have shelters, 3 vault toilets that do meet accessibility standards and water available during summer months. All 7 sites come with picnic tables with grills and the 5 shelters have campfire rings. The King Salmon shelter is available for reservation through the Juneau Ranger District at (907) 586-8800 with no cost at the current time. The area is a 15.5 mile drive from downtown Juneau.
Swimming
No life guard is on duty. Swim at your own risk. The water is cold and swimmers may choose only to go on the warmest of days.| Clothing Requirements | bathing suit or a wet suit. |
| Water Temperature | Forty to sixty degrees Fahrenheit |
| Difficulty Level: | Difficult |
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