Quartz Lake State Rec Area

This review is for the lost lake campground next to quartz lake, as the Google entry for lost lake is another lost lake in Alaska. The campground had had very little maintenance done to it, there are 10 camping locations according to Google. 6 of the locations had mudholes or standing water right next to the campsite(mosquito factory). All of the campsites had the traditional metal fire ring and they were all out of level by 4-6”. By the lake all the timbers in the ground where you park are rotting, crooked, or falling over. The dock at the lake is nice, but broken, it has detached from the shore and someone tied a rope to it so it doesn't float off. If the state doesn't want to take care of it, they should just remove the sign and the dilapidated campground equipment rather than put their name on a poorly maintained campground.

The lake and wildlife get a 5 star rating though

Beautiful. It was cloudy and raining off and on the day we rented a boat from a very kind woman. Her advertisement for renting her boats is on a small shack near the boat dock. We called and she answered and was very thorough with directions on where to find the documents to sign, among other important info. She even gave us a great rate! We had our 2 granddaughters with us and it was their very first time on a boat. We thought they might be a little scared, as they are ages 3 and 4, but they weren't afraid at all. They loved it and lasted the whole 2 hrs! The lake was very beautiful while we were boating and, as usual, we were blessed with awesome sunshine and a cool breeze. When we were walking to our truck it got overcast again and within 20 min it began to rain. No, this really has nothing to do with the boat ride but I'm witnessing God's great love so.... Anyway, we all had a wonderful time and we highly recommend renting a boat from this lovely lady. BTW we rented the pink 18 ft. boat. God Bless you and have a great day!

Quartz Lake SRA is a peaceful and tucked away sanctuary just a short trip from Delta Junction/Fort Greeley with a beautiful, placid lake and several camping/hiking/ORV options.

Of the three campgrounds in the recreation area, the "Quartz Lake Campground" proper is by far the best. There are technically two more--Lost Lake Campground, which is a few miles closer to the highway, and the overflow/lakeside camping on the gravel down by the shore of Quartz Lake.

Lost Lake Campground is almost entirely unusable. It truly is in a sad state. Due to extended periods of managerial negligence, nearly every campsite on the Lost Lake Campground loop is riddled with massive holes that hold massive bodies of unclean, stagnant water. This water is not only unsafe for pets, but serves as a massive breeding ground for mosquitoes, leeches, and other undesirable larvae in the warm months. It's a real pity, too--because this is a wonderful site for a campground with an intimate and secluded proximity to the very beautiful Lost Lake. There are a couple spots free of these odd pond holes, but they are near the shore--and edge-seasonal campers should be aware of how much colder it is sleeping that close to a large body of water at night.

The second-best option for developed campsites is the "overflow" lot near Quartz Lake. There are plenty of spots; it's a little crammed along the western shore, but offers immediate access to the double-sized boat launch and rental with fire rings and an adjacent outdoor bathroom.

The actual "Quartz Lake Campground" is the best place for campers. It's built on a bench upon the rising side of an ancient flood bank, so it's a relatively uneven experience for tent campers. However, it's a beautiful area--much more akin to the Pacific Northwest than the Alaskan interior. The area is beset by a very old spruce grove--uniquely aged due to natural protection from strong winds that usually knock those old trees over. Squirrels abound. Plenty of ancient, peeling birches mix in with the spruce to produce a very shady and pleasant "old forest" vibe across the campground. On a 'traditional camping' weekend, be prepared to arrive very early or circle the 16 campsites with despair.

Campsite sizes vary wildly in the Quartz Lake Campground--large RV campers will experience varying levels of consternation trying to fit. There's only one bathroom-so be prepared for a miniature trek with kids if you're not closely located.

The Quartz Lake SRA offers several trails of varying lengths and difficulty. The most challenging of these is Bert Mountain Trail, which leads to a clearcut created by the forest service to allow helicopter access to the summit for fire suppression. This is a marvelous hike, but be warned--like many interior forest trails, it is relatively unmaintained. Likewise, even though local signage boasts a "scenic overlook," there is no such view from the top. You cannot see much of anything. However, it's still a memorable and beautiful hike, through an old and wild forest filled with a sense of undisturbed continuity. Be prepared to duck and dive your way across this challenging 3.4 mile obstacle course--where the reward is not some breathtaking view--but the friends you made along the way.

Overall, this is a magnificent recreational area that offers an extremely unorthodox experience within the Alaskan interior. One could easily place themselves at the banks of the Puget Sound when looking out across Quartz Lake--if it wasn't for the air temperature. You'll be hard-pressed to find a more fascinating and aged spruce grove than those that mark the southwestern slopes of that old flood bowl.