Operated by the Fairbanks North Star Borough Parks and Recreation, amenities consist of a playground, cross country trails, picnic area, natural area, volleyball court, camping sites, boat launch, swimming, no-alcohol park and restrooms.

Special use permits are issued to various groups and individuals who use project lands for particular events and activities. Some examples are the Fairbanks Retriever Club, Santa Claus Half Marathon, Yukon Quest 1,000 mile sled-dog race and Alaska Fire Service Smokejumpers. Please call 907-488-5400 for more information.

A paved bikeway begins at a park and ride lot at the project's entrance on Laurance Road. It continues almost 5 miles down the road along the dam to the visitor kiosk at the outlet works at the dam junction with the Chena River. The Fairbanks North Star Borough has also paved a section of its bike path in Lake Park, which intersects with the bikeway at the Lake Park Road. A fee is charged for use of the borough's bike path during the summer. Mountain biking on more primitive trails is encouraged throughout the project.

Map of Bikeway

Floods often draw in large amounts of wood and other debris being carried down the Chena River to the outlet works of the dam, where it is caught on our "trash racks." This debris must be picked out of the river with a crane and hauled in dump trucks to our debris storage area. When large quantities are available, permits may be offered to the public to harvest the firewood for personal use. Call 907-488-5400 to check on availability.

Many species of birds, mammals and fish inhabit the Chena Project. Whether you are interested in hunting, fishing or just watching the wildlife, this is a great place to do it relatively close to town.

Around the beginning of July and continuing through the month, chinook (king) and chum (dog) salmon can be seen swimming up the Chena River to spawn. An excellent place to see them is the top of the outlet works, where the Alaska Department of Fish and Game establishes a counting station every year. Call the Chena Project Office for a schedule of viewing hours and conditions.

When the salmon begin their summer migration around July 1, contact the Chena Project Office for days and hours when the outlet works--where the dam crosses the Chena River--is open for viewing as well as any pertinent information on water conditions (level and turbidity).

The salmon passing through the Moose Creek Dam have been in fresh water since they entered the mouth of the Yukon River, about 900 river miles west of here. Two species of salmon spawn in the Chena River, chinook (king) and chum (dog) salmon. Almost 10,000 salmon pass this point on the way to their spawning grounds from July 1 through mid-August.

Life of a Chena River Salmon

Species	Chinook (King)	Chum (Dog)
Description	Coloration: Copper to red, sometimes almost black, with black spots on the back, dorsal fin and caudal (tail) fin. Weight: 20 pounds, widely varying from five to more than 50 pounds	Coloration: Vertical bars of green and purple. Females have a dark horizontal band along the side. Weight: 6 ½ pound average, ranging from four to 15 pounds
Duration of Spawning Run in Chena	End of June through July	Beginning of July until mid-August
Time in Stream After Hatching	One year after hatching, migration the following spring	Migration immediately after hatching
Time in Ocean	Two to six years, occasionally one year, known as "jacks"	Two to four years, occasionally one year

Information on Chena River salmon courtesy of Alaska Department of Fish and Game