ire a fishing or sightseeing charter from the Big Lake region to jump off to remote parts of Alaska.

There are several distinct communities here, including Big Lake, Houston, and Willow, all with a significant bent towards outdoor recreation.

If you don't want to fly, you can stop by Big Lake's Nancy Lake Recreation Area, a 22,685-acre recreation area at mile 67.3 of the Parks Highway. Nancy Lakehas an 8-mile canoe trail system (called the "Lynx Lake Loop") that includes well-marked portages and calm lakes, good for a weekend trip.

Fishing for lake and rainbow trout, whitefish, Dolly Varden, and silver salmon is also popular in the Nancy Lake system.

Hikers can enjoy a 3.5 mile round-trip trek on the Twin Shirt Lakes Trail to Red Shirt Lake. There's another good trail, the Tulik Trail, a 1-mile self-guided trail that includes boardwalks and viewing platforms. There are also boating ramps, picnic sites, and campgrounds at Nancy Lake.

You can get brochures and park information at the Mat-Su Visitor Center at the Parks Highway Junction, or call the Nancy Lake Ranger Station at 495-6273.