Cooper Landing Area Hiking Trails
If you're a hiker, the Cooper Landing Area is paradise. A handful of the best hiking trails in Alaska are located within a few miles. Whether you want steep or flat, long or short, you'll find them here. Turn of-the-century prospectors blazed these trails and carried millions of dollars of gold over them. The well-worn footpaths climb through forested valleys to open meadows shimmering with wildflowers and gem-colored lakes. Most trails in this vicinity follow rushing streams into high country with scenery on par with the most beautiful parks of the Lower 48. Bridges make it one of Alaska's few regions where you can keep your socks dry.
If you want to see bears in July, hike the Russian River Trail. If you want to go into wide open high country dotted with lakes and green mountainsides, consider the Johnson Pass Trail. Looking for a steep, thigh-burner? Try Carter Lake. There are so many choices, you could spend a week here, and not get our fill.
If you're looking for an overnight backpacking trip, the Forest Service maintains public use cabins in the area ($25-$45 per night). Get details on every one of these cabins on our Kenai Peninsula Public Use Cabins page.
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Hiking Trails
More a gatÂed road than a trail, this hike largeÂly remains a local secret among the resÂiÂdents of CoopÂer LandÂing, the fishÂing mecÂca locatÂed some 105 miles south of AnchorÂage on SterÂling HighÂway. Many in this town conÂsidÂer it their perÂsonÂal getÂaway, which makes it quite a popÂuÂlar secret. A foreÂman for Chugach ElecÂtric (the comÂpaÂny that manÂages the dam on CoopÂer Lake) said he often expeÂriÂenced conÂgesÂtion while driÂving to the dam, due to the heavy ...more
This is a day use site that offers 13 picÂnic sites with tables, a fish viewÂing platÂform, water, toiÂlets, an inforÂmaÂtion board, and fire grates.
No othÂer minÂing trail on the Kenai PeninÂsuÂla climbs as high or takes in more extenÂsive views as the 6‑mile-long Crown Mine Trail. BeginÂning some 2 hours south of AnchorÂage on the approÂpriÂateÂly named Mine Road just south of Trail Lake, this trail climbs to 3,900 feet above sea levÂel to a unique spot — a glacial cirque litÂtered with minÂing paraphernalia.
The wildÂflowÂers are abunÂdant and verÂdant underÂgrowth can be check high someÂtimes. Most of the trail lies below treeÂline, so there are estabÂlished camp clearÂings along the way that are nesÂtled into the trees. One of the best campÂsites is 10 miles in from the northÂern trailÂhead, set among trees on a spruce-covÂered knoll lookÂing over the trail and Bench Lake.
This meanÂderÂing, sinÂgle-track path leads to some of the Kenai Mountain’s most remote and fragÂile high counÂtry. On a route once trekked by gold rush prospecÂtors, this trail ascends from spruce forÂest through the junÂgled zone of alders into a realm of sweepÂing tunÂdra, with incredÂiÂble views and proÂducÂtive berry pickÂing. Plus, the top of the nine-mile jourÂney ends in ResÂurÂrecÂtion Pass, about midÂway through the 39-mile ResÂurÂrecÂtion Pass Trail.
BeginÂning 103 miles south of AnchorÂage on the Seward HighÂway, the 3.5‑mile-long PtarmiÂgan Lake Trail makes for a fine famÂiÂly outÂing. The lake itself is a long and narÂrow body of water squeezed between ridges and mounÂtains that towÂer as high as 6,000 feet. It even offers a small beach upon which to relax and enjoy the view while coolÂing your feet.
Well-mainÂtained and suitÂable for sumÂmer hikÂing and bikÂing, the 10-mile Devil’s Pass Trail feaÂtures a steep route up a specÂtacÂuÂlar V‑shaped valÂley that interÂsects with the ResÂurÂrecÂtion Pass Trail and a rental cabÂin in the alpine realm. The counÂtry is rugged, with great access to cross-counÂtry tunÂdra exploÂration and berry picking.
LocatÂed about 3 miles up a gravÂel road from Snug HarÂbor Road along Kenai Lake. A primÂiÂtive campÂing area is nearÂby overÂlookÂing the lake
If you have some outÂdoor expeÂriÂence and an advenÂturÂous spirÂit, conÂsidÂer this 11-mile traÂverse up the ColÂorado Creek valÂley and down the SumÂmit Creek. BeginÂning 2 hours south of AnchorÂage, this traÂverse doesn’t involve any rock scramÂbling, rivÂer crossÂings, or arduÂous bushÂwhackÂing. But if you feel comÂfortÂable hikÂing in wide and trackÂless counÂtry, you may reap the reward of havÂing an entire valÂley to yourself.
The 23-mile JohnÂson Pass Trail offers hikÂers, backÂpackÂers and bikÂers a well-marked route through a lush pass in the Kenai MounÂtains — feaÂturÂing gradÂual climbs, two lakes with fish, specÂtacÂuÂlar peaks and some way cool gorges.
PopÂuÂlar with hikÂers and backÂpackÂers, this easy-to-folÂlow trail conÂnects the state’s most intense sockÂeye salmon sports fishÂery with stunÂning mounÂtain backÂcounÂtry. It offers many of the Kenai Peninsula’s highÂlights in one trip. The 21-mile route accessÂes RussÂian RivÂer Falls, LowÂer and Upper RussÂian Lakes, CoopÂer Lake, 3 fedÂerÂalÂly manÂaged recreÂationÂal cabÂins, and numerÂous campsites
This 38 mile long USFS trail climbs ResÂurÂrecÂtion Pass (elev. 2,600) and descends to the north to anothÂer trailÂheadÂtrailÂhead near Hope on TurÂnaÂgain Arm. There are 8 pubÂlic use cabÂins along the trail, makÂing this an advanced but comÂfortÂable day cabÂin-to-cabÂin hike. There are also 19 campÂsites availÂable along the trail.
This trail is a good day hike for the whole famÂiÂly. It alterÂnates between open meadÂows and forests and offers the option of tent campÂing or stayÂing in CresÂcent Lake CabÂin. There are options for longer hikes and there is a lot of wildlife to be seen such as moose, goats and bears.
This wildlife sweet spot is worth a visÂit. The RussÂian Lakes Trail begins off the access road to the RussÂian RivÂer CampÂground in CoopÂer LandÂing, at mileÂpost 52 of the SterÂling HighÂway. Get off-the-beatÂen path, hike two miles to the falls and enjoy the immeÂdiÂate reward of specÂtacÂuÂlar salmon viewing.