Kenai / Soldotna Points of Interest

The city of Kenai has plenty of natural wonders going for it: Overlooking the mouth of the Kenai River, it has great views of Cook Inlet as well as miles of sandy beaches, two mountain ranges and four active volcanoes.

Soldotna’s twin city has lots of cultural assets, too. Originally settled in the eighteenth century by Russian fur traders, the Peninsula’s oldest  More...

This 18-mile-long loop gravel road is the premier wildlife-viewing area on the Kenai Peninsula, and you'll get spectacular views of lakes and glaciers. Don't forget to stop and explore all the nature and wildlife around you!

Wouldn't it be nice to afford a summer home one day? Well, most species of birds have both a summer and winter home. Note which bird makes this lake its warm weather getaway.

If you need a moment to yourself, this lonesome lake is a great place to find quiet solitude--and some excellent rainbow trout fishing. But that's not all it's great for. 

Finding your lost puppy is probably easier than this. Understand how refuge staff try to bring moose back to an area. It's not as simple as putting up posters.

Let's go caribou-spotting on the wide open spaces at the mouth of the world-famous river system. This spot is one of your best bets for viewing these beautiful, stately beasts.

The Keen-Eye Nature Trail is .75 miles long through a wooded area with a side trail leading down to Headquarters Lake. The Centennial Trail provide an additional 1.9 mile loop through a wooded area with further opportunity to view wildlife in the area. There are three basic options on these refuge trails. First and easiest is the 0.3 mile (one way), "accessible with assistance,"  More...

Choose this site and you have a good opportunity to spot some "charismatic megafauna." Moose and caribou can often be found grazing along this oilfield service road, which runs adjacent to some prime wildlife habitat.

See the small body of water to the right? This is the upper end of Hidden Lake. Find out what natural changes have occurred to it over time. 

Fire can be hugely important in an ecosystem. Pyromaniacs should note that they're only positively effective when controlled and contained. 

Check out this salmon-friendly habitat and learn why so many salmon spawn here annually. 

This little town 10 miles northeast of Soldotna shares its name with the highway that cuts through the Kenai Peninsula. Ironically, one of the best reasons to pull over here is to steer a different kind of vehicle: a canoe.  The Swan Lake Canoe Route starts 12 miles down Swan Lake Rd and offers a 17-mile float into town on the Moose River and over 60 miles of lakes and short  More...

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? On this lake it could be either.                             

Ken Tarbox is your guide to this area. Ken's a retired fishery biologist for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. He's lived in the area for 32 years and wouldn't change a thing about it. 

This 18-mile-long loop gravel road is the premier wildlife-viewing area on the Kenai Peninsula, and you'll get spectacular views of lakes and glaciers. Don't forget to stop and explore all the nature and wildlife around you!

Having trouble being efficient with all your resources? You could probably take a lesson from the ecosystem found here. 

Local mushers run their teams behind 4 wheelers along South Cohoe Loop Road and down to the beach. Even though the road continues past this point it becomes too sandy to drive, so park here and walk down to the beach. If the dogs are training you'll see them whiz past with tongues lolling and sand flying.

If you're a bird watcher, you'll love this half-mile trail of Aspen and Spruce forest. Get out your binoculars and see which birds are out there. 

Out of ideas for what to do? Check out the log books at this cabin to see who has stayed here and what they've done. 

This little town 16 miles north of Kenai makes a nice spot for families to stop for a meal, stock up on supplies at M&M Market, and get advice on local fishing hotspots and camping locations.

At Captain Cook State Recreation Area, 13 miles further north, you can get a great camping site—with great views of the Cook Inlet, Mt. Spurr, Mt. Redoubt, & Mt.  More...