Best Things to Do In The Kenai / Soldotna Area

Get your hands on a fresh catch of your own while enjoying a stay at the Great Alaska Adventure Lodge
1. Experience World-Class Fishing
This is your chance to experience angling for Alaska’s famous fish in fast-running rivers backdropped by Alaskan peaks. The waters around Kenai teem with salmon: king, sockeye, silver, or pink (depending on the season) or you can cast for trout or halibut. Come here on an easy day trip from Anchorage, or leave from the area, where fishing charters can take you to the best spots—and away from the crowds. Or, stay at a fishing lodge for several days of angling.

See bears in their natural habitat
2. Go Bear Viewing
Few things in the world can compare to witnessing the majesty of bears in the wild; watching them wade into rivers and fish for salmon can help make your Alaskan dreams come true.
Fly out to Lake Clark National Park and spend the day watching bears, or get even more time near them by taking an overnight bear-viewing adventure, where you’ll stay in a deluxe wilderness camp.
3. See Nature from Above
With some 40 glaciers, the vast Harding Ice Field is one of Alaska’s most spectacular sights. And it’s just one of the dramatic sites you can get perspective on when you take to the air on a flightseeing trip. Look down on the crevasses of a glacier and check out the Mount Redoubt Volcano—and keep an eye out of wolves, moose, bears, and seals!

Harding Ice Field is one of Alaska’s most spectacular sights. Photo by Nicolette Dent.

The Holy Assumption Orthodox Church is the oldest standing Orthodox Church in Alaska.
4. Learn the History
This area’s full of fascinating tales—not just of pioneers who moved here from the Lower 48, but also Russians who made this place their home and left a legacy of treasures. Experience the latter at places like the St. Nicholas Memorial Chapel and the Holy Assumption Orthodox Church—the oldest standing Orthodox Church in Alaska.

Guests float down the scenic Kenai River with Alaska Wildland Adventures
5. Rafting
Take in stunning mountain scenery and look for wildlife as you float the glacially-fed Kenai River, that teems with salmon during the summer. Spend a couple hours on a mellow float trip or ramp up the adrenaline on longer outings that explore the area’s faster-running rivers.
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Kenai / Soldotna
Kenai / Soldotna Day Tours & Excursions View All
Alaska bear camp is magically hidden in a rare Critical Bear Habitat in the wilderness of Lake Clark National Park. Instead of hundreds, only 16 privileged guests observe the wonder of up to 50 brown Bears living out their daily drama. Due to the beauty of the location and the exceptional bear population, the deluxe camp, with en suite biffies, beds with mattresses and food flown in daily, was used as a base camp for the Disney movie Bears. ...more
Where can you find the biggest salmon, on average, in the entire world? In the Kenai River. And The River Crew, based in Soldotna, can take you to some secret spots on the famous river to fish for salmon and trout — whether you’re an experienced angler or not.
Alaska Wildland Adventures pioneered floating the mellow, turquoise Kenai River and has operated continuously since 1977. Join them for a serene 2‑hour float, or take on a 7‑hour adventure, complete with fun Class II+ rapids and a cruise through a glacial lake. AWA’s Kenai River Scenic Float Trip offers a nice introduction to the river, taking you along a stretch of the scenic Upper Kenai closed to motorized boats. Watch for wildlife as your ...more
The logo for the Soldotna B&B Lodge says it all: a guest who’s lounging in bed — while also fishing. This family-run fishing lodge directly on the Kenai River offers a relaxing place to soak up the sights and sounds of nature, while also delivering a front-row opportunity to do some of Alaska’s most famous, exciting fishing. All stays carry a two-night minimum, but most guests stay longer (an average of 5 – 7 days), which is easy to do given the ...more
Natron Air’s owner and only pilot, Tim, can take you flightseeing to some of Alaska’s most beautiful places: the Harding Icefield and Mt. Redoubt Volcano. You can also opt for a bear-viewing tour that includes a beach landing, where you can photograph bears in their natural environment.
Feel the thrill of world-class salmon and trout fishing on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula with experienced, passionate guides. You’ll get out on the Kenai and Kasilof Rivers, just hours from Anchorage, with a team that knows where the fish will be running each day. Spend a day, or make it a multi-day trip with a custom package that includes lodging on the river.
Fly out of Soldotna with Natron’s owner and pilot, Tim. You’ll soar over the Cook Inlet towards Mt. Iliamna Volcano and land on a beach, right where the bears are. You’ll watch them playing and clamming and be close enough to take amazing photos.
Alaskan adventures and great lodging await at the Great Alaskan Adventure Lodge. This all-inclusive experience lets you drive or fly in to the property, which sits on 25 acres at the confluence of two rivers. An old homestead with cabins and luxury tent options, the lodge makes for a comfortable stay. You’ll also find an array of adventures — everything from great fishing to glacier cruising. The owners have been perfecting their itineraries for ...more
Don’t miss this opportunity to go fishing for Alaskan salmon in beautiful rivers. This easy, one-day trip departs from Anchorage; you’ll drive over mountain passes and along the Cook Inlet to the Great Alaska Adventure Lodge where you’ll have lunch. Then it’s out to the confluence of two rivers with the lodge’s expert guides, where you’ll cast your line for famous salmon — king, sockeye, silver, or pink, depending on the season. Or choose a one-day ...more
Join us as we drift downstream through one of the world’s most beautiful freshwater salmon fisheries, passing gravel bars left by a glacial flood, migrating salmon, brown bears, and human fishers as you float on by.
Kenai / Soldotna Parks & Trails View All
Stop off here during the summer for an eagle’s eye view of an annual Alaskan fishing frenzy. We really love our salmon, and it shows! Or, just count the bald eagles circling high overhead.
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.
The trail is half a mile long and takes you through a mature birch forest that is carpeted with devil’s club and watermelon berry plants. It’s an easy walking, ideal for small children, and ends at a small camping area on a slight bluff that overlooks Bishop’s Beach and Bishop Creek.
Difficulty: Moderate Distance: 5 – 50 miles Elevation Gain: Less than 500ft Type: Out-and-Back Features: Kid Friendly
If you’re a bird watcher, you’ll love this half-mile trail of Aspen and Spruce forest.