Best Things to Do In The Kenai / Soldotna Area

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.

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...

Soldotna Historical Society, located on Centennial Park Road, features a wildlife museum and historic log village. Among the log buildings is the last territorial school built in 1958, where students studied by the light of gas lanterns, still hanging in the school.

Soldotna's founing settlers arrived in 1947. The "habitable dwellings" which entitled two of these first  More...

This is a popular attraction with wildlife exhibits, free wildlife films, and rangers available to answer about recreation and camping in the refuge. Take a short walk down the nature trail to a viewing platform. Use the spotting scope to look for wildlife on Headquarters Lake.

This Kenai Peninsula lake is a great place to take the family for a quick midday swim. There is ample parking with direct water access.

This park is the confluence of the Kenai and Moose Rivers. Take a break at this recreation site named for the English author Izaak Walton who wrote The Compleat Angler. Look for the informational sign to learn about the Moose River Archaeological Site. You will also find a hosted campground and boat launch. There's excellent fly-fishing in this area.

The Kenaitze Indian Tribe’s Dena’ina ancestors, recognizing the abundance of the place called Yaghanen, "the good land," settled along the banks of its rivers and Tikahtnu (Cook Inlet). In the past several years, one location the Kenaitze Tribe has focused on is Sqilantnu, meaning "the grocery store," located in the area now called Cooper Landing. Today, Kenaitze Indian Tribe partners with the Chugach National Forest to preserve, protect and provide interpretation for this location at the K’Beq’ "footprints" interpretive site.

Recently reconstructed from two lanes of traffic to four, this is one of only three bridges that span the Kenai River.

Soldotna’s homesteaders arrived in 1947, visit the Soldotna Homestead Museum and take a look at some of the area’s early homestead cabins. The museum also features handmade utensils and pioneer objects as well as Alaska Native artifacts, boats and the original schoolhouse.

Summer only or by appt.

No admission fee, donations  More...

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...

Built between 1894-96, the Holy Assumption Orthodox Church is the most enduring example of Russian culture in south central Alaska.  For the Kenaitze Indians, who once comprised a significant portion of the population, this church constituted a major link to western culture.

A simple, wood-frame structure with clapboard siding, Holy Assumption Church features a square  More...

Although this cabin is not accessible from the road system, it bears mentioning as a National Historic Site in the Corridor.

Harry A. Johnson arrived in Seward in 1904 from Erie, Pennsylvania. A 30-year-old blacksmith, he came north to help build the railroad. He was hired on as a meat hunter for the railroad: By 1908 the Alaska Central was bankrupt, and by 1911, its  More...

In 1906 the chapel was built to honor Father Igumen Nicolai and Makary Ivanov. Fr. Nicolai, Kenai's first priest, brought small pox vaccine, which saved the lives of hundreds of Dena'ina. The chapel is on the site of the original 1849 church, located in the northwest corner of the Russian fur trading post of Fort St. Nicholas.

Difficulty: Moderate

Distance: 5-50 miles

Elevation Gain: Less than 500ft

Type: Out-and-Back

Features: Kid Friendly  

This trail follows the Kenai River through the surrounding forests. During mid-summer it is teaming with salmon, so watch out for bears and make noise on this hike! This is a great trek for those who want to fish when they get to their destination, but not only are the salmon thick during fishing season; lots of fisherman are there as well.

This trail offers similar views to that of the Skilak Lookout Trail. The view from this trail is not as close as the view from Skilak, but it offers for more of a panoramic affect. This easy trail offers access to fishing spots and is a very likely place to see wildlife, but is rather windy at the top so be sure to wear a windbreaker.

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.

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. 

This is easily broken up into three short day hikes to viewpoints above Skilak Lake. These three short trails climb to fine views of the Skilak Lake country and the Kenai Mountains. Skilak Lookout, directly above the lake, is a longer hike; Bear Mountain is a shorter hike with a good view, but it's farther from the lake. Vista, farther west, looks out on the lake and the distant,  More...

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...

This park is the confluence of the Kenai and Moose Rivers. Take a break at this recreation site named for the English author Izaak Walton who wrote The Compleat Angler. Look for the informational sign to learn about the Moose River Archaeological Site. You will also find a hosted campground and boat launch. There's excellent fly-fishing in this area.

There is parking at the trailhead for passenger vehicles and one or two campers. 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. There is  More...