World-class fishing, hiking, river rafting, and canoeing-plus alpine lakes and gold history-make for an ideal day trip from Anchorage.
Day Tours & Excursions (view all...)
The River Crew
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.
Kenai River Rafting
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 guide navigates you through the mountain scenery of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.
Natron Air Flightseeing
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.
Alaska Fish On Charters
May - October
Everyone thinks that fishing in Alaska is mostly about tracking down the Kings in the height of the summer season. But this Kenai-based fishing charter operator has the experience to lead anglers to the best fish—and without the crowds—well outside the prime season. Visitors can choose from half to fully day charters for Salmon or full day charters for Halibut, Trout or combination trips.
Fishing at Great Alaska Adventure Lodge
June to September
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 fishing charter for other prized Alaskan fish: halibut and trout. The lodge can even process and ship your fish.
Alaska Bear Camp Overnight Adventures
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. Transfers available from Anchorage or Great Alaska Adventure Lodge in Sterling.
Natron Air Bear Viewing
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.
Kenai River Float Trip
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.
Sights & Attractions (view all...)
KMTA National Heritage Area Guide
The Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area is a place whose valleys and mountains, communities and people tell the larger story of a wild place and a rugged frontier. This audio guide gives you the inside scoop on its fascinating history. You’ll meet bigger-than-life historical characters like Alaska Nellie (as well as a few ghosts), see the original Iditarod trail, and learn about the creation of the Alaska Railroad.
Kenai Visitor & Cultural Center
The City of Kenai's visitor center goes well beyond a person at a counter handing out maps. You'll find an impressive permanent collection of Native Alaskan and local history artifacts, art exhibits, as well as the largest collection of mounted bald eagles in North America. The gift shop features souvenirs, maps, books, music, and locally produced items. And, indeed, friendly More...
Soldotna Visitor Center
Located on the banks of the Kenai River and open 7 days a week in the summer. Stop by and pick up a Soldotna Visitors Guide as well as view photos from all over the Kenai Peninsula. Don’t miss the exhibit on the world record king salmon - 97 pound, 4 ounces!
Stormy Lake Swimming Beach
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.
Izaak Walton State Recreation Site
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.
Soldotna Bridge
Recently reconstructed from two lanes of traffic to four, this is one of only three bridges that span the Kenai River.
Kenai NWR Headquarters
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.
Saint Nicholas Memorial Chapel
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.
Harry A. Johnson Trapline Cabin
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...
Soldotna Homestead Museum
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.
HoursSummer only or by appt.
AdmissionNo admission fee, donations More...
City of Kenai
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...
K’beq’ Interpretive Site
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.
Russian Orthodox Church
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...
Nikiski
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...
Soldotna Historical Society Museum
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...
Parks & Trails (view all...)
Erik Hansen Scout Park
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.
Bishop Creek Trail & Picnic 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...
Burney’s Trail
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.
Skilak Lookout Trail
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...
Izaak Walton State Recreation Site
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.
Keen Eye Trail Near Headquarters
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...
Swanson River Canoe Route
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 5-50 miles
Elevation Gain: Less than 500ft
Type: Out-and-Back
Features: Kid Friendly
Kenai River Trail
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.
Bear Mountain Trail
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.
Audio Guides (view all...)
KMTA National Heritage Area Guide
The Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area is a place whose valleys and mountains, communities and people tell the larger story of a wild place and a rugged frontier. This audio guide gives you the inside scoop on its fascinating history. You’ll meet bigger-than-life historical characters like Alaska Nellie (as well as a few ghosts), see the original Iditarod trail, and learn about the creation of the Alaska Railroad.
Skilak Lake Road Map
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!
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 More...
Kenai Peninsula Guide
Close to Anchorage and endowed with abundant recreational opportunities, central Kenai is Alaska's playground.
Kenai Peninsula Wildlife Audio Guide
Known as Alaska’s Playground, the Kenai Peninsula is one of the state’s most beautiful and accessible areas. A wealth of roads and trails offers the potential for amazing wildlife viewing: birds, seabirds, whales, bears, moose, and caribou are all here. Of course, these critters don’t just magically appear when you walk by. So we consulted longtime wildlife biologists More...
