Kenai Riverside Lodge

Looking for an intimate and accessible getaway with an authentic Alaskan feel? Alaska Wildland Adventures' Kenai Riverside Lodge easily fits the bill, with 16 cabins around a main log lodge on the banks of the Kenai River. Surrounded by 3,000-foot snow-capped mountains, this easy-access riverside lodge has a remote feel, but is still right on the road system.

EcoTourism Pioneer

The company that owns and operates the lodge—Alaska Wildland Adventures—was started by Kirk Hoessle, a Missourian who came here for a summer job years ago and never really left. He started AWA as a tent safari and rafting tour operator, but then expanded his company beyond the tents— the Kenai Riverside Lodge was the first lodge to open—but he wanted to keep them small, for an intimate vibe. He's long been an advocate for ecotourism in Alaska, and prides himself on hiring guides with the same expertise and passion about the great outdoors.

Mellow, Down-to-Earth Setting

Meals here are served family-style, so you get to know the guides, staff, and your fellow guests on a different level than you would at a large resort. The site has been in use for over 25 years, with native species and natural landscaping. It's lush, gorgeous, and nicely wild—it doesn't look manicured. You also have easy access to the town of Cooper Landing so you can get a taste of local life.

The lodge features newly remodeled cabins, each with two double beds and private bathrooms. You won't find cable TV or Internet here, but you will find a sprawling riverside deck with awe-inspiring views of the Kenai River and all it has to offer. Spend your day hiking, fishing, or strolling down a self-guided trail. At night, take in a naturalist program, enjoy a wood-fired sauna and dip (if you dare) in the river or just relax on the riverside deck by the fire pit. You can spend hours just watching the gorgeous turquoise waters go by, listening to the sounds of gulls and eagles, or watching the fish jump.

Wide Access to Fish

If you choose to fish during your stay, with Alaska Wildland Adventures' Kenai Riverside Fishing program, book a day trip and you’ll be the first ones out on the water every day, and you’ll have wider access than almost any other operator.

While many fishing lodges in the area only fish one end of the Kenai River, the Kenai Riverside Lodge has access to the upper, middle and lower stretches of the river, so that you can target fish from your wish list, or just keep your options wide open. On the Upper end of the river, you’ll find reds (sockeye salmon), silvers (coho salmon), rainbow trout or Dolly Varden, while the lower end has more silvers. From the lodge, you can also set up trips to Resurrection Bay for more silvers and even king salmon, or you can branch out into trophy-size halibut, lingcod and rockfish.

You won’t be crammed into a big boat, either. The lodge has a fleet of eight boats, each of which can carry no more than four guests, plus the guide, who can offer everything from friendly basics to advanced expertise. Between catches, you can be on the lookout for moose, eagles, bears, beavers and otters. Whatever you catch can be prepped, vacuum-packed and even frozen before you ship it back home.

Customized Service

Most Kenai Riverside Lodge guests are picked up in Anchorage, so you're taken care of from beginning to end—all of the guides are specialists in their field. When you arrive, you can tour the lodge before enjoying a welcome dinner, and your coordinator will stop by to let you know the details of available lodge activities. Lots of people add a day float trip to your stay – either the Kenai River Scenic Float Trip, or the Kenai River Canyon Full Day Raft Trip.

Vary Your Experience with Packages

In addition to the Kenai Riverside Lodge, Alaska Wildland Adventures owns and operates two other wilderness lodges on the Kenai Peninsula. Check out Kenai Backcountry lodge, a remote boat-in only lodge located on the glacier-carved Skilak Lake; and Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge, an exclusive seacoast paradise. If one lodge is not enough, take part in one of Alaska Wildland Adventures' all-inclusive Adventures, or choose a two or three lodge combination package and experience all AWA has to offer.

FAQs

• What is included if I travel with Alaska Wildland Adventures?

  When you travel with Alaska Wildland Adventures, all activities are included as outlined in your trip-specific itinerary, including all meals and snacks, accommodations, pre-trip planning materials, first-class equipment and guide support. All you’ll need to bring is personal gear and clothing (outlined in our Packing List) and high spirits, and they’ll take care of the rest!

• What kind of food do you serve?

  Meals are a highlight of every trip. Their highly skilled and imaginative cooks emphasize freshness and flavor. From delicious Alaskan seafood with fresh garden salad, to homemade breads and rolls, to decadent desserts, you will be amazed at how well you can eat in the wilderness. They’re able to accommodate a variety of dietary requirements with advance notice, and there will be opportunities to let them know about those during the booking process.

• Are there any physical requirements I should be aware of?

  Most trips are for folks in average physical condition. Participants should be comfortable trail walking three to four hours with short breaks. Some trips offer non-exertive options while others include more strenuous hiking. Ask their reservations staff about the right trip for you.

• What are the best trips to bring children on?

  Kenai Riverside Lodge is ideal for parents and grandparents traveling with children 7-11. For well-traveled children and youth, ages 12-18, we recommend the more active Alaska Wildland Collection, although any itinerary is suitable for older teens.

• Will I have opportunities to see wildlife on my trip?

  Alaska Wildland Adventures intentionally plans their itineraries to travel to remote areas including visits to various national parks, state parks and wildlife preserves in the state. Kenai Fjords National Park – which is featured in many of their trips – is home to whales, sea lions, seals, sea otters, porpoises, bald eagles, Dall sheep, puffins, murres and more aquatic wildlife. Interior regions such as Talkeetna and Denali are home to moose, caribou, Dall sheep, grizzly bears, porcupines, foxes, wolves, golden eagles, ptarmigan and other land creatures – though these creatures can be spotted in many areas of the Kenai Peninsula, as well. The longer you stay in wild places, the more opportunities you’ll have to view wildlife.