| Kenai: Where the river ends and your adventure begins | | | With the ebb and flow of Cook Inlet’s tides where the world famous Kenai River drainage ends, a rich cultural environment tied to the indigenous Dena’ina Athabascan Indians and early Russian fur traders, and a myriad of opportunities for visitors in any season, Kenai is the perfect place to start your Alaska vacation. |
| Lunch, activities: Not the same old centers | | | For many of the same reasons senior citizens choose to live on the Kenai Peninsula, many seniors will visit it — mild temperatures and easy access to wildlife, fishing, hiking and beautiful views. |
| Nikiski | | | Nikiski, also known as North Kenai or Nikishka, is spread out along the Kenai Spur Highway starting a short distance past Kenai’s city limits. Traditionally in Kenaitze Indian territory, the area was homesteaded in the 1940s, and grew with the discovery of oil on the Kenai Peninsula in 1957, according to the state of Alaska. By 1964, oil-related industries located here included Unocal, Phillips 66, Chevron and Tesoro. |
| Nikiski industrial row | | | The petroleum industry gained a major foothold on the Kenai Peninsula with the discovery of the Swanson River oil field in 1957, but the industrial complex along the Kenai Spur Highway in Nikiski did not start up until Chevron opened its oil refinery in 1963. |
| Soldotna | | | Soldotna is a town with unique beauty and a great place to fish along the banks of the Kenai River, stroll through one of its riverside parks or go camping. |
| Salmon species | | | Kenai Peninsula waters offer four species of salmon: chinook (king), coho (silver), sockeye (red), and humpback (pink). All are excellent table fare. |
| Salmon fishing 101 | | | New to salmon fishing? These tips will help you choose appropriate gear and get started. |
| Common Sense Survival From the Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation | | | There’s adventure and beauty in the wild country, but also an element of risk. Snow avalanches, steep slopes and water hazards have caused injuries and fatalities each year. You can increase your chances of a safe outdoor adventure by planning carefully, using common sense and following these safety tips. When you are aware of the hazards of the outdoors and planning for delays and emergencies, your adventures can be more enjoyable. Have a safe trip! |
| Fly in to far-out fishing | | | A fly-out fishing trip is a great way to avoid the crowds often found at road-accessible streams. The Kenai Peninsula, located within easy driving distance from Anchorage and only a scenic flight away from dozens of prime fishing spots, has become a thriving hub for fly-outs. |
| Hiking and biking trails | | | Hiking and biking trails traverse much of the peninsula. The access to many unique habitats and wildlife viewing opportunities are available to explore in a variety of activity levels. Ranging from easy to moderate and challenging climbs for the hardy outdoors enthusiasts, peninsula trails also offer the chance to pick berries, photograph wildflowers and seek out a quiet fishing spot. |
| Kenai Peninsula wildlife | | | Wildlife abounds on the Kenai Peninsula, and with a keen eye and a little outdoor ambition, visitors have the opportunity to see and photograph animals in their natural environment. |
| Wild Alaska Salmon: It’s naturally better | | | The cold, clear waters off Alaska’s 34,000 mile coastline are the world’s greatest resource for natural, wild salmon. There, the five species of Alaska Salmon mature in an unmatched natural environment that provides them with superior flavor, color, and texture. This makes Wild Alaska Salmon the salmon of choice of foodservice operators throughout the world. Quick-frozen within hours of being harvested at the peak of its lifecycle, Alaska Salmon offers you these unique advantages: |
| The Ring of Fire: Alaska’s Volcanoes | | | Rimming the Pacific Ocean is one of Earth’s most active geological regions, the tectonic plate boundary that’s part of the well-known “Ring of Fire”. Your visit to the Kenai area, and on your journeys to the south peninsula, you have a front row seat to no less than five active volcanic peaks. |
| Not all Alaska vacations involve hip boots | | | While many visitors enjoy the variety of outdoor activities and opportunities to wet their line in search of the new world record king salmon, the opportunity to shop is a “lure” many travelers can’t resist. |
| Native-made arts | | | For a truly distinctive reminder of your trip to Alaska, Native-made arts and creations are the ideal way to take a piece of Alaska’s culture as a keepsake. The Kenai Visitor and Cultural Center offers a variety of pieces for sale, as well as galleries throughout the Kenai Peninsula. Native Alaskan Artist, Cathy Gerold, who makes her home near the banks |
| Kasilof | | | Driving 12 miles south of Kenai on Kalifornsky Beach Road, at the southern junction of the Sterling Highway is Kasilof. Although home to roughly 500 residents, Kasilof itself is a geographic location rather than an established community that encompasses 11.4 sq. miles. Kasilof has no main street or central business district. But it is a community — a dynamic place with rich history, gorgeous scenery and colorful Alaska characters. You just have to know where to look. |
| Diggin’ it: Clam Gulch and outlying areas offer plenty to see and do | | | Of the many recreational opportunities on the Kenai Peninsula, few rival the memories and fun that a day spent “clamming” can bring to your family. The east side of Cook Inlet has a healthy population of Pacific razor clams, referred to simply as “razors” by the locals. The activity is fairly simple and inexpensive. All you need are a sport fishing license, a bucket, a clam shovel, waterproof boots and clothing that can withstand a little mud. |
| Ninilchik | | | Ninilchik is a small town that lies on the west coast of the Kenai Peninsula on the Sterling Highway. The area was settled by a Russian Orthodox missionary and his family in 1847. Before the arrival of the Russian American Fur Company, Dena’ina Indians historically inhabited the Kenai Peninsula. |
| Anchor Point | | | Anchor Point is North America’s Furthest West Highway point. |
| Hiking and backpacking | | | Hiking, backpacking and camping are staples of summertime activity on the Kenai Peninsula, but campers take note: it takes more to enjoy the great outdoors than shorts, a T-shirt and a walking stick. |
| Homer | | | Homer is a destination that no one - visitor or resident should pass up. The town is 81 miles from Kenai and sits on the coast of Kachemak Bay. While many are in awe at Homer’s first panoramic view of the bay, nearby glaciers and the Kenai Mountain Range at the top of Baycrest Hill, the rest of the town is also beautiful. |
| Seldovia | | | Seldovia is a remote community nestled in beautiful Seldovia Bay and surrounded by Kachemak Bay. Framed by tall mountains laden with magnificent Sitka Spruce trees, Seldovia’s shorelines skirt the mountains, making the best of two worlds come together. Located across the bay from Homer, one cannot get to Seldovia by the conventional road system, but only by air or water. This makes for another Alaska adventure. Visit Seldovia’s portal Website transportation link (www.seldovia.com) for all your travel needs and opportunities. |
| Sterling | | | Heading toward the eastern rim of the Kenai Peninsula on the Sterling Highway, you will pass through Sterling. |
| Berries of the Kenai Peninsula | | | With nearly 50 species of wild berries that grow throughout Alaska, it is no surprise that Alaska’s indigenous peoples have long been aware of the value of this powerful resource. For centuries, harvesting berries has been a part of Alaska culture, and while you may only venture out to collect a few handfuls of berries during your visit to the Kenai Peninsula, you are in for a treat. |
| Cooper Landing | | | The town of Cooper Landing is located along the Sterling Highway that parallels the famous Kenai River. The small town, with a population less than 400, can be found at the west end of Kenai Lake. With the Kenai River rushing by one side and the Kenai Mountains hovering over the other, Cooper Landing is nestled in a beautiful area. It was named for Joseph Cooper, a miner who discovered gold in the area in 1884. Loren Leman, Alaska’s former lieutenant governor, is one of Cooper’s grandsons. |
| Moose Pass | | | Moose Pass is located 76 miles East of Kenai. The small town has more than 200 residents, with many working at the nearby U.S. Forest Service or commuting 26 miles to Seward for work. |
| Seward | | | Just 126 miles south of Anchorage and 105 miles east of Kenai is Seward, a small city at the head of Resurrection Bay that sits at the base of |
| Peninsula Oilers Baseball | | | There’s not a lot of summer in Alaska, so baseball players have to make the most of the long, sunny days. The center of baseball action on the Kenai Peninsula is Coral Seymour Memorial Park, at the end of Tinker Lane off the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai. |
| Golf | | | The central Kenai Peninsula features golf at affordable prices in a setting that showcases views of mountain ranges and local wildlife. |
| Racing | | | After a long summer day of running circles around the Kenai Peninsula to soak up all the possible adventure, the Twin Cities Raceway is a perfect place to sit back and let somebody else run circles for a while. |
| Bed & Breakfasts | | | Unique and distinctive are two attributes that best describe a visit to a bed and breakfast, and for those looking to capture a slice of Alaska, choosing a B&B for your stay on the Kenai Peninsula is a good way to do so. | |
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2007 Kenai Peninsula Recreation Guide