Kenai Peninsula, Alaska Information

The Kenai Peninsula is one of Alaska's main playgrounds, consisting of over 15,000 square miles of wild terrain. It extends southwest from Anchorage and the Chugach Mountains and is separated from the Alaskan mainland by the Cook Inlet and Prince William Sound. The peninsula is renowned for its salmon fishing along the Kenai and Russian rivers as well as hunting throughout its land.  A number of cities offer nearly endless starting points for expeditions, including Kenai, Seward and Homer.

Hunting and Fishing Guides

Kenai is any angler's dream destination, with an abundance of rivers to fish. Alaska Fish On Charters is one example of an angling operation able to provide guided trips targeting a number of different species. Flyfishing for trout and salmon or charter fishing for King, silver, red salmon or halibut all are specialties of this outfit. Their focus is the Kenai River and Cook Inlet waters.

The Kenai is famous with big game hunters too. Moose, caribou, mountain goat, sheep, brown bear, black bear, hares, spruce grouse, and ptarmigan are all trophies you may bring home from the Kenai. Caribou Unlimited specializes in guided hunts for the plentiful reserves of caribou, moose, wolf, grizzly, black and brown bear. Caribou hunting involves the Western Arctic, which is Alaska's largest herd at an estimated population of over half a million.

Did You Know?
The Kenai River is home to the largest salmon on earth. The world record King Salmon was caught in 1985 and weighed over 97 pounds.

The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge is 1.92 million acres designed to protect the wildlife in their natural habitat of birch forests, glacial lakes, wetlands, and mountains. On a trip through the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, you'll find booming herds of caribou, moose wandering the forests, bald eagles soaring the coastline looking for dinner, black bears snacking on berries, grizzly bears plodding across the plains, untouched salmon spawning grounds, wildflower filled alpine meadows and peaceful blue lakes.

Kenai, which is the Inuit word for "black bear," is a town of about 7,500 people located on Alaska's Kenai Peninsula near the mouth of the Kenai River and the Cook Inlet. Over 90% of the Kenai Peninsula Borough is wilderness area. And in recent years, the Kenai has become a great place for tourism as well. Due to the absolutely spectacular scenery. Kenai has views of oceans, mountains, rivers, and forests all right from town. There is pristine shoreline to take a leisurely stroll or endless rivers to canoe. It is an awesome spot to see wildlife or escape from the hustle and bustle of the 9 to 5 job. You'll see plenty of bear and moose just from your car window when you drive here from Anchorage, which is 156 miles away. Captain Cook State Park, the Swanson River canoe system and the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge are all very close by.

Did You Know?
The Kenai Peninsula is home to one black bear per square mile.

Kenai is a true Alaskan town set in the wilds of Alaska with an industry driven by tourism, oil, and commercial fishing. The first big oil discovery in Alaska was found close to Kenai, which caused the city to prosper.

Town Information:

Kenai City Government
http://www.ci.kenai.ak.us

Kenai Convention & Visitors Bureau
http://www.visitkenai.com

Population: 7,686 (2007 census)
Location: On the Cook Inlet, just north of the mouth of the Kenai River
Annual Precipitation: 18.95 in.
July Averages: Temperature - 62 F; precipitation - 1.75 in.

Lodging:

The Duck Inn
43187 Kalifornsky Beach Rd., Soldotna, AK
(907) 262-1849

Historic Kenai Landing
2101 Bowpicker Ln., Kenai, AK
(907) 335-2500
http://www.kenailanding.com

Aspen Hotel Soldotna
326 Binley Cir., Soldotna, AK
(907) 260-7736 / (888) 308-7848
http://www.aspenhotelsak.com/

Great Alaska Adventure Lodge
Moose River, 33881 Sterling Hwy., Sterling, AK
(907)262-4515
http://www.greatalaska.com

Harborside Cottages B & B
13 Riverview Dr. (PO Box 942), Kenai, AK
(907) 283-6162 / (888) 283-6162
http://www.harborsidecottages.com

Log Cabin Inn
49860 Eider Rd. (PO Box 2886), Kenai, AK
(907) 283-3653
http://www.alaskalogcabininn.com/

All Seasons B & B
37915 Loriwood Dr., Kenai, AK
(907) 283-7050
http://www.allseasonsbnb.com

Uptown Motel
47 Spur View Dr., Kenai, AK
(907) 283-3660 / (800) 777-3650
http://www.uptownmotel.com

Best Western King Salmon Motel
35546-A Kenai Spur Hwy., Soldotna, AK
(907) 262-5857 / (888) 262-5857
http://www.bestwestern.com

Camping:

Captain Cook State Recreation Area
End of North Road, Nikiski
(907) 262-5581
http://www.dnr.state.ak.us/parks/units/captcook.htm

Beluga Lookout Lodge & RV Park
929 Mission Pkwy., Kenai, AK
(907) 283-5999
http://belugalookout.com

What to See:

Holy Assumption Russian Orthodox Church
1106 Mission Ave., Kenai, AK
(907) 283-4122

Restaurants & Bars:

Charlotte's Bakery, Cafe, Espresso
115 S. Willow, Kenai, AK
(907) 283-2777

Sal's Klondike Diner
44619 Sterling Hwy., Kenai, AK
(907) 262-2220

Mykel's
35041 Kenai Spur Hwy., Kenai, AK
(907) 256-4305
http://www.mykels.com

Paradisos (several locations)
Kenai, AK
(907) 283-2222

Suzie's Cafe
Mile 87.2, Sterling Hwy., Kenai, AK
(907) 260-5751

Buckets Sports Grill
43960 Sterling Hwy., Kenai, AK
(907) 262.7220
http://bucketssportsgrill.com

Transportation:

Car Rentals: Hertz, Avis, Budget & Payless @ Kenai Airport

Alaska Cab
(907) 283-6000 Kenai; (907) 262-1555 (Soldotna)

Did You Know?
The Kenai River has large runs of salmon every year -
80,000 kings, 300,000 silvers, 1,000,000 reds, and 1,000,000+ pinks.

Airport:

Kenai Municipal Airport
427 N. Willow St., Kenai, AK
(907) 283-7951
http://www.kenaiairport.com

Chamber of Commerce:

Kenai Chamber of Commerce
402 Overland Ave., Kenai, AK
(907) 283-7989
http://www.kenaichamber.org

AK Employment Service:

Alaska Job Center Network
11312 Kenai Spur Hwy. #2, Kenai, AK
(907) 283-2900

Local Newspaper:

Peninsula Clarion
PO Box 3009, Kenai, AK
(907) 283-7551
http://www.peninsulaclarion.com

Hospital:

Central Peninsula General
130 S. Willow St., Kenai, AK
(907) 262-4404
http://www.cpgh.org

Fish & Game:

Alaska Department of Fish & Game
43961 Kalifornsky Beach Rd. #B, Soldotna, AK
(907) 262-9368 / (907) 262-2737
http://www.adfg.state.ak.us

Did You Know?
Kenai is nicknamed the "Oil Capital of Alaska."

Internet Access:

Kenai Public Library
163 Main St. Loop, Kenai, AK
(907) 283-4378
http://www.kenailibrary.org