COOPER LANDING AREA
Section: River Mile 82 – 65 (Kenai Lake to Skilak Lake)
General Access: The Sterling Highway parallels the river more or less continuously from the bridge spanning the outlet of Kenai Lake at Mile 47.6 downstream to Mile 57.9 near Jim’s Landing. Skilak Lake Road provides additional access to the Upper Kenai as well as the eastern shore of Skilak Lake where the river dumps in. Several pullouts are present along with parking areas and campgrounds that include developed or improvised trails of varying conditions that lead to the river.
Rules & Regulations: Closed to all fishing from May 2 through June 10. Closed to silver salmon fishing November 1 through June 30. King salmon fishing prohibited all year, including catch-and-release. Only single-hook, artificial lures may be used. No bait allowed. Note: Some areas are closed to fishing from the riverbank from July 1 through August 15. Consult ADF&G for details.
Sterling Highway
- Kenai River Campground / Bridge #1 (RM 82)
Access: From Mile 47.7 of Sterling Highway, turn north on paved access road short distance to campground entrance on right. Boardwalk leads to river.
Facilities: Parking and camping for all size vehicles, boat launch, and restrooms.
Fishing: Campground is situated at the outlet of Kenai Lake where Kenai River begins. Slow current in area means that red salmon fishing is not too productive; however, anglers find good silver salmon, rainbow trout, and Dolly Varden action here. This is a popular place to launch a float trip. Please respect private property in area.
- Kenai River Turnout #1
Access: From Mile 49.5 of Sterling Highway, turn north to parking area. No trails present but hiking along river is possible. Bank fishing can be a little difficult in summer due to brush and high water conditions; fall to spring low water and easier walking prevails.
Facilities: Parking. Generally not a good spot for large RVs.
Fishing: This place provides great access to a large pool right in front of the turnout, just downstream of Princess Rapids, with anglers finding good opportunities for silver salmon, rainbow trout, and Dolly Varden. When water is low, it is possible to hike ½ mile in either direction along the riverbank to reach prime holes. A popular spot for late-season fishing. Please respect private property in area.
- Cooper Creek Campground (RM 79)
Access: From Mile 50.7 Sterling Highway, turn north on road to campground. Trails lead upstream and down along river.
Facilities: Parking and camping for all size vehicles; restrooms.
Fishing: The fishing is only fair at the campground but hiking along the river in either direction will put anglers on to some decent red action and good catches of silvers, rainbows, and Dolly Varden. There is a long stretch of deep and calm water just upstream of the campground along the highway that is popular with boaters.
- Kenai River Bridge #2
Access: Sterling Highway crosses river. From Mile 53.1, turn north to parking area. Faint trails present on upstream side of bridge along both banks of the river. Walking the riverbank is possible.
Facilities: Parking for all size vehicles.
Fishing: Anglers can choose either to fish at road crossing by bridge or hike upstream about a ¼ mile to a slough. The opposite bank provides better beach fishing and a productive hole is located approximately 200 yards upstream. Good opportunities for red and silver salmon, rainbow trout, and Dolly Varden along the northeast bank from near the bridge upstream around the bend to the hole.
- Kenai River Turnout #2
Access: From Mile 54.7 of Sterling Highway, turn south to small parking area by sign and the river. This spot is straight across from the mouth of Russian River. Main fishing is in channel at turnout.
Facilities: Limited parking. Not a place for large RVs.
Fishing: Red salmon fishing can be very good at peak of runs (especially the late run), with rainbow trout and Dolly Varden also being decent. A fair location for early-run silvers.
- Sportsman’s Landing State Recreation Site (RM 73.6)
Access: From Mile 54.9 of Sterling Highway, turn south on paved access road at sign short distance to large parking area and river.
Facilities: Parking for all size vehicles, boat launch, and restrooms.
Fishing: This is primarily a put-in/take-out spot for boaters with limited bank fishing available. Where and when allowed, expect fair action from shore for early-run silvers, rainbows, and Dollies.
- Kenai-Russian River Campground (RM 73.5)
Access: From Mile 55.0 of Sterling Highway, turn south on paved access road leading short distance to recreation area and river. Trail leads downstream along river. Additionally, anglers can take cable ferry across river and hike the opposite bank of the Kenai for several miles. This is also the main access site for the mouth of Russian River.
Facilities: Parking and primitive camping for all size vehicles; restrooms.
Fishing: The best bank fishing is from the ferry downstream along the beach about ½ mile. Excellent spot for late-run reds, rainbows, and Dollies with good opportunities also for silver salmon. Anglers on other side of the river enjoy extremely productive fishing, especially for salmon. This is a fly-fishing only area from June 11 through August 20. Check the regulations.
- Kenai River Turnout #3
Access: From Mile 55.5 of Sterling Highway, turn south to parking area. Trails lead upstream and down along river about ½ mile.
Facilities: Parking for all size vehicles. May be difficult to find space for large RVs during red salmon run in July.
Fishing: This is a great starting point for bank anglers to explore the various types of water and fishing available on the upper Kenai. Decent area for early-run reds and silvers but the late-run salmon fishery is superb. Fly-fishers can expect world-class action for rainbows and Dollies. Casting from shore is best for salmon; trout and char from boat.
- Kenai River Turnout #4
Access: From Mile 56.4 of Sterling Highway, turn south to parking area and river. Trail leads along slough and river ¼ mile to beach area. Note: Part of trail is very difficult to negotiate.
Facilities: Parking for all size vehicles. May be difficult to find space for large RVs during red salmon run in July.
Fishing: Anglers do well on various salmon and resident species at mouth of slough but better fishing is along beach farther downstream. Excellent opportunities for late-run red salmon, rainbow trout, and Dolly Varden await. Silvers provide fair to good action – search out quiet water. A popular spot for floaters to pull in.
- Kenai River Turnout #5 (RM 71)
Access: From Mile 56.9 of Sterling Highway, turn south to parking area and river. Faint trail leads upstream and down along river.
Facilities: Parking for all size vehicles. May be difficult to find space for large RVs during red salmon run in July.
Fishing: There is generally not much angling pressure off the bank at this location with mostly rafts coming through and stopping on the opposite side of the river. A couple of productive slots may be found by hiking away from the turnout. Expect fair to good opportunities for reds and silvers as well as rainbow trout and Dolly Varden.
- Jim’s Landing State Recreation Site (RM 69.7)
Access: From Mile 58.0 of Sterling Highway, turn southwest on Skilak Lake Road short distance to access road on left, continue short distance to parking areas and river. Trails lead upstream and down along river.
Facilities: Parking, boat launch, and restrooms.
Fishing: This is foremost a take-out point for anglers drifting down from Kenai Lake or Sportsman’s Landing with somewhat limited bank fishing opportunities. For reds, head downstream of the landing; for silvers, go upstream 200 yards to a large slough. Rainbow and Dolly fishing is very good throughout this area.
- Upper Kenai River Trailhead
Access: From Mile 58.0 of Sterling Highway, turn southwest on Skilak Lake Road 0.7 mile to trailhead on left. Trail leads ¼ mile to river. Main trail continues south several miles along river canyon to junction with trail originating from the Lower Kenai River Trailhead and provides further access to inlet of Skilak Lake. Little actual river access along most sections of this trail. Fishing the canyon is mostly done from boat.
Facilities: Parking for all size vehicles; restrooms.
Fishing: The nearest fishing spot is at the slough and the holes right above close to the trailhead. Find good opportunities for silvers, rainbows, and Dollies. A few anglers follow the trail downstream along the canyon, bushwhacking it to the river where terrain allows. Those fortunate enough to reach the deep pools and slots in this area will potentially experience some fantastic trout and char action. Trophies possible.
- Lower Kenai River Trailhead
Access: From Mile 58.0 of Sterling Highway, turn southwest on Skilak Lake Road 2.4 miles to trailhead on left. Trail leads ¼ mile to a split, take right fork ½ mile to river area. Trail parallels the Kenai next 2 miles with some improvised paths leading to river. Access to fish the canyon and downstream is mostly done by boat.
Facilities: Parking for all size vehicles; restrooms.
Fishing: Bank anglers will find plenty of space to move around with little competition, except from boaters drifting through. Fishing is very productive in this stretch of river, with outstanding opportunities for red and silver salmon, rainbow trout, and Dolly Varden.
- Hidden Creek Trailhead
Access: From Mile 58.0 of Sterling Highway, turn southwest on Skilak Lake Road 4.7 miles to trailhead on left. Trail leads 1 ½ mile to a split, take left fork ½ mile to second juncture, keep left ¾ mile to river. Trail parallels river for the next 2 miles with some improvised paths leading to the Kenai and the inlet of Skilak Lake.
Facilities: Parking.
Fishing: The final few miles of river (the Braids), the mouth of Hidden Creek, and the inlet of Skilak Lake offers impressive angling for reds and silvers along with world-class fly-fishing for rainbow trout and Dolly Varden. Very few people come here by foot from the trailhead; expect mostly boaters. Lake trout available at Skilak inlet.
- Upper Skilak Lake Campground
Access: From Mile 58.0 of Sterling Highway, turn southwest on Skilak Lake Road 8.5 miles to access road on left by sign, continue 1.9 mile to campground and lake. Motor from here due east 6 miles across lake to inlet and mouth of Kenai River.
Facilities: Parking and camping for all size vehicles, boat launch, and restrooms.
Fishing: Very few people actually fish this specific location; the campground is primarily a take-out point for boaters just having floated the Upper Kenai. Some anglers also launch boats here, motor over to the lake inlet and the river – or other area fishing spots – and return.