CITY OF KENAI AREA

Section: River Mile 0 – 12 (Mouth to upper reach of tidal activity at The Pillars)

General Access: The Kenai Spur Highway running from the “Y” in Soldotna to the City of Kenai and beyond provides several points of access to the lower portion of the river. Additionally, Kalifornsky Beach Road and Bridge Access Road cover the south bank of the river. The access sites are generally developed with parking, camping, restrooms, and boat launches present.

Rules & Regulations: Closed to king salmon fishing from August 1 through December 31, silver salmon from December 1 through June 30, and rainbow trout from May 2 through June 10. No bait allowed from January 1 through June 30. Note: Some areas are closed to fishing from the riverbank from July 1 through August 15. Consult ADF&G for details.

 

Kenai Spur Highway

 

  1. Mouth of Kenai River (RM 0)

Access: From Mile 11.7 of Kenai Spur Highway, turn south on Spruce Drive 0.5 mile to large parking area and beach. Hike along beach or continue driving to the left 0.2 mile to end of road and river mouth.

Facilities: Parking for all size vehicles; restrooms.

Fishing: Extensive beach area popular with the dip net crowd in July. Little sport fishing is done here but can be excellent for pink salmon if water conditions are right. A few silvers and sea-run Dolly Varden may also be taken with rumors of kings having been caught here as well. Flounders are present.

 

  1. Kenai Boat Harbor (RM 1.5)

Access: Located 1.6 mile south of Kenai Spur Highway or 1.8 mile north of Kalifornsky Beach Road on Bridge Access Road; turn west on Boat Launch Road 0.4 mile to parking area and river.

Facilities: Parking, boat launch, and restrooms. Launch is in tidal area and may be unusable during very low tides.

Fishing: This spot is primarily a launch area for boats heading upstream and little to no fishing is actually done here.

 

  1. Kenai Flats State Recreation Site (Warren Ames Bridge) (RM 5)

Access: Site is located 2.8 miles south of Kenai Spur Highway or 0.6 mile north of Kalifornsky Beach Road on Bridge Access Road. Small access road south of bridge leads to parking area and river.

Facilities: Parking, picnic tables, and restrooms.

Fishing: Another spot that dip netters frequent during July. Bank anglers can find excellent fishing for pink salmon when water is clear while boaters do fair to good on kings and silvers. Use high-visibility lures and/or bait. If many late-run reds are pushing through, fair action is possible on a falling tide. Some Dolly Varden are present.

 

  1. Cunningham Park (RM 6.5)

Access: From Mile 6.4 of Kenai Spur Highway, turn south on Beaver Loop Road 2.7 miles to gravel road on left leading to parking area and river.

Facilities: Parking, picnic tables, and restrooms. Space may be a problem for large RVs. No camping allowed.

Fishing: A long-time favorite with locals seeking excellent salmon fishing. Mainly a bank fishery but boaters drift and troll this area as well. Throw lures at the pinks anytime, soak bait for silvers on low tide. When late-run reds come through in heavy numbers, very good action may be had on an outgoing tide drifting yarn flies. Patient bank anglers have been known to catch a few kings here. Dolly Varden action is fair.

 

  1. Eagle Rock Campground (RM 10)

Access: From Mile 5.1 of Kenai Spur Highway, turn west on Eagle Rock Drive 0.4 mile to campground and river.

Facilities: Parking for all size vehicles, limited camping, boat launch, and restrooms.

Fishing: This is a popular location for boaters to launch since one of the better spots on the river for salmon is situated right in front of the campground. Excellent action for kings, silvers, and pinks from boat. Shore-based anglers find superb pink fishing along with fair to good silvers and Dolly Varden. Some reds may be taken off the bank but slow current in area is not ideal for very productive fishing; try outgoing tide or from boat.

 

  1. The Pillars State Park (RM 12.5)

Access: From Mile 4.2 of Kenai Spur Highway, turn west on Silver Salmon Drive 0.5 mile to park area and river.

Facilities: Parking for all size vehicles, limited camping, boat launch, and restrooms.

Fishing: Being the uppermost point of tidal influence, this place is a very versatile fishing spot. Many boaters launch here in order to access some of the best fishing holes on the entire lower river for king and silver salmon, while shore-based anglers can take advantage of one of several trails leading to and along river and great action for silver and pink salmon. Decent spot for Dolly Varden. A few rainbow trout present.

 

 

SOLDOTNA AREA

Section: River Mile 12 – 30.5 (The Pillars to Funny River confluence)

General Access: There are three main roads in the area that support developed access sites. The Kenai Spur Highway connects the City of Kenai with Soldotna and has one access point within city limits. Kalifornsky Beach Road along the south river bank provides anglers with three sites while Funny River heading east up along the river adds two more. The Sterling Highway supports four points of access.

Rules & Regulations: Closed to king salmon fishing from August 1 through December 31, silver salmon from December 1 through June 30, and rainbow trout from May 2 through June 10. No bait allowed from January 1 through June 30. Note: Some areas are closed to fishing from the riverbank from July 1 through August 15. Consult ADF&G for details.

 

Kenai Spur Highway

 

  1. Big Eddy State Recreation Site (RM 14.5)

Access: From Mile 1.8 of Kenai Spur Highway, turn west on Big Eddy Road 1.4 mile to recreation site on left.

Facilities: Parking for all size vehicles, boat launch, picnic sites, and restrooms.

Fishing: Another location primarily for launching boats, there is some limited bank fishing in the immediate area. Anglers scouting this spot in late summer and fall will find some decent opportunities for silver and pink salmon, rainbow trout, and Dolly Varden.

 

 

Kalifornsky Beach Road

 

  1. Centennial Campground (RM 20.5)

Access: From Mile 96.1 of Sterling Highway (just south of the Kenai River bridge), turn west on Kalifornsky Beach Road, drive short distance and turn north on access road at sign 0.8 mile to campground and river. Large area with multiple developed trail access points to and along river from campsites.

Facilities: Parking and camping for all size vehicles, boat launch, and restrooms.

Fishing: This is one of the most popular spots in the Soldotna area, offering excellent bank fishing opportunities for silver, pink, and late-run red salmon. Anglers also do very good on rainbow trout and Dolly Varden here. Additionally, Centennial is one of the few places where catching kings from shore is possible. Boaters launch here to access both the lower and middle reaches of the Kenai.

 

  1. Slikok Creek State Recreation Site (RM 19)

Access: From Mile 20.5 of Kalifornsky Beach Road, turn north on College Loop Road 0.5 mile, right on West Chugach Drive 0.4 mile, and left on South Katmai Street 0.3 mile to access road on left and recreation site. Trail leads ¼ mile to mouth of Slikok Creek and the Kenai River.

Facilities: Parking, picnic tables, and restrooms.

Fishing: Not a large fishing area, anglers still do very well on three species of salmon, trout, and char. One of the better spots on the river (College Hole) is situated practically right out front of the mouth of Slikok Creek and bank fishers and boaters congregate here. For reds, hit the south side of stream for best action; silvers and pinks do better on the opposite bank.

 

  1. Ciechanski State Recreation Site (RM 15.5)

Access: From Mile 17.5 of Kalifornsky Beach Road, turn east on Ciechanski Road 2.6 miles to split in road, right on Porter Road 0.4 mile to access road on right, continue 0.2 mile to recreation site on right.

Facilities: Parking, picnic sites, restrooms, and boat docks. Note: There is no boat launch at this site.

Fishing: This site is primarily a rest stop for boaters with little developed area for fishing off the bank. However, some opportunities are available just upstream at base of bluff where shore anglers can connect with reds, silvers, pinks, rainbows, and Dollies.

 

 

Sterling Highway

 

  1. Soldotna Visitor Information Center (RM 21)

Access: From Mile 96.0 of Sterling Highway in Soldotna, turn northwest on short access road to the visitor center and large gravel parking area. Boardwalk trail behind center leads 200 yards to developed fishing area and river.

Facilities: Parking for all size vehicles. No camping allowed.

Fishing: Primarily a silver and pink salmon hot spot with good to excellent opportunities for both. Due to the relatively slow current in this area, red salmon action is only fair. Rainbow trout and Dolly Varden are abundant with good fishing possible. For those with the right equipment, a few king salmon may be landed here.

 

  1. The Ball Fields (RM 22)

Access: From Mile 94.4 of Sterling Highway, turn southeast on access road next to State of Alaska Maintenance Station short distance to large parking area on right. Trail leads to extensive boardwalk system along river that also connects to Soldotna Creek Park (see next entry below).

Facilities: Parking for all size vehicles and primitive restrooms.

Fishing: Good to excellent fishing for silver, pink, and late-run red salmon available in this stretch of river. An occasional king may be hooked up towards the Soldotna Creek confluence. Anglers targeting rainbow trout and Dolly Varden report good results.

 

  1. Soldotna Creek Park (RM 22)

Access: From Mile 94.4 of Sterling Highway, turn southeast on access road next to State of Alaska Maintenance Station and proceed to the left 0.2 mile to park area. Trail leads 200 yards to river and mouth of Soldotna Creek.

Facilities: Parking, picnic tables, and restrooms. No camping allowed.

Fishing: Find good to excellent opportunities for silvers and pinks at the mouth of Soldotna Creek and immediately downstream. Not a great spot for reds with fair action the norm; look for faster current downstream a ways for better fishing. Rainbow trout and Dolly Varden are numerous in this area.

 

  1. Swiftwater Campground (RM 23)

Access: From Mile 94.1 of Sterling Highway, turn east on Redoubt Avenue 0.6 mile, right on Griffin Avenue 0.8 mile, right on access road leading to campground. Short trails lead from campsites to river and boardwalk.

Facilities: Parking and camping for all size vehicles; restrooms.

Fishing: A very popular location for late-run red salmon with superb action available. Good fishing for silvers, rainbow trout, and Dolly Varden in slower moving stretches of the river. Expect pink salmon to be very prolific. Seek out deeper holes a little ways upstream of the campground for the opportunity to land a king salmon. Boaters in this area report excellent results on silver salmon and late-run kings.

 

 

Funny River Road

 

  1. Kenai River Science Center (RM 23)

Access: From Mile 96.1 of Sterling Highway, turn east on Funny River Road 1.7 mile, left on paved access road to science center parking lot. Developed trail leads 150 yards to river.

Facilities: Parking for all size vehicles; primitive restrooms.

Fishing: Located straight across the river from Swiftwater Campground, this local hot spot yields excellent fishing for late-run reds along with mediocre rainbow trout and Dolly Varden action. Generally not a very productive piece of water for pink and silver salmon with fair catches of both.

 

  1. Funny River State Recreation Site (RM 30.5)

Access: From Mile 96.1 of Sterling Highway, turn east on Funny River Road 11.5 miles, left on access road to campground. Trail leads short distance to the confluence of Funny and Kenai rivers.

Facilities: Parking, camping, and restrooms.

Fishing: The clearwater tributary of Funny River where it flows into the Kenai is a popular spot with the local crowd. Hordes of pinks pull in here and schools of silvers provide excellent fishing. Rainbow trout and Dolly Varden keep flyfishers busy. Very productive red salmon action can be had upstream of the confluence. A few late-run kings are in this area.