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Cooper Landing is a friendly roadside town on the Kenai River where the stream starts from the turquoise waters of Kenai Lake. Two world-class salmon streams – the Kenai and Russian Rivers – meet here. The surrounding countryside is beautiful. Salmon fishing in Cooper Landing is excellent. Fly-fishing in September is also good. |
Cooper Landing is a group of stores, outfitters, and lodging establishments that runs along the Kenai River west of Kenai Lake. It’s around 40 miles northwest of Seward on the Sterling Highway. The area is named after Joseph Cooper, who found gold here in 1884. Buildings hug the road. Cooper Landing was isolated for quite awhile. The original “road” was the Resurrection Trail, which passes through Cooper Landing on its way from the town of Hope on Turnagain Arm to the town of Seward on Resurrection Bay. It wasn’t until 1938 that an actual automobile road was built to Seward. And you couldn’t drive to Anchorage until 1951. |
The best salmon fishing in the world happens right here in Cooper Landing. There are two places to fish the Russian River. The first is accessed from the Russian River Campground, at mile 52.6. The second is where the Russian River enters the Kenai River. This is called the "Sanctuary Area". This is accessible via the Russian River Ferry at mile 55. Check the regulations which have a special page for fishing the Russian River. This great fishery also is subject to emergency changes in the season and bag limits so check locally or at the ferry. |
Fishermen use the Russian River Ferry to get across to the other side of the river at the Russian River Campground. It’s a nominal fee for the journey. They say that Teddy Roosevelt rode an earlier version of the ferry (similar to the old one next to Gwin’s Lodge) when he visited Alaska. |
The Russian River opens for fishing in mid-June, when the first red salmon arrive. A second run of reds arrives in mid to late July, and you can fish for silvers in the middle of August. The fish don’t necessarily run way out in the river. They may be right at your feet. Use care when casting with someone near you. |
If your kids are on the bank, make sure they’re out of range of any backcasts. |
The Kenaitze Indians fished the Kenai and Russian Rivers. Not surprisingly, they had a large fishing camp where the Russian River Ferry now operates. They caught their fish with dipnets, weirs, and traps. There are two places in Cooper Landing where you can learn more about the early Native residents of the region. One is right across from the Russian River Campground, at mile 52. The other is just down the road, at mile 53.7. Local people still heavily rely on salmon. |
Bears like to eat salmon. So you’ll find them along salmon streams. If you see a bear, make noise and give the bear a wide berth. It’s their country – and their food source. Getting very close to a grizzly is nothing to brag about. People are seriously mauled by bears nearly every year in Alaska. (Photo, Gary Lackie, Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center) + For more about bears, check out the Alaska Wildlife section. |
There are a number of places to put in your boat, raft, kayak or canoe into the Kenai River. Two of the more popular ones are the state park boat launch, right by the bridge at mile 48, at the end of Kenai Lake. Boaters also put in at the Russian River Ferry boat launch. |
There are numerous restrictions on boat and motor use, as well as changeable fishing regulations. You’ll feel more confident if you go out with a guiding service here before attempting this trip on your own. |
Because you can’t use motors on the Upper Kenai River, you won’t be able to get back upstream to where you put in. This means you’ll have to have two vehicles or use a shuttle service. Jim’s Landing is the most widely used public take out point. Parking is limited, but there’s a nice graveled, flat launch to the river. Be aware before you go further down the river that there is Class 2 and Class 3 whitewater ahead, and you’ll have to go all the way to Upper Skilak Lake Campground to take out. |
The Upper Kenai is famous for its rainbow fishery, which is basically catch and release. This means you must get a copy of the Sport Fishing Regulations. You can find them on the web at: http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/Statewide/regulations/scregs.cfm The regulations are complicated, so check at local sports shops to make sure there isn’t an emergency closure or regulation in effect. It’s important to handle rainbows that you are releasing carefully. Follow the technique used in the photo above if you want to take a picture of your catch. Protect Alaska’s rainbow population. |
Two historic cabins, the 1920’s era Cooper Landing post office, and the 1955 Cooper Landing Schoolhouse, have been turned into a museum at Mile 48.7 Sterling Highway. Up until several years ago, you would have mailed your letters from the old post office. The school was used until 2001. The museum is open Wednesdays through Mondays in the afternoon, and is staffed by local volunteers, so this is a good place to meet local people. |
Even the rules about fishing with beads are complicated. |
Rainbow trout and dolly varden follow returning salmon, first feeding on the salmon roe that float downstream, and then on pieces of salmon as they fall apart after spawning. In the Kenai River and its tributaries, you’ll find people fishing with beads and flies that imitate salmon eggs, as well as flies like the flesh-colored flies on the left, that mimic salmon flesh. These rabbit fur flies come in varying colors, faded orange to dull white. They come as single flies, or as two flies tied together (“articulated.”) |
Open Door Policy Alaska is becoming more modernized by the year. But, in some of the more remote rural places, where you know every neighbor, there is still not much need for a lock. Cooper Landing is a place like that Traditionally, trapper’s cabins have been left, stocked for emergency use by anyone going by. The visitor’s job is to add firewood, replace any food if possible, leave things better than you found them – and put the spoon back in the door latch. |
Boardwalks and walkways are in use in Cooper Landing and elsewhere in the Kenai to protect riverbanks and waterfronts. The Cooper Landing boat launch has a scenic viewing platform and telescopes. Right next door is the Chamber information center. |
Shall We Gather at the River 
What Can You Find in Cooper Landing?
Fishing on the Russian River 
Only
In Cooper Landing: You'll Ride the Russian River Ferry
Brings Out The Kid In Us
Taking Out 
Walkways, Boardwalks, and Boat Launches
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