The Kenai Peninsula ( Dena'ina : Yaghenen ) is a large peninsula jutting from the coast of Southcentral Alaska . The name Kenai ( / ˈ k iː n aɪ / , KEE -ny ) is derived from the word "Kenaitze" or "Kenaitze Indian Tribe", the name of the Native Athabascan Alaskan tribe, the Kahtnuht’ana Dena’ina ("People along the Kahtnu (Kenai River) "), who historically inhabited the area. They called the Kenai Peninsula Yaghanen ("the good land").
12-780: Captain Cook State Recreation Area is a park on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska . It is located on the shores of Cook Inlet at the northern terminus of the Kenai Spur Highway , about 25 miles (40 km) north of Kenai and 14 miles (23 km) north of Nikiski . Both the Inlet and the recreation area are named after Captain James Cook who explored the area in 1778. Archeological evidence, as well as Cook's observations indicate
24-536: A 53-site wooded camping area on the bluffs above Cook Inlet ( Discovery was the name of one of the ships in Cook's expedition.) Campers are advised to keep a clean camp as black bears are known to frequent the area. There is a nature trail which encircles the campground. Below the campground is a beach on Cook Inlet, rocky in some places but more sandy near the river outlet. Beachcombers can find agates here. At low tide extensive and dangerous mud flats are exposed below
36-418: Is a major industry, along with outfitting and guiding services for hunters and fishers. The Kenai Peninsula is known as "Alaska's Playground". Kenai National Wildlife Refuge encompasses nearly two million acres of the peninsula. 60°10′N 150°15′W / 60.167°N 150.250°W / 60.167; -150.250 Tustumena Glacier The Tustumena Glacier is a glacier located on
48-493: The Kenai Peninsula of Alaska . The Tustumena Glacier begins in the Harding Icefield and makes its way down west for about 20 miles (32 km) until its terminus roughly 5 miles (8.0 km) before Tustumena Lake . The glacier is retreating due to global warming . A small lake called Arctic Lake sits alongside Tustumena Glacier, with its outflow underneath the ice. This lake periodically fills up and then drains as
60-598: The Cook Inlet and Kenai River, and Homer , along Kachemak Bay, along with numerous smaller villages and settlements. Homer marks the terminus of the paved highway system of North America , while nearby Anchor Point is the most westerly point on the contiguous highway system. Seward is the southern terminus of the Alaska Railroad . The Seward Highway connects Seward to Anchorage, while the Sterling Highway connects
72-618: The Cook Inlet is flatter, dotted with numerous small lakes. Several larger lakes extend through the interior of the peninsula, including Skilak Lake and Tustumena Lake . Rivers include the Kenai River , renowned for king salmon fishing, and its tributary, the Russian River , the Kasilof River , and the Anchor River . Kachemak Bay , an inlet off the larger Cook Inlet , extends into
84-574: The area was previously inhabited by the Dena'ina people, who gathered salmon in the area. The beaches in and around the park have also been the site of commercial fishing activity. The park is one of the oldest in the Alaska State Park system , having been authorized in 1971, with major capital improvement projects in 1978 and 2010. One of the park's main features is the Discovery Campground ,
96-496: The beach. On a clear day visitors to the bluff and beach can see the distant Aleutian Range , including the volcano Mount Spurr as well as several offshore oil rigs . The park is the northern terminus of the Swanson River and its associated canoe trail . The park is also home to Stormy Lake , a 161.9-hectare (400-acre) lake with boat launch and picnic areas as well as a small, primitive, boat-accessible campground. The lake
108-709: The large population centers to the Seward Highway. The Kenai Spur Highway connects Soldotna, Kenai, Nikiski and Captain Cook State Recreation Area , Commercial airports with service to Anchorage are located in Kenai and Homer Smaller airports are located in Soldotna Seward and Seldovia The Alaska Marine Highway services Homer and Seldovia . Seward is a major cruise ship port. The peninsula also has natural gas , petroleum , and coal deposits, as well as abundant commercial and personal-use fisheries. Tourism
120-650: The peninsula is part of the Kenai Peninsula Borough . Athabaskan and Alutiiq Native groups lived on the peninsula for thousands of years prior to colonization during the Russian America era. The glacier -covered Kenai Mountains run along the southeast spine of the peninsula along the coast of the Gulf of Alaska . Much of the range is within Kenai Fjords National Park . The northwest coast along
132-628: The peninsula's southwest end, much of which is part of Kachemak Bay State Park . It is home to both the Sargent Icefield and Harding Icefields and the numerous glaciers assosciated with them, including Tustumena Glacier , Exit Glacier , and McCarty Glacier . The peninsula includes several of the most populous towns in Southcentral Alaska, including Seward on the Gulf of Alaska Coast, Soldotna , Kenai , Sterling , and Cooper Landing along
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#1732851763714144-467: Was the site of two efforts to eradicate invasive species . In winter months the park features ice fishing on the lake and cross-country ski trails. Kenai Peninsula The peninsula extends about 150 miles (240 km) southwest from the Chugach Mountains , south of Anchorage . It is separated from the mainland on the west by Cook Inlet and on the east by Prince William Sound . Most of
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