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").
12-538: The Trail Lakes are two lakes on the lower Kenai Peninsula, Alaska . The lakes are near the town of Moose Pass and adjacent to the Seward Highway . They are the home of a large salmon hatchery owned by the state of Alaska and operated by the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association . The fish hatched at this facility are released into streams and lakes at various points on the peninsula, and are also
24-540: 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
36-698: 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 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 Captain Cook State Recreation Area Captain Cook State Recreation Area
48-677: 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
60-586: The Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Kenai Peninsula, Alaska 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 the peninsula is part of the Kenai Peninsula Borough . Athabaskan and Alutiiq Native groups lived on
72-710: 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 the Cook Inlet and Kenai River, and Homer , along Kachemak Bay, along with numerous smaller villages and settlements. Homer marks
84-576: 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 ,
96-502: 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
108-625: 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 the peninsula's southwest end, much of which is part of Kachemak Bay State Park . It is home to both
120-574: 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 the Cook Inlet is flatter, dotted with numerous small lakes. Several larger lakes extend through
132-568: The source of the salmon runs at the "fishing hole" on the Homer Spit . The hatchery was at the center of a prolonged legal battle between the Wilderness Society and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service . The society claimed that the hatchery was conducting commercial activity in a wilderness area, and such activity is illegal under the Wilderness Act . This article about a location in
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#1732851571677144-1019: 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 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
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