Kenai Wildlife Reserve Canoe Route
Full blog with pictures here: https://northernwaters.shutterfly.com/kenaiwildlifereserve
This is a 5-7 day canoe route south of Anchorage, AK on the Kenai
peninsula. This was one of our most memorable trips. It was a real
adventure. It is not one I will repeat, yet I am so glad we did it. It
makes a big figure 8 through a series of small lakes (almost ponds) in a
large marshy and muskog area. It has the most amazing beavers, lots of
moose, and lots of bear (probably grizzly). However we didn't see any
moose or bear because we were traveling with 5 kids, and it is almost
impossible to see wildlife with kids because they chatter non-stop.
Note there are no views to speak of unless you get to Wonder Lake.
We did the outer loop of the figure 8, which took us into a rarely visited area. This was our route (double click on the map to the right to zoom into it): Dog-Lure-Pot-Lonely-Kuviak-Junco-Lost-Red Squirrel-Woods-Gene-Eider-Olsjold-Wonder-Nutchatch-Lierum-Lynx-Pepper-Gene-Swanson-Campers-Berry-Redpole-Kuviak-Lonely-Pot-Lure-Dog. Yes, 25 portages. This is a route where you pack your stuff in a backpack because you are getting in and out a lot!
Logistics
Getting there We flew into Anchorage and then arranged a shuttle down to Sterling, AK. But renting a car would have been better since it was kind of tough being stuck on the Kenai without transportation. After the trip, we went to Homer on the bus, which runs once or twice a day.
Canoe rentals
Alaska Canoe & Campground
35292 Sterling Highway
Sterling, Alaska 99672
907-262-2331
Map and guide book There is a guide book and you can download maps from the internet. Go here http://www.northlite.biz/Canoe/
Camps There weren't really established camps on the route but there were informal ones. We had small tents and were happy for that since we had to fit into tiny spots sometimes.
Wildlife Beavers, beavers and more beavers. Wolf, coyote, bear, moose and river otters. Loads of bird life. Lots of fish.
Dogs Not sure but it is a wildlife refuge and it has a lot of grizzly bears. Might not be the best place for fido.
Other stuff to do The Kenai is an outdoor lovers playground. Definitely check out Homer. We stayed at the funky hostel in town. Then we took a water taxi and did a 5-day hike in the Kachemak Bay State Park. We got dropped off at Glacier Spit, hiked to Humpy Creek then to Emerald Lake then down to the Saddle trail pick-up. Map http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/units/kbay/kbytrsmp.htm This trip wouldn't take adults 5-days. We were hiking with a 3-yr old (4 little kids; 2 adults) and could only go 5 miles max a day; I don't recommend doing this with a 3-yr old unless you enjoy hiking with a heavy pack at a 1/2 mile an hour pace.
Full blog with pictures here: https://northernwaters.shutterfly.com/kenaiwildlifereserve
This is a 5-7 day canoe route south of Anchorage, AK on the Kenai
peninsula. This was one of our most memorable trips. It was a real
adventure. It is not one I will repeat, yet I am so glad we did it. It
makes a big figure 8 through a series of small lakes (almost ponds) in a
large marshy and muskog area. It has the most amazing beavers, lots of
moose, and lots of bear (probably grizzly). However we didn't see any
moose or bear because we were traveling with 5 kids, and it is almost
impossible to see wildlife with kids because they chatter non-stop.
Note there are no views to speak of unless you get to Wonder Lake.We did the outer loop of the figure 8, which took us into a rarely visited area. This was our route (double click on the map to the right to zoom into it): Dog-Lure-Pot-Lonely-Kuviak-Junco-Lost-Red Squirrel-Woods-Gene-Eider-Olsjold-Wonder-Nutchatch-Lierum-Lynx-Pepper-Gene-Swanson-Campers-Berry-Redpole-Kuviak-Lonely-Pot-Lure-Dog. Yes, 25 portages. This is a route where you pack your stuff in a backpack because you are getting in and out a lot!
Logistics
Getting there We flew into Anchorage and then arranged a shuttle down to Sterling, AK. But renting a car would have been better since it was kind of tough being stuck on the Kenai without transportation. After the trip, we went to Homer on the bus, which runs once or twice a day.
Canoe rentals
Alaska Canoe & Campground
35292 Sterling Highway
Sterling, Alaska 99672
907-262-2331
Weigner's Backcountry Guiding
P.O. Box 709
Sterling, Alaska 99672
907-262-7840
P.O. Box 709
Sterling, Alaska 99672
907-262-7840
Bears Tons. No bins. You need to hang. We had no encounters but saw lots of fresh sign everywhere.
Map and guide book There is a guide book and you can download maps from the internet. Go here http://www.northlite.biz/Canoe/
Camps There weren't really established camps on the route but there were informal ones. We had small tents and were happy for that since we had to fit into tiny spots sometimes.
Wildlife Beavers, beavers and more beavers. Wolf, coyote, bear, moose and river otters. Loads of bird life. Lots of fish.
Dogs Not sure but it is a wildlife refuge and it has a lot of grizzly bears. Might not be the best place for fido.
Other stuff to do The Kenai is an outdoor lovers playground. Definitely check out Homer. We stayed at the funky hostel in town. Then we took a water taxi and did a 5-day hike in the Kachemak Bay State Park. We got dropped off at Glacier Spit, hiked to Humpy Creek then to Emerald Lake then down to the Saddle trail pick-up. Map http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/units/kbay/kbytrsmp.htm This trip wouldn't take adults 5-days. We were hiking with a 3-yr old (4 little kids; 2 adults) and could only go 5 miles max a day; I don't recommend doing this with a 3-yr old unless you enjoy hiking with a heavy pack at a 1/2 mile an hour pace.
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