Kenai area cg's-

[Getalab]

Hello all,it's looking good for my summer trip to Fbx, and want to plan a trip to Kenai last week of June when my son comes up for a week. Plans are to fish, hitting the known combat spots, and maybe a quided raft trip. Any favorite campgrounds in area that have decent bank fishing and are clean? Not many reviews or pics that I've found.
Prefer private, as the gov 3 day max at theirs would require moving.
Will be in a 21ft TT..any help much appreciated!
Steve

[Getalab]

AKSuperDually wrote:
King salmon fishing is closed this year.

There are a few options in Soldotna for camping on or very near the river, but they fill quickly, and you may not be able to get a reservation even now.

If you are a US military veteran, I may be able to work something out for you. Our nonprofit is developing a veterans transitional housing facility on the kenai river that we're planning to add a few RV sites to. It's for US Military Veterans only though.

I'm not a vet, but one in our group is. Thanks for the offer, and for taking care of our vets.

[Getalab]

Thanks for all the info. As mentioned,most good spots on river are taken, but I found a spot at kenairv.com in Cooper to start with. From there can maybe find a better spot at one of the state campgrounds that are first come/serve. Spend a few days around the Russian, and then down towards Kasilof for the remainder. Looking at a fly out to Wolverine Creek or float on the Kasilof, and whatever bank fishing we can run across.
Thanks again,
Steve

[AKSuperDually]

King salmon fishing is closed this year.

There are a few options in Soldotna for camping on or very near the river, but they fill quickly, and you may not be able to get a reservation even now.

If you are a US military veteran, I may be able to work something out for you. Our nonprofit is developing a veterans transitional housing facility on the kenai river that we're planning to add a few RV sites to. It's for US Military Veterans only though.

[tonymull]

Between Soldotna and Kenai on the road that is on the north side of the river, can't remember if that is Kenai Spur Rd. or not, there are a couple of private campgrounds and boat launches that offer some bank fishing opportunities..and if the second run of reds is coming in at all they will be in the lower river. There's also a couple on the south bank, and if there's no fish stop at Echo Lake Lockers and score some of that Jalapeno Cheese stuff. It's world famous for a reason! Great salmon dip too. If you haven't fished for sockeye before keep in mind that they run only 10-15 feet from the bank.

[c_traveler2]

Getalab wrote:
Hello all,it's looking good for my summer trip to Fbx, and want to plan a trip to Kenai last week of June when my son comes up for a week. Plans are to fish, hitting the known combat spots, and maybe a quided raft trip. Any favorite campgrounds in area that have decent bank fishing and are clean? Not many reviews or pics that I've found.
Prefer private, as the gov 3 day max at theirs would require moving.
Will be in a 21ft TT..any help much appreciated!
Steve

Check with Alaska Fish & Game for the new fishing and clamming restrictions throughout Alaska. There is no clamming on the eastside of Cook Inlet and new restriction for salmon fishing.

Alaska State Parks campgrounds, camping stays range from 4-7 days, so I don't where you got 3 days max and have to move?

If you don't have a Milepost get one, it's a treasure trove of information with plenty of list campgrounds both private and public.

[hr0082]

We absolutely loved Country Boy Campground in Ninilchik. I know it is now for sale, so not sure if/when it will be open. I do know that when we were there, most of the people were doing quite well with fishing.

http://www.rvparkreviews.com/regions/alaska/ninilchik/country-boy-campground

[tonymull]

I guess my point though was that runs vary year to year and just because a chart says fish are in the river for this month or that does not mean there will be many. Most runs peak for only a few days and those days vary. You said Quartz Creek is full, but did you know there is an upper campground just 3-4 miles upstream? Never seen that one full. The Russian River campgrounds are often crowded. Watson Lake just north of Sterling is little used and Johnson Lake near Kasiloff usually has some space, if you continue past Johnson Lake there is another campground but I can't remember the name. Arriving on Sunday afternoon or Monday is a good tactic for finding a campsite.

[tonymull]

The Newhalem can be a relatively inexpensive fly out. When you land, a jet on a gravel runway, you hike across the runway and there is a place where many camp and then a trail that leads down to the river, about 1.5 miles altogether. The trail emerges just where the river runs into Lake Illiamna. The Newhalem Rapids just above that are incredible. Whitewater with standing waves 6 feet tall and pockets where the hundreds of thousands of sockeye pull over to regroup. You fish those pockets and try to keep the salmon from darting back into the fast water. The bank upriver is about 25 yards wide and ends at a cliff so you are boxed in. If a bear comes along you can't get very far away. Great fishing though, I've caught salmon till my arms fell off, easy to land 20 or 30 per day. Limit used to be 5 with a 2 day possession limit, but you can take them out to the airport and freeze them for a fee and start over the next day.

[Tee_Jay]

Some State campgrounds include Issak Walton at the intersection of the Moose and Kenai Rivers in Sterling, and Bing's Landing in Sterling. Bing's has larger RV spots. There is a trail to walk to the fishing area near the Naptowne rapids. Bing's is seldom full.

Traffic is usually pretty ok, but the Anchorage migration is Friday night down and Sunday afternoon return. Just try to avoid the road at those times.
Fishing Regulations will tell about hook size, weight placement, open seasons, bag limits and more. I believe there is an Emergency Order out cancelling all King fishing through July.

The combat fishing is on the Russian River.

[Getalab]

Thanks for all the info..sad that pesky work gets in the way of the best fishing dates, but we'll make do. Quartz is already full that week, as are the state cg's, even for 3 days. The Milepost only shows their advertisers, found a few thru search, and found a few using google earth with business tags turned on. I Just like knowing all my options-hate getting there and seeing the perfect place I didn't know about:)
I do plan on a fly/float trip one day to hit a remote spot away from crowds, that Illiamna one mentioned sounds awesome.
Thx again,
Steve

[2gypsies1]

Here's the site for Kenai Princess RV. We haven't stayed there.

Kenai Princess RV

We stayed at Quartz Creek, Chugach Nat'l Forest Campground which was beautiful. There was not a 3-day limit.

Quartz Creek N.F.

[tonymull]

Yep, best to avoid the Seward Hwy on Sunday afternoons in the summer. Bumper to bumper can start 50 miles south of Anchortown. Last week of June can be, but not every year, not the best fishing. First run of sockeye is tailing off and the second run has not come in yet. Try Ninilchik and Deep Creek for kings. Bank fishing for Kenai kings is not very productive any time, they are just too big and the water too fast. Rafting on the upper Kenai is always good for rainbows and maybe some late first run sockeye. When I lived in Alaska the end of June through the 4th was a time to abandon the Kenai and fly out to Illiamna to fish the Newhalen River. Millions of sockeye and some nice rainbows, but watch for bears, there is jet service. The time you are planning is also a great time to hike up past Russian River falls and fish the middle river for rainbows and dollies, but again watch for the bears. I spent a very hair raising night at the top of the falls many years ago with a bear prowling around just outside the light of my fire. Later in summer the grass along the middle Russian is over head high and if there's a trail, you know it's used by bears, spooky. Parks Hwy streams should be good at the end of June.

[sue_t]

Drive very aware on the Kenai Peninsula.

On our one trip down there, an oncoming vehicle almost came head on into us because he was impatiently passing a long line of RVs heading home towards Anchorage. We were as far over on the shoulder as we could get, braking hard while towing the fifth wheel, and he managed to squeeze by us while continuing his passing.

On the way out from the Peninsula, we encountered an accident near the same area. Tragically, a motorcyclist died in it. Apparently he was hit head on by a vehicle passing others.

We haven't been tempted to return to the Kenai Peninsula.

[petendoll]

We stayed in the Centennial Park Campground while in Soldotna. It is located right on the Kenai River. It fills to capacity with fishermen when the run starts. It has 220 sites. There aren't any services as I recall. It is first come first served, no reservations. It was packed with fishermen when we were there. It was a very busy place. Combat camping. It is city run. Phone 907-262-5299.

During the run, campers are parked all over the place. It really gets crowded. There are several other campgrounds in the area. I don't know if they have services. We camped all summer in 2011 in Alaska and only had power a few times. State parks had just pitcher pumps for water. Grocery stores and gas stations have dumps, LP, water etc. It is the most RV friendly place to boondockers you will find anywhere. We loved being off the grid.