Guided drift boats and rafts fish the Kenai River near Cooper Landing, Alaska. Fishing for chinook, sockeye and coho salmon brings travelers from around the world to the area. Photo courtesy: State of Alaska Tourism / Matt Hage

Located in Cooper Landing on the Kenai Peninsula, the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge is near the juncture of the Russian and Kenai Rivers, the site of the most fantastic salmon fishing in Alaska. There’s plenty to do, whether you want to enjoy some river sportfishing, float the Kenai River, go horseback riding or explore Seward and Kenai Fjords National Park. Here are a few activities offered at the Kenai Princess Lodge:

Kenai Upper River Sportfishing
Enjoy a full or half day of fishing on the upper Kenai River for sockeye and coho salmon, Dolly Varden and rainbow trout. The 17-mile stretch of the Kenai River through the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge features sections for beginners and experienced fisherman. Fishing licenses are also available at the Kenai Princess Lodge.

Cooper Landing Trail Ride
Take an explorative horseback trail ride through the breathtaking landscape of the historic gold mining area of Cooper Landing and meander through the Kenai Peninsula’s forests, meadows, rock ridges, river shores and along the base of Langille Mountain in the Chugach National Forest. Lunch is provided at one of the many scenic lookout points.

Kenai Alaska Husky Spirit
Meet dog musher Lorraine Temple and her sled dogs and find out what it takes for canine athletes to make it onto a team for the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Learn hands-on how to harness and hook the dogs on the gangline. Also, watch a video that brings the mystique of Alaska dog mushing to life with colorful images of wildlife dogsledding and adorable puppies.

Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise
Take a drive to Seward and explore the pristine wonders of the Kenai Fjords National Park. From Resurrection Bay, cruise out on the open waters of the Gulf of Alaska around the Aialik Peninsula to the face of the Aialik Glacier. The sound of glaciers calving giant blocks of ancient ice can be heard across the harbor. Remember to look for marine animals such as orcas, humpback whales, seabirds, sea lions and otters.

For more information on these activities, visit the Kenai excursions page or call 1-800-426-0500.

Headed south on the Sterling Highway, Soldotna is located about an hour from Cooper Landing. With the Kenai River at its back door, Soldotna is a great getaway for avid fishermen and women. The world record sport fishing king salmon was even caught there. If fishing isn’t what you’re looking for, outdoor adventure options include raft trips, flight seeing and canoeing. A day on the water can leave visitors with a healthy appetite and there are plenty of local dining options.

Kenai, a 20-minute drive from Soldotna along the Kenai Spur Highway, offers stunning views of Cook Inlet. Visitors can fish for four different species of salmon, rainbow trout and grayling from the world famous Kenai River or head out to the Inlet for halibut fishing. Kenai’s history dates back to 1791, when Russian fur traders settled the area. Head out for a stroll and check out Old Town and the Kenai Visitors and Cultural Center or try some local cuisine.

Nestled on the shore of Kachemak Bay at the end of the Sterling Highway, about two hours and 15 minutes from Cooper Landing, is the charming town of Homer. Known for a thriving art community, Homer boasts  several local art galleries that celebrate first friday as well as an historic museum and theaters. Travelers can drive out on the Homer Spit, a long, narrow finger of land that juts four and-a-half miles into Kachemak Bay, and enjoy a day of guided fishing or sea kayaking adventure. When its time to eat, there are plenty of local restaurants, many of which specialize in fresh Alaska seafood.

If you’d like to read about more roadtrip possibilities from the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge, check out this previous blog post about stop between Cooper Landing and Anchorage.

Photo courtesy State of Alaska Tourism / Kristen Kemmerling

The world famous Kenai River king salmon fishery closed July 31, but there are still plenty of fish runs around the state that don’t even start getting hot until August. Here’s a roundup of great fishing excursions near some of Princess’ lodges.

Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge

With six different major fisheries less than an hour and a half drive from the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge, bank fishing excursions are the perfect getaway. The Kenai River, known for its King (or Chinook) salmon and early Sockeye salmon run, is flooded with silver (coho) salmon during the month of August.

A late sockeye salmon run during the first three weeks in August attracts anglers to the Kenai River. The Russian, Kasilof, Deep Creek, Ninilchik and Anchor Rivers are also known for great fishing during the late summer months.

Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge

If you’re looking for a less well-known, but equally exhilarating fishing experience, check out the Copper and Klutina Rivers near the Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge. As the Sockeye run comes to an end midway through August, fishermen will begin to see runs of Coho salmon that will last through the end of September in both rivers.

Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge

The Tanana River, a tributary of the Yukon River, passes directly through the city of Fairbanks. Larger tributaries, the Nenana and the Kantishna Rivers, are within driving distance as well. During August and September the rivers are great places to fish for Coho and Pink (Chum) salmon. The Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge‘s location on the banks of the Chena River in downtown Fairbanks provides easy access to the area’s fishing hot spots.

John Williams, Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge maintenance manager and Roy McNutt, maintenance assistant.

This year’s Seventh Annual Cooper Landing Softball Tournament was coordinated by Dan Michels, Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge general manager. There were 19 lodge employees working as volunteers in the concession stand during the 10-day tournament. Hamburgers and hotdogs were also donated by the lodge’s main food vendor, Food Services of America.

Proceeds from the concession stand and a silent auction raised more than $8,000 for Cooper Landing Emergency Services.

The Cooper Landing Community Club was also able to raise more than $2,500 with a dunk tank and jail activities. For $5, participants could throw someone in jail and they had to pay $5 to be bailed out. The jail was built by the Princess maintenance staff with old decking and other donated materials.

For $5, participants received three balls and the chance to dunk a cast of locals. In the video below, Michels gets dunked.

Just 45 minutes from Anchorage, or an hour and 15 minutes from the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge, is Girdwood. A ski resort town, Girdwood still has plenty to offer to summertime visitors. It’s framed by Mount Alyeska and the Chugach Mountains on one side and Turnagain Arm on the other. If you’re looking to stop for a quick bite or upscale meal, Girdwood has plenty of options. They also cater to adventurists with outdoor opportunities including hiking and mountain biking in the summer and cross-country and downhill skiing and snowboarding in the winter. If you’re looking for a souvenir, there are also shops with pottery and jade (The state gem of Alaska).

You can find Hope a little over two hours from Anchorage or an hour and 20 minutes from Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge. The town dates back to the gold rush and is tucked away on the remote southern side of Turnagain Arm. Hope has buildings that have been standing since the early 1900s, including a a bar that is 100 years old and still open. There are plenty of outdoor activities, with terrain for hikers and mountain bikers as well as fishing and rafting (mellow or fast-paced) on nearby Six Mile Creek. Visitors can enjoy a range of dining options or shop for local arts and crafts such as jewelry, bronze art and oil paintings.

Seward is located at the head of Resurrection Bay, an hour and 10 minutes from the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge or two and a half hours from Anchorage. Seward prides itself on fishing and is also an easy access point to the glaciers in the Kenai Fjords National Park, making it a big draw for day cruises. There are plenty of activities on dry land including restaurants and art galleries featuring stained glass and pottery. Alaskans and visitors flock to Seward on the Fourth of July for a day’s worth of festivities and the Mount Marathon race.

Head to the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge and go on a half-day tour to the Husky Homestead, run by Jeff King, four-time champion of the Iditarod. Like a lot of Alaskans, Jeff moved here in search of adventure. Dog mushing and Alaskan huskies piqued his interest, and in 1992 he went from spare time to full time, winning his first Iditarod the following season. He took the mushing world by storm and has become recognized as the “winningest musher in the world.” You might know about the Iditarod, but come see what it takes to create a professional Iditarod racing team. Meet Jeff and more than 75 friendly, energetic huskies ready to share their enthusiasm for the sport. The adventure can be booked at the tour desk at the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge.

If you are going to be on the Kenai Peninsula this summer, meet dog musher Lorraine Temple. She is a strong advocate of Alaska’s official state sport. She’ll share tales of the trail, introduce you to her sled dogs and tell you what it takes to make it through the Iditarod. Get hands-on experience by harnessing the dogs and hooking them into the team. Her tour also includes a video and slideshow that features glaciers, wildlife, activities, wildflowers, the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and of course, adorable puppies!

Wrangell-St Elias National Park is considered one of the most spectacular destinations in Alaska and is the largest national park. At the Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge, learn about mushing the best way possible, by actually riding in a sled. See how mushers use wheeled carts to keep their dogs fit for winter races and everyday transportation. Head out to the lodge’s main entrance and instead of hailing a cab, hail a ride with a local musher and his team.

If you’ll be in Fairbanks this summer soaking up the midnight sun, stop by the home and kennels the late Susan Butcher with The Riverboat Discovery Cruise. She was the second woman to win the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in 1986, the second four-time winner in 1990, and the first to win four out of five sequential years. She is commemorated in Alaska every year on Susan Butcher Day, March 1. Susan’s husband Dave Monson, a champion of the Yukon Quest, shares stories of life in the dog yard and on the trails. Book this expedition from the tour desk at the Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge.

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Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge

Be sure and pack:

• Fishing gear – if you plan on fishing with a guide, they will supply the gear but if you already know the ropes, don’t forget to pack your pole, tackle, waders, fishing license and of course a big ice chest. Red and king salmon are running right now in the Russian and Kenai rivers and when fall hits, get ready to fish for some silver salmon.
• Rain gear – the weather on the Kenai Peninsula can be a little rainy from time to time so if you pack raingear, it’s guaranteed not to rain (or so the saying goes).

Plan ahead for:

• Traffic – it’s no secret that the area near Cooper Landing has some of the best fishing around so if you’re driving on a weekend, be prepared to share the road with fellow travelers. Luckily, Cooper Landing is just a short two-hour drive from Anchorage and has plenty of pull-offs to stop and enjoy the scenery.
• Reservations – if you’re going to book a fishing charter or rafting trip at the tour desk at this time of year, plan ahead to be sure you get a reservation during peak times.

Mount McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge

Be sure and pack:

• Binoculars – whether you take a flightseeing trip, go on a hike, experience a jet boat ride or take off on an ATV adventure, the views are astounding.
• Your appetite – if you come to Talkeetna, the list of must-try eateries is long. Between the restaurants at the Princess Lodge, the bake shops, pizza joints and a brewery in town, it’s a good thing there are opportunities to walk it off.

Plan ahead for:

• Weather – if you plan on going flightseeing, give yourself an extra day in case weather prevents the trip. Trust me, you won’t want to miss it.
• Time to relax – with the Great One right outside the windows, take a seat once in awhile and just relax. Schedule some time to sit in the Great Room, featuring cozy sitting areas, tables and enormous floor-to-ceiling windows.

Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge

Be sure and pack:

• Camera – it sound obvious, but when a brown bear or bull moose crosses your path, you don’t want to be kicking yourself for forgetting the camera at home.
• Good walking/hiking shoes – I’m not suggesting you climb Mount McKinley, but when you’re staying at a location just one mile from the entrance to Denali National Park and Preserve, your feet will want to explore the grounds (or shop along the promenade).

Plan ahead for:

• Taking the train – we Alaskans are reliant upon our cars (they didn’t invent auto-start for nothing!), but once in awhile, it’s nice to sit back and enjoy the ride. Princess Rail Tours combine the thrill of traveling the Alaska Railroad with one or more nights at either the Denali or Mt. McKinley Princess lodges.
• A trip into the park – at the tour desk, ask about the Tundra Wilderness Tour or Natural History Tour to travel into the park for opportunities to spot wildlife. A long bus trip may sound daunting, but well worth the journey.

Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge

Be sure and pack:

• Sunglasses – with upwards of 20 hours of daylight in the summer, Fairbanks makes you want to stay up and play long into the nighttime hours. The Midnight Sun Dinner and Float trip combines dinner with a late-night float trip down the Chena River.
• Gold mining spirit – with a rich mining history, Fairbanks is packed with opportunities to roll up the sleeves and explore. From the El Dorado Gold Mine Tour to a visit to the Museum of the North, it’s easy to embrace yourself in all that glitters.

Plan ahead for:

• Special events – there is no shortage of things to do and see in Fairbanks, and many weekends are packed with special events like the Tanana Valley State Fair (Aug 6-14).
• A return trip this winter – the only one of Princess’ lodges open all year round, the Fairbanks Princess is available to serve your lodging needs whether you’re coming to enjoy the midnight sun or the northern lights.

Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge

Be sure and pack:

• An extra large cooler – located at the confluence of the Copper and Klutina rivers, this area is prime for some of the best fishing in the state, only not as many people know about it so there will be plenty of elbow room.
• Road map – if you haven’t been to this area of the state before, there is more to do and see then you might think. Take advantage of the close proximity to Valdez, the Mat-Su Valley and Copper Center regions.

Plan ahead for:

• A trip to McCarthy and Kennicott – one of the most treasured adventures in Alaska, this trip will reveal a location that sprang from the wilderness to support the nearby copper and gold mines. You can book a day trip by air or combine a fly/drive adventure from the Tour Desk.
• Driving time – depending on where you’re coming from, this lodge is a true wilderness escape. It’s located at milepost 102 of the Richardson Highway, approximately two hours north of Valdez and five hours east of Anchorage.

The four-hour trail ride departing from the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge allows you to saddle up and explore the outback of Cooper Landing without the roar of an engine or smudgy window. Along with the scenery, the area is prime for wildlife viewing. Some people suspect that traveling by way of a four-legged friend makes animals more inclined to come a bit closer.  But even if you don’t have any luck spotting other animals, the experience leaves you feeling a bit closer to wildlife, and a bit friendlier to the environment. After all, your carbon footprint is only as large as the horse you rode in on.

If you go:

You can book this adventure from the Tour Desk and the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge. The Cooper Landing Trail Ride is a four-hour adventure available to guests over 12 years of age. The cost of this tour is $234 per person.

“Activity of the Week” is a weekly blog series that profiles adventures, destinations and tour operators from across Alaska.

Today, Cooper Landing is home to a different kind of fever: fishing. Containing the confluence of the Russian and Kenai Rivers, Cooper Landing is the epicenter for anglers looking for sockeye and coho salmon, Dolly Varden and rainbow trout. Even if you have no interest in baiting a hook, it’s a good place to visit and easy to get to along the Sterling Highway. Located at the north end of the Kenai River, several rafting companies have taken up shop and offer trips ranging from gentle floats to thrilling Class III whitewater in the Kenai Canyon. It also lies near trailheads, perfect for nature hikes and horseback riding. If you’re into sightseeing, the heart of Cooper Landing is a five-building national historic district consisting of an old post office, a schoolhouse from the 1950s and a homesteader’s cabin that today houses the Cooper Landing Historical Society Museum. Travelers can visit the kennel of dog musher Lorraine Temple and hear tales of the trail and see a dog harnessing demonstration. The gold rush might be over, but if you visit Cooper Landing in the summer, it’s easy to see why people still flock here more than 150 years later; we’ve just traded in our rock hammers for rafting ores and our gold pans for fishing poles.

All of these experiences can be booked at the Tour Desk at Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge.

“Community Profile” is a blog series that provides a closer look at the towns, history and events near Princess lodges in Alaska.