This spot is known for its rich salmon runs
Located on Cook Inlet, the Ninilchik State Recreation Area is home to two campgrounds and some of the best salmon runs in the state. With a spectacular backdrop showcasing two active volcanoes, Mount Iliamna and Mount Redoubt, this area is popular for fishers and outdoor enthusiasts.
History
The recreation area is located near Ninilchik, meaning “peaceful settlement by a river,” and is located on the west side of the Kenai Peninsula, about 40 miles south of Soldotna. The town’s picturesque Russian Orthodox chapel is a highlight for many travelers driving along the Sterling Highway where the chapel appears on the skyline as a visual reminder of Ninilchik's historic Russian roots.
Settled in the 1840s by employees of the Russian-American Company, this charming little village is among the oldest on the Kenai Peninsula. Many settlers stayed even after imperial Russia sold Alaska to the United States in 1867, and decedents of Russian and Dena’ina people form the heart of the present community.
Activities
Ninilchik State Recreation Area is comprised of four separate units totaling 97 acres that offer a variety of activities, including camping and sportfishing. No matter the activity, visitors will be surrounded by beautiful views of Mount Iliamna and Mount Redoubt - both active volcanoes on the west side of Cook Inlet. The park consists of Ninilchik Beach State Recreation Site, Ninilchik Scenic Overlook, Ninilchik View Campground, and Ninilchik River Campground.
Two campgrounds in the recreation area are ideally located for fishing or to enjoy sightseeing at Ninilchik Village and the Holy Transfiguration of our Lord Russian Orthodox Church.
For more information, visit the State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation Website: http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/units/nilchik.htm
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Facilities
Ninilchik Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Alaska for razor clamming. The site has a day-use parking area and 35 campsites and during minus tides there is access to the clamming beds adjacent to the campsites. Located on a bluff above Ninilchik Beach is Ninilchik View Campground with 43 sites in a forested setting and a stairway leading down to the clamming beaches.
Ninilchik River Campground features 39 campsites set among birch and spruce trees. There is a trail to the river, providing anglers access to runs of king and silver salmon, steelhead and Dolly Varden. Ninilchik Scenic Overlook has a two-tier parking area with a walking trail, picnic tables, interpretive signs, grills and a water pump.
Fees
There is a daily parking fee and a nightly fee for camping at Ninilchik State Recreation Area. There is also a fee for the sanitary dump station.
Accessibility
The recreation area is 40 miles south of Soldotna with Ninilchik River Campground at Mile 134.5 of the Sterling Highway, Ninilchik Scenic Overlook at Mile 135.1, Ninilchik Beach at Mile 135 and Ninilchik View Campground at Mile 135.5 of the Sterling Highway.
For more information contact the Alaska State Parks office (907-262-5581) in Soldotna.