Table of Contents
Updated June 2023
Today, our great RV adventure along the Sterling Highway, Alaska, is taking us to Soldotna, following the Kenai River. This road trip passes through Chugach National Forest and Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. The Sterling Highway was built in the 1950s. The Sterling Highway is a scenic highway that runs for approximately 138 miles from the town of Sterling near Soldotna to the town of Homer on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska.
On your Alaska dream RV vacation along the Sterling Highway, Alaska, you can either stay in a private campground or a state campground. One of the best things in Alaska is that you can just pull off the highway with your RV and camp at any wayside or pullout. Luck is with us again today as the weather is outstanding-sunny clear skies, and the temperatures are in the warm 70s.
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Things to do along the Sterling Highway: Stop #1: Tern Lake Viewpoint
Our first stop is Tern Lake, at the junction of the Seward Hwy and the Sterling Highway in Alaska. (MM 37). Visitors can stop at various pullouts and overlooks to take in the views and snap photos along this highway. There are picnic tables, restrooms, and ample parking for RVs. We walked to the interpretive observation platform overlooking Tern Lake. A picturesque alpine lake, there are magnificent views of the surrounding mountains. The Fish and Wildlife Bureau stocks this lake with rainbow trout.
The interpretive signs told us that waterfowl nest and mate in May through June in the shallow lake. Salmon spawn in Dave’s Creek, which is a great place to fly fish. Sterling Highway provides access to some of the best fishing spots in Alaska. We walked to the marsh area looking for wildlife and trout, but did not see any. This is an idyllic spot for photographing. In the early morning hours, there is often a perfect reflection of the mountains on the lake.
Sterling Highway Rest Stop-Cooper’s Landing Day Use Area
We take a brief break in Cooper’s Landing (MM 48). The Cooper’s Landing boat launch and day-use area is at the junction of the Kenai Lake outlet where the river begins. The boat landing is directly downstream of the Kenai River Bridge.
We loved the day area with easy access to walking trails, a cute trapper’s cabin, clean restrooms, a sizable picnic area, and a boat ramp with good access to the Kenai River. Drift boat excursions use the ramp used. Take a stroll on the boardwalk. Here you get prime opportunities for fishing, boating, and wildlife sightings.
Walking along the river’s edge toward Kenai Lake, I was lucky enough to spot a lynx moving along the shoreline—an outstanding surprise. The lynx paused and glanced back at me before slowly sauntering into the woods. Barry ventured in after it, hoping to follow, but the lynx was wiser and quickly outmaneuvered him.
Skilak Lake Road, a detour off the Sterling Highway
Continuing our journey, we detour onto Skilak Lake Road, part of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. To truly enjoy a destination, I always find the path that is least traveled. Getting off the beaten path of the highway, you gain more opportunities to see wildlife and find solitude. Skilak Lake Loop Road leaves the Sterling Highway at MM 75 and rejoins it at MM 58.
Breathtaking views of Skilak Lake and the surrounding Chugach Mountains can be enjoyed at various points along the loop trail. This vast, 15-mile by 4-mile lake is one of the largest in the region, its waters enveloped by the snow-capped peaks and glaciers of the Chugach Range. The stunning natural beauty of this area draws many visitors seeking outdoor recreation and scenic experiences.
There are five campgrounds along the road. None of the campgrounds offer any hookups. However, they do offer a great location if you plan to do any activities at the lake. Opportunities to view wildlife are also abundant. Taking this road with an RV is not the best option. The road is unimproved gravel with plenty of washboards along its 18-miles. However, we persevered.
RV Trip on the Sterling Highway: Skilak Lookout Trail
The Skilak Lookout Trail is 4.1 miles round-trip. It took us approximately 4 hours. It was not steep. Instead, it’s a gradual climb to one of the most beautiful overlooks on the Kenai Peninsula. Here we had spectacular views of Skilak Lake. These glacial waters appear blue even when the sun does not shine. The Skilak Glacier created the lake and is deep, providing an ideal habitat for juvenile salmon.
For hikes, we always bring snacks and a full water bottle. Sturdy, well broken-in hiking boots or shoes. Waterproof rain jacket and rain pants. Clothes for dressing in layers; dress for current weather. Camera, sunglasses, sunscreen, bug spray, and binoculars.
PRO Tip: Bears are highly active along many trails in Alaska. Be bear aware—carry bear spray and consider traveling in a group.
Kenai/Russian River Access-Sportsman’s Access Site
The Sportsman’s Access Site is a large parking area near the confluence of the Kenai and Russian Rivers, which provides easy access to both rivers for fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing. There are also several hiking trails that start from the Sportsman’s Access Site, including the Russian River Trail and the Lower Russian Lake Trail.
There is plenty of RV parking on the south side of the Sterling Highway. We stopped for a short snack break to watch the combat fishing at the confluence of the Russian River and the Kenai River. It’s called “combat fishing” as people stand side-by-side in the river to cast their fishing lines, hoping to hook a prized sockeye salmon. We walked to the river and saw many pink salmon resting in the shallows. The Sterling area of Alaska is renowned for its salmon fishery. One of our quests will be to enjoy more fishing when we return to Alaska.
The Russian River Campground, Ferry Access Site, Sportsman’s Boat Launch, Russian River Falls, Russian Lakes Trail, and K’Beq’ Cultural Site are visited by 150,000 visitors each year. The ferry access is privately owned. It takes you across the Kenai River for fishing. There is a fee for access, as it is privately owned. Today is not our day for fishing. Instead, we are more interested in taking hikes and understanding the cultural aspects of the Kenai Peninsula.
Sterling Highway RV Travel: K’Beq Footprints Heritage Site Experience
This interpretive site at MM 53 is operated by the Dena’ina Athabascan Kenaitze Indian clans. This unique cultural site operates a visitor center and gift shop and offers interpretive walks on a raised boardwalk with an indigenous guide.
The site is significant to the Dena’ina people, as it contains several petroglyphs, rock carvings, and footprints that are believed to be thousands of years old. In the language K’Beq’, means “footprints.” Dena’ina ancestors left the footprints and represent an important link to their history and culture. The exhibits go into great detail about the traditional plant lore and the cultural connections of the native peoples to this site. I find these cultural sites fascinating.
Visitors to the K’Beq Footprints Heritage Site can participate in guided tours led by members of the Dena’ina community, who provide insights into the history, culture, and significance of the site. The tours include a visit to the petroglyphs and footprints, as well as a traditional Dena’ina fish camp and other cultural features.
We found this was a beautiful natural setting, surrounded by forests, mountains, and the Kenai River, which provides visitors with opportunities for fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing. There is good parking for RVs, so no worries.
Must-See Stop on the Sterling Highway: Hike the Russian Falls Trail
If you are in this area, I would suggest taking the easy hike to Russian River Falls. It is worthwhile. You can park for free at the Russian River Campground. Such a beautiful trail on a well-maintained path. At the base of the falls, you can watch the salmon attempt to leap the falls to reach spawning grounds upstream. At the height of the salmon run, you can see brown bears. Today we saw a few salmon, but no bears.
Note: Be bear aware. Travel in groups or carry bear spray. Bears have attacked hikers on this trail. Stay vigilant!
RV Ventures to Soldotna, Alaska-Kenai River Fishing Capitol
t mile marker 94 is Soldotna Creek Park. It’s a wonderful day-use area with access to the fish walk and a lovely setting along the Kenai River. Go on Wednesday when the park hosts the Farmers Market—vendors sell a wide variety of quality local goods. The park also features a playground for kids, picnic areas, frisbee golf, and plenty of benches where you can sit and simply watch the river.
Sterling Forestry Division-Fire Prevention
There is a divisional office at MM 92 on the Sterling Highway. The Division provides fire protection services and related fire and aviation management activities on 150 million acres of land throughout Alaska. The Forest Service uses a variety of aircraft and helicopters to help manage wildfires. We stopped to take a picture of the Bell Jet Ranger Helicopter and it brought back memories of our time working in the forestry industry, doing fieldwork for the Ministry of Natural Resources in Ontario (MNR).
Stop at the Soldotna Visitor Center and River Boardwalk
We believe the first stopover in a new area should always be the visitor center. Located right by the Soldotna bridge, if you have questions about Soldotna, this is the place to stop. The volunteers are so very helpful, providing informational brochures on activities in the area.
PRO Tip: this is a great place to get quality t-shirts and other gifts.
They lend out fishing equipment, so you can fish from the Riverwalk or just go down and watch the other anglers. We immediately headed down to the Riverwalk along the Kenai River to look for fish moving upstream to spawn. They constructed the boardwalk along the riverbank to protect the native vegetation and maintain fish habitat for spawning salmon. We watched in anticipation as anglers caught a few salmon; I envy that they have this marvelous opportunity to catch a prize-winning salmon. Maybe we’ll have that same opportunity the next time we visit Soldotna.
Visit “Old Town” Kenai
A side trip off the Sterling Highway on the Kenai Spur Road will take you into the small village of Kenai. A timeless walking tour of “Old Town” Kenai will give you a glimpse into the prior history of the area. The old cabins, the Russian Church, all have a tale to tell. We enjoyed a half a day exploring the beach and learning the details of the historic Old Town.
Great Campgrounds locations along the Sterling Highway
I love our RV adventure has taken us too many beautiful places. Along the Sterling Highway in Alaska, there are several fantastic campground locations where you can enjoy the beauty of the surrounding landscape. Here are the campgrounds we used.
Quartz Creek Campground-Sterling Highway, Alaska
During our travels along the Sterling Highway in Alaska, we stayed at a few different campgrounds. Quartz Creek Campground (MM 41), on the shore of Kenai Lake, is an exceptional location. The campground sits within the Chugach National Forest, and the campground road is paved.
There are 45 campsites, including many pull-through sites for RVs. The sites are well spaced and feel private. RVers can reserve some campsites in advance through the Recreation.gov website. The scenery is gorgeous, and it’s an ideal base camp close to the Kenai River and Seward.
This campground also has a separate day-use area with picnic tables and fire rings right on the lake near the boat ramp. It’s the perfect place to stop for lunch between Anchorage and Homer. Taking the first right on the road leads to the day-use picnic area, and our RV was able to navigate the small parking lot easily.
We took a short walk along the shoreline; the gravel makes walking slow after a while, but the views are worth it. We spotted loons floating on the surface of Kenai Lake. I’ve always loved the call of a loon—it sounds so lonely. From here, there are splendid views of the lake and the distant snow-covered mountains.
If you’d like to wet a fly and cast a line, there’s a short trail to the Quartz Creek outlet. Dolly Varden are native to the creek.
Alaska Canoe Creek Campground-Sterling Highway, Alaska
Sterling is a small town at mile marker 81, about halfway along the Sterling Highway. Alaska Canoe & Campground is a great family-owned campground, and Max Finch was a wonderful host.
We stayed here for two days, taking tours that only added to what became one of the most exceptional experiences of the trip. The RV campground was clean, with full-service hookups at a reasonable price. The shower rooms were immaculately clean and great for individual use—an added bonus is that they’re free. The hospitality of the staff was top-notch.
They offer a few forested RV sites and others in an open field, and there are also rental cabins available.
This campground also rents equipment and offers a variety of excursions, from fishing to rafting and hiking to lodging. If you’re looking for Alaska bear viewing or an ecotour, look no further. The highlight of our Sterling Highway RV adventure was the bear viewing at Wolverine Creek with High Adventure Air.
Alaska Canoe Creek Campground also booked a guided float fishing trip for Barry on the Kenai River, catching rainbow trout. Max got us a guide for the date we needed when we experienced a mix-up on our dates. One of the staff assisted us by cleaning fish and doing a grocery run. Most RV companies do not want you to freeze fish in the RV. Instead, they provide coolers to store your catch. The people here made our stay that much better. Their compassionate staff took care of all our needs as newbie RVers.
Johnson’s Lake Campground State Recreation Area-Sterling Highway, Alaska
Johnson’s Lake Campground State Recreation Area (MM 110) is about 15 miles south of Soldotna, off Johnson Loop Road. The road into the campground is gravel but well-maintained. Making reservations here is important, although we did not have a reservation (link). There are two loops, and both are dry camping. The western section of the campground had lots of campsites. The campsites are large, accommodating larger RVs.
PRO TIP: RVers can reserve East Loop campsites.
The sites here are not heavily forested, just enough to provide shade and privacy. They clean the well-maintained bathrooms daily. Dump station before you turn into the campground or hit it on your way out.
We chose a site within easy walking distance of Kenai Lake. The west side of the campground was relatively empty, so we felt wonderfully secluded. There are no hookups in this section, which added to the quiet, back-to-nature feel.
Once we set up camp, we encountered another moose mama and her calf. She had apparently decided that our campsite was a prime feeding ground. The moose never seemed to mind us being there at all. An interesting tidbit we heard: moose often browse around campgrounds because bears tend to avoid places where humans are active.
RV Adventure-Fishing Johnson’s Lake
The main attraction of Johnson’s Lake Campground is its excellent fishing opportunities. The lake is well-stocked with rainbow trout, making it an ideal spot for kids and beginners. Our quest today was to catch a few trout—and the fishing did not disappoint. The trout were plentiful, hitting Blue Fox Mepps lures repeatedly. It seemed like every cast produced a fish.
While walking down to the lake, I spotted a small vole in the tall grass. I had never seen one before. She was busy gathering grass for her nest. The chilly, still waters are also a great place to cool off on a hot summer day. These calm waters attract kayak, canoe, and paddleboard enthusiasts looking to slip away from the crowds of the Kenai River.
PRO Tip: Use only barbless single-hook lures for fishing trout.
Final Thoughts on our First RV Adventure along the Sterling Highway in Magnificent Alaska!
Experience boundless RV excursions along the Sterling Highway while indulging in the beauty of Alaska’s never-ending mountain vistas, glacial blue lakes, exciting wildlife, and brilliant glaciers. The RV lifestyle is perfect for creating your own great RV adventure along the Sterling Highway, Alaska. A trip along the Sterling Highway should be on your Alaska itinerary. It should absolutely be added to your itinerary.
Been to Alaska and traveled the Sterling Highway? What did you like most about your visit? Let us know. We would love for you to comment below on your adventure!
