Table of Contents
Updated June 2023
Our RV Adventure on the Sterling Highway journey takes us across the Kenai Peninsula, following the Kenai River and winding through some of the most beautiful scenery in Southcentral Alaska. From Sterling and Soldotna toward Homer, this scenic drive is filled with wildlife, rivers, forests, mountains, fishing opportunities, and plenty of places worth stopping along the way.
This RV trip on the Sterling Highway was part of our larger Alaska dream RV vacation, which took us through some of Alaska’s most spectacular landscapes and wild places. In this hub, we’re bringing together our experiences along the Sterling Highway to help you plan your own Sterling Highway RV travel adventure.
The Sterling Highway stretches approximately 138 miles across the Kenai Peninsula, connecting the Sterling area with Homer. Along the route, we travel through Chugach National Forest and the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, with opportunities for wildlife viewing, fishing, hiking, camping, and simply enjoying the incredible scenery.
There are plenty of things to do along the Sterling Highway, whether you’re traveling by RV, looking for wildlife, exploring the Kenai River, or searching for those must-see stops on the Sterling Highway. We’ll share the places we visited, the adventures we experienced, and the practical information you’ll need to make the most of this spectacular Alaska road trip.
And we couldn’t have asked for better weather when we made the journey. The skies were sunny and clear, with temperatures reaching the warm 70s. With the mountains, forests, and Kenai River surrounding us, this quickly became one of our favorite stretches of our Alaska RV adventure.
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Things to Do Along the Sterling Highway: Stop #1 – Tern Lake Viewpoint
Our first stop on this section of the Sterling Highway was Tern Lake, located at the junction of the Seward Hwy and Sterling Highway (MM 37). It’s an easy stop to make on an RV trip on the Sterling Highway, with plenty of parking, picnic tables, and restrooms.
We walked out to the interpretive observation platform overlooking the lake. Surrounded by mountains, Tern Lake offers beautiful views and a chance to slow down and take in the scenery.
The interpretive signs explain how the shallow lake provides important habitat for waterfowl, which nest and mate here from May through June. Salmon also spawn in nearby Dave’s Creek, making the area popular with anglers. The Sterling Highway provides access to some of the best fishing opportunities on the Kenai Peninsula, and we’ll cover several of those fishing spots in more detail throughout this route.
We also walked down toward the marsh to get a closer look at the lake and surrounding landscape. It was a peaceful introduction to our Sterling Highway RV travel and the first of several scenic stops between Tern Lake and Johnson Lake.
Sterling Highway Stop #2 – Cooper’s Landing Day-Use Area
We took a brief break in Cooper’s Landing (MM 48) at the Cooper’s Landing boat launch and day-use area, located where the outlet of Kenai Lake becomes the Kenai River. The boat ramp sits just downstream from the Kenai River Bridge.
We loved this day-use area. There are walking trails, a cute trapper’s cabin, clean restrooms, a sizable picnic area, and easy access to the Kenai River. Drift boats use the ramp, and a short stroll along the boardwalk provides a nice look at the river. It’s also a great place to stretch your legs and watch for wildlife.
A Surprise Lynx Encounter
Walking along the river’s edge toward Kenai Lake, I was lucky enough to spot a lynx moving along the shoreline. It was an incredible 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.
You never know what you’ll encounter on an RV adventure on the Sterling Highway, and this unexpected lynx sighting was one of our favorite memories from the drive.
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 detoured onto Skilak Lake Road, which runs through the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. I always like getting off the beaten path when we travel. Leaving the highway behind often means more opportunities to see wildlife and find a little solitude.
Skilak Lake Road leaves the Sterling Highway around MM 75 and rejoins it near MM 58, creating an 18-mile gravel detour through the refuge.
Skilak Lake Overlook
Several viewpoints along Skilak Lake Road offer breathtaking views of Skilak Lake and the surrounding Chugach Mountains. The lake stretches about 15 miles long and 4 miles wide, with snow-capped peaks and glaciers creating a spectacular backdrop.
There are five campgrounds along the road, although none offer hookups. They do provide a great base if you want to spend more time exploring the lake and surrounding refuge.
Wildlife viewing is another draw, but this detour isn’t the easiest road for an RV. The gravel surface is rough and covered with washboards in places. Still, we persevered, and the scenery and chance to get away from the crowds made the detour worthwhile.
RV Trip on the Sterling Highway: Skilak Lookout Trail
The Skilak Lookout Trail is a 4.1-mile round-trip hike that took us approximately four hours. The trail isn’t particularly steep, but the gradual climb takes you to one of the most beautiful overlooks on the Kenai Peninsula.
At the top, we were rewarded with spectacular views of Skilak Lake. The lake’s glacial waters have a beautiful blue color, even on cloudy days. Surrounded by mountains and wilderness, it’s an incredible viewpoint and one of the highlights of our detour onto Skilak Lake Road.
What to Bring
For hikes in Alaska, we always come prepared for changing weather and trail conditions. We recommend bringing:
- Snacks and plenty of water
- Sturdy, well-broken-in hiking boots or shoes
- Waterproof rain jacket and rain pants
- Layers appropriate for the current weather
- Camera and binoculars
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Bug spray
PRO TIP: Bears are active along many Alaska trails. Stay bear aware, make noise as you hike, and consider carrying bear spray and hiking with a group.
Kenai/Russian River Access – Sportsman’s Access Site
The Sportsman’s Access Site is a popular stop near the confluence of the Kenai and Russian Rivers, with access to both rivers for fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing. Several trails begin here, including the Russian River Trail and Lower Russian Lake Trail.
There is plenty of parking for RVs on the south side of the Sterling Highway. We stopped for a short snack break and walked down to the river to watch the famous combat fishing at the confluence. The term refers to anglers standing shoulder-to-shoulder in the river, casting for the prized sockeye salmon.
We also spotted pink salmon resting in the shallows. The Kenai and Russian Rivers are renowned for their salmon runs, and watching the action here gave us a taste of the fishing experiences that draw anglers to this part of Alaska.
For us, it was a quick stop on our RV trip along the Sterling Highway, but it left us looking forward to returning to Alaska for more fishing.
Sterling Highway RV Travel: K’Beq Footprints Heritage Site
At MM 53, we stopped at the K’Beq Footprints Heritage Site, an interpretive cultural site operated by the Dena’ina Athabascan Kenaitze Indian Tribe. The site includes a visitor center and gift shop, along with guided walks along a raised boardwalk led by a Dena’ina guide.
K’Beq means “footprints” in the Dena’ina language. The site contains petroglyphs, rock carvings, and footprints that connect the area to the Dena’ina people and their ancestors. Exhibits also explore traditional plant knowledge and the deep cultural connections between the Dena’ina people and the land. I find these kinds of cultural sites fascinating because they offer a glimpse into a history that goes far beyond what you see from the highway.
Guided tours led by members of the Dena’ina community provide insight into the history and significance of the site. The walks include the petroglyphs and footprints, a traditional Dena’ina fish camp, and other cultural features.
The setting is beautiful, too, surrounded by forest, mountains, and the Kenai River. There are opportunities nearby for fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing. RV travelers will also find good parking here, making it an easy stop along the Sterling Highway.
Must-See Stop on the Sterling Highway: Russian River Falls
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 and follow the well-maintained trail through the forest.
At the base of the falls, you can watch salmon attempt to leap the falls as they make their way upstream to their spawning grounds. During the height of the salmon run, brown bears also come to the falls looking for an easy meal.
When we visited, we saw a few salmon but no bears. Still, watching the salmon work their way up the falls made the hike worthwhile.
Note: Be bear aware. Travel in groups or carry bear spray. Bears have attacked hikers on this trail. Stay vigilant!
RV Adventure on the Sterling Highway: Soldotna, Alaska
At MM 94, we reached Soldotna Creek Park, a wonderful day-use area along the Kenai River. The park provides access to the fish walk and offers a peaceful place to take a break and watch the river.
If you’re traveling through Soldotna on a Wednesday, consider timing your visit for the Farmers Market, where vendors offer a variety of local goods. The park also has a playground, picnic areas, disc golf, and plenty of benches where you can relax along the river.
Soldotna is known as one of Alaska’s premier fishing destinations, so this is another great opportunity to experience the Kenai River before continuing along the Sterling Highway.
Sterling Forestry Division: A Quick Highway Stop
At MM 92, we passed the Sterling Forestry Division office, which provides fire protection and fire and aviation management services across Alaska. The division uses aircraft and helicopters as part of its wildfire management efforts.
We stopped briefly to take a picture of the helicopter on display. It wasn’t a major sightseeing stop, but it was an interesting roadside find and a reminder of the important work involved in protecting Alaska’s vast wilderness from wildfire.
Must-See Stop on the Sterling Highway: Soldotna Visitor Center & Riverwalk
We believe the first stop in a new area should always be the visitor center. Located near the Soldotna Bridge, the Soldotna Visitor Center is a great place to get your bearings and pick up brochures about things to do in the area. The volunteers were very helpful and happy to answer our questions.
PRO TIP: This is also a great place to pick up quality T-shirts and other gifts.
The visitor center also lends out fishing equipment, so you can try your luck from the Riverwalk or simply watch the anglers along the Kenai River.
We immediately headed down to the Riverwalk to look for salmon moving upstream to spawn. The boardwalk follows the riverbank, helping protect native vegetation and important fish habitat. We watched as anglers cast into the river and, to our envy, caught a few 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 Campground Locations Along the Sterling Highway
I love that our RV adventure took us to so many beautiful places. Along the Sterling Highway in Alaska, we found several excellent campgrounds where we could enjoy the surrounding scenery while exploring the area. These are the campgrounds where we stayed during our trip.
Quartz Creek Campground-Sterling Highway, Alaska
Quartz Creek Campground (MM 41), on the shore of Kenai Lake, was one of our favorite campground locations. The campground sits within the Chugach National Forest, and the campground road is paved.
There are 45 campsites, including many pull-through sites suitable for RVs. The sites are well spaced and feel private. Some campsites can be reserved in advance through Recreation.gov.
The scenery is gorgeous, and the campground makes a convenient base for exploring the Kenai River and Seward.
The campground also has a separate day-use area with picnic tables and fire rings right along the lake near the boat ramp. It’s a convenient place to stop for lunch while traveling between Anchorage and Homer. Taking the first right leads to the day-use picnic area, and our RV had no trouble navigating the small parking lot.
We took a short walk along the shoreline. The gravel made walking a little slow, but the views were worth it. We spotted loons floating on Kenai Lake. I’ve always loved the call of a loon—it sounds so lonely. From the shoreline, we had beautiful views across the lake toward the distant snow-covered mountains.
If you’d like to wet a fly and cast a line, there’s also a short trail leading to the Quartz Creek outlet, where Dolly Varden can be found.
Alaska Canoe & Campground
Alaska Canoe & Campground is located in Sterling at MM 81, about halfway along the Sterling Highway. This family-owned campground was a wonderful find, and Max Finch was a fantastic host.
We stayed for two days and took several tours that became some of the most memorable experiences of our trip. The RV campground was clean, with full-service hookups at a reasonable price. The shower rooms were exceptionally clean and offered individual use, with the added bonus that they were free.
The campground has a mix of forested RV sites and sites in an open field, along with rental cabins.
They also rent equipment and offer a variety of excursions, including fishing, rafting, hiking, and ecotours. If you’re looking for an Alaska bear-viewing experience, this is where we arranged our trip to Wolverine Creek with High Adventure Air. It was one of the highlights of our Sterling Highway RV adventure. Read more about our bear-viewing experience at Wolverine Creek.
Alaska Canoe & Campground also arranged a guided float-fishing trip on the Kenai River for Barry, where he caught rainbow trout. When we had a mix-up with our dates, Max went out of his way to find a guide for the day we needed.
One of the staff members even helped us clean the fish and made a grocery run for us. Since many RV rental companies don’t want you freezing fish inside the RV, the campground provided coolers for storing our catch.
The people here made our stay that much better. As first-time RVers, we really appreciated how willing the staff was to help with whatever we needed.
Johnson’s Lake State Recreation Area
Johnson’s Lake 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.
Reservations are important, although we didn’t have one during our stay. There are two campground loops, and both offer dry camping. The western section has plenty of campsites, including sites large enough to accommodate bigger RVs.
PRO TIP: RVers can reserve campsites in the East Loop.
The sites aren’t heavily forested, but there are enough trees to provide some shade and privacy. The bathrooms are well maintained and cleaned daily. There’s also a dump station before you turn into the campground, making it convenient to use either when arriving or heading out.
We chose a site within easy walking distance of Johnson Lake. The west side of the campground was relatively empty during our stay, so we felt wonderfully secluded. There are no hookups in this section, which added to the quiet, back-to-nature experience.
Once we set up camp, we encountered another moose mama and her calf. She apparently decided our campsite was a prime feeding ground and seemed completely unconcerned about us being there.
One interesting tidbit we heard was that moose often browse around campgrounds because bears tend to avoid areas where humans are active. Regardless of the reason, having a moose and her calf wandering through our campsite was another memorable part of our Alaska RV adventure.
RV Adventure: Fishing Johnson Lake
The main attraction of Johnson Lake Campground is the excellent fishing. The lake is well stocked with rainbow trout, making it a great spot for kids and beginners. Our quest today was to catch a few trout—and the fishing did not disappoint. The trout were plentiful, repeatedly hitting Blue Fox Mepps lures. It seemed like almost 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, completely focused on her task.
The chilly, still waters of Johnson Lake are also a great place to cool off on a hot summer day. The calm water attracts kayakers, canoeists, and paddleboarders looking to escape the crowds of the Kenai River.
PRO TIP: Use only barbless, single-hook lures when fishing for trout.
Continuing South Toward Homer
Our Alaska road trip continued south toward Homer, following the Sterling Highway through the Kenai Peninsula. After exploring the highway’s mountains, rivers, wildlife, and coastal scenery, the road eventually brought us to the end of the peninsula and the stunning views around Kachemak Bay.
If you’re continuing your Alaska adventure toward Homer, our Road to Homer, Alaska travel guide covers what we discovered there, including the best things to see and do once you reach the end of the road.
Final Thoughts on Our First RV Adventure Along the Sterling Highway
Our first RV adventure along the Sterling Highway gave us a taste of just how much Alaska has to offer. We traveled through beautiful mountain scenery, stopped at glacial-blue lakes, watched salmon run the rivers, encountered wildlife, and discovered some wonderful campgrounds along the way.
What I loved most was the freedom of traveling by RV. We could slow down when something caught our attention, stay a little longer at a beautiful lake, and make unexpected stops along the way. From our surprise lynx sighting to fishing at Johnson Lake and watching bears at Wolverine Creek, so many of our favorite memories came from simply being out on the road.
If you’re planning an Alaska itinerary, I would definitely include the Sterling Highway. Whether you’re looking for scenic drives, wildlife, fishing, hiking, or a true RV adventure, there’s plenty here to keep you exploring.
Have you traveled the Sterling Highway? What was your favorite stop or experience? We’d love to hear about your Alaska adventure in the comments!
