The Kenai Peninsula has a lot to offer those who love the wild. Hunting and fishing are big draws to this area along with boating and river rafting. One of our favorite ways to spend a day is to pick a trail and go hiking! This area is crisscrossed with paths that get you up close and personal with the outdoors. One great hike that can be easy and amazingly rewarding extends along the Russian River.The hike to the falls is mostly flat on a well-developed trail. Plant life along the way is beautiful and only gets more colorful as spring progresses. There are signs along the way to explain what you are seeing and why. It talks about the impact moose have on their environment and the ways we can help the moose population stay healthy.
Reaching the falls is a great payout! There are two overlook platforms to watch the falls from above and if this isn’t enough, there are a few narrower fishing trails that will lead you right up to the edge of the rushing water. When the salmon are running, you can stand at eye level as they jump up the falls and continue their incredible trek upstream. This site can be awesome, but be aware: on more than one occasion, I’ve had the pleasure of watching a young brown bear catch its first salmon at these falls!
.For a view of the Skilak Glacier, we like to continue past the falls on the trail back to the lake. The nice, wide, well-trodden path disappears into what could be mistaken for a game trail, slithering along the river and crossing some small creeks that feed into the Russian River. When you finally reach the lake, the view is worth the extra mile!
With very little incline, awesome scenery and a multitude of birds and plants (with the chance to watch baby bears fishing!), the Russian River hike is resplendent. The sight of the ice fields beyond the lake is something to never be forgotten, but the ability to get right in the action of the salmon spawning both at the falls and further back by the lake is the opportunity not to be missed!