Kenai River, Cooper Landing (upper)
Cooper Landing
Today
Getting there
- Hours
- Summer, daylight use.
- Access
- Drift-boat float from Sportsmans Landing to Jims Landing, or bank access along the Sterling Highway pullouts.
- Fee
- State Parks day-use parking plus a boat-launch fee (about $15, verify)
- Drive from Anchorage
- 1h43 to Cooper Landing
- Drive from Fairbanks
- Full day, 8h17 to Cooper Landing
- Water
- River
- Best time
- Jun-Oct
- Fish
- Rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, Sockeye
- How to fish it
- Drift boat, Fly, Spin
- Gear rules
- Unbaited single-hook artificial only above Skilak. Catch-and-release rainbow rules apply in stretches.
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Managed by
- Alaska State Parks (Kenai River SMA)
- Regulations
- Upper Kenai River
- Local rules
- Upper river opens in June after the spring trout closure. Guides run most drift trips. Verify open dates and gear rules.
| Species | Months | Typical size |
|---|---|---|
| Rainbow trout | Jun, Sep, Oct | 14-24 in |
| Dolly Varden | Jul to Sep | 12-20 in |
| Sockeye | Jun, Jul | 4-6 lb |
Part of Eastern Kenai.
What it is like
Turquoise upper river. Trophy rainbows and Dolly Varden on the drift, sockeye when they stack up.