State Parks and National Parks

The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge covers the western slopes of the Kenai Mountains and forested lowlands bordering Cook Inlet.

The lowlands contain spruce and birch forests intermingled with hundreds of lakes.

The refuge is Alaska in miniature, including each of its habitat types &$151; glaciers, tundra, mountains, wetlands and forests.

The refuge was established to preserve the population of large moose on the Kenai Peninsula. Dall sheep, mountain goats, caribou, coyotes, wolves, grizzly and black bears, lynx, wolverines, beavers and thousands of birds also inhabit the area.

The refuge is accessible from the Sterling Highway. Travelers are treated to a panoramic view along the 110-mile drive from Anchorage to the Kenai refuge's mideastern boundary. Fishing is excellent, but expect to encounter crowds during seasons of peak use, from June through August.

There are more than 200 miles of established trails and routes, including the Swanson River and Swan Lake Canoe Trails. Visitors can fly to remote lakes, raft or kayak down the Kenai river, or hike one of the refuge's scenic trails.

Developed facilities are available from May through September for day use and overnight camping

Photo credits in order: Photo by Steve Kaufman, courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.