Captain Cook State Recreation Area
(Kenai Peninsula)
(Printer
version Captain Cook State Recreation Area)
Captain Cook State Recreation Area is virtually undiscovered by most visitors to the Kenai Peninsula. It offers a peaceful setting of forests, lakes, streams and saltwater beaches. The recreation area can be reached by driving 25 miles north of Kenai on the North Kenai Road to milepost 36.
Recreational Opportunities
Captain Cook State Recreation Area offers a variety of recreation activities,
from canoeing and boating on Stormy Lake to beachcombing on Cook Inlet’s
tide-swept shores, bird watching, berry picking, and wildlife observation. The
beaches are popular with agate hunters.
Anglers may enjoy fishing for rainbow trout and silver salmon in Swanson River
as well as rainbows and arctic char in Stormy Lake. Current fishing regulations
will give complete information on seasons and limits. Winter visitors enjoy ice
fishing on Stormy Lake.
Wildlife you may see during your visit includes moose, bear, coyote, wolves,
Beluga whales, harbor seals, beaver, muskrat, bald eagles, sandhill cranes,
trumpeter swans, arctic and common loons, golden-eye ducks, mergansers,
thrushes, warblers, and jays.
History
This state recreation area is named for Captain James Cook, the famous English
mariner, who in 1778 explored what is now known as Cook Inlet. At that time the
area was occupied by Taniana Indians who harvested seasonal runs of salmon and
other wild foods. Remains of Taniana house pits are evidence of the Indians’
earlier presence. In recent years the beach area has been used for commercial
fishing with beach set-nets.
Source: Alaska State Parks.
For more information on Alaska State Parks, visit the Alaska State Parks web site.
Alaska
National Parks
Denali National Park,
Kenai Fjords National Park,
Lake Clark National Park,
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
Alaska State
Parks by Region
Anchorage,
Interior Alaska,
Kenai Peninsula,
Kodiak,
Mat-Su
Valley,
Prince William Sound,
Southeast Alaska,
Southwest Alaska
Alaska State Parks by Name
Anchor River State Recreation Area and Stariski SRS,
Birch Lake
State Recreation Site,
Caines Head State Recreation Area and Resurrection Bay State Marine Parks,
Captain
Cook State Recreation Area,
Chena
River State Recreation Area,
Chena
River State Recreation Site,
Chilkat Bald
Eagle Preserve,
Chugach State Park,
Clam Gulch
State Recreation Area,
Deep Creek
State Recreation Area,
Delta
Junction Area State Parks,
Denali State Park,
Haines Area State
Parks,
Harding
Lake State Recreation Area,
Independence Mine State Historical Park,
Kachemak Bay State Park and State Wilderness Park,
Kasilof Area State
Parks,
Kenai
River Special Management Area,
Kodiak Area State
Parks,
Nancy Lake State Recreation Area,
Ninilchik
State Recreation Area,
Point Bridget
State Park,
Salcha
River State Recreation Site,
Sitka Area State Parks,
State Marine Parks in Prince William Sound and Resurrection Bay,
Summit Lake
State Recreation Site, Tok
Area Parks,
Totem Bight
State Historical Park,
Upper Chatanika State Recreation Site,
Wickersham State Historic Site,
Wood-Tikchik
State Park
