It’s not hard to imagine that gorgeous, glistening glaciers have something (okay, everything) to do with the place that is home to the bluest water in the last frontier. Mix in the towering Chugach Mountains combined with the massive Kenai Mountains that seemingly come together to provide the most picture-perfect backdrop to accent the piercing turquoise water. If you aren’t already addicted to this special spot in the place known as Alaska’s playground, you better get ready to fall in love – it’s chock-full of the bluest water in Alaska!

Start your journey to the bluest water in Alaska at the stunning 20-mile-long Kenai Lake in Cooper Landing.
Courtney Stanley
Slow down to a speed of 35 miles per hour and drive across the bridge over top of Kenai Lake making your way into the tiny town with an annual population of less than 300 people.
If 300 seems like a tiny number considering the amount of traffic on the road, please let us explain.
Ross Fowler/Flickr
You see, this tiny little town is transformed in the warmer months. Hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world flock to this area for the endless amount of outdoor beauty and awesome activities. While many visitors enjoy the mountains, glaciers and wildlife - the place with the bluest water in Alaska has a way of stealing the show every time.
Make your way through the winding two lane road with lush trees on either side of you and huge snow-capped mountains in the distance.
Frank Kovalchek/Flickr
Rainbows on the horizon are quite common, so be sure to keep your eyes on the road and stay focused. What is most mesmerizing is the bright turquoise water that pierces through the trees as you're driving along this narrow road.
So what is all the hype about, anyway?
Courtney Stanley
Let's just say that it has to do with those three little words that everyone loves to hear. You know, those words that give you goosebumps, make you giddy, cause you to smile uncontrollably and burst out with random spurts of happy dance moves. Okay, we can't hold it from you any longer. Ready for it? THE KENAI RIVER!
The 82-mile-long Kenai River is by far one of the most magical places in the entire 49th state.
Flickr - Susan
The first 17 miles of the river between Kenai Lake and Skilak Lake are often times referred to as the "upper." This particular stretch is great for a heavenly float as there are no motors allowed in this drift-only section of the river. The upper is joined by the renowned Russian River which is another very popular spot for sport fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing.

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The Kenai River runs along the Sterling Highway through Cooper Landing, Sterling and into Soldotna.
Courtney Stanley
Once you make your way into town you can access the river off of K-Beach Road or the Kenai Spur Highway through several launching sites and campgrounds. If you're not interested in rejoining society anytime soon, we don't blame you. We'd stay on the river forever if we could.
Arguably the most popular sport-fishing destination in the state, a multitude of species of fish can be found in this river.
Flickr - Travis
You can find plenty of delicious (and pretty!) fish here: red salmon, rainbow trout, silver salmon, pink salmon, and king salmon (we're starting to see a trend here) are all quite plentiful and feed not only people but loads of wildlife in the peninsula.
When you move on and continue your drive along the road through every different town, you're likely to see people lined up at just about every turn out imaginable.
Courtney Stanley
The Kenai Peninsula is a fishing community, and you'll feel it no matter where you go during the months of May to September.
"Flipping for reds" is a common term that you'll hear in the area for those looking to land some delicious sockeye salmon.
Flickr - Amber
Along with sockeye salmon or "reds," silver salmon fishing is another very popular fishery on the river. Probably the most popular species to fish for over the years has been the King Salmon (coho). The world record king salmon pulled out of this river was over 97 pounds in size. Talk about stocking the freezer! In the late summer months and into fall, the Kenai River is home to some of the best trophy trout fishing in the world. If you love the fight and finesse of pulling in a pig, you need to be on this river in September.
The river is also great for fly-fishing and enjoying activities such as tubing, kayaking and rafting the class II and III rapids in the canyons.
Courtney Stanley
Trust us when we say that these 82 miles of river don't offer a single ounce of boredom from start to finish. You will be completely fascinated by beauty and adventure no matter what section you are enjoying.
As with everywhere else in Alaska, be advised that you will be sharing these pristine blue waters with our resident wildlife.
Flickr - Alaska Region U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Always use caution and remember that this is their land - we're just playing on it. If you're as crazy as us and choose to fish until the sun goes down, don't worry... the beautiful turquoise blue water will be sparkling even into nightfall. The Kenai River is going to completely hook you and turn you into a full-on river rat, we guarantee it!

Beautiful river, huh? We’d be lying if we said that we weren’t totally obsessed with this magical place. In fact, one of our favorite activities to enjoy on the river is catching and releasing world class trophy rainbow trout during the late summer and fall months.

If you love the Kenai River then we are certain you’ll agree that visiting the Kenai Peninsula is Alaska’s top outdoor attraction. Have you ever been? If so, we’d love for you to share your photos with us in the Facebook comments!

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More to Explore

the bluest water in Alaska

Tori Jane | February 15, 2021

Where is Kenai Lake in Alaska?

Kenai Lake is a beautiful, ridiculously blue lake that looks a bit more like a river at some points on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. It serves an important purpose as the headwaters of the Kenai river, which flows for 82 miles (through plenty of absolutely incredible landscapes!) until it reaches the Cook Inlet at the Pacific Ocean, where it disperses into the sea.

What are the most beautiful lakes in Alaska?

Alaska is home to, incredibly, more than 3 million lakes - so it's a bit difficult to choose the most beautiful. The entire state is otherworldly; there are some lakes that stick out to us, though. Kenai Lake is stunning, and so is Eklutna Lake, near Anchorage, Skilak Lake, which, like Kenai Lake, is also on the Kenai Peninsula, Auke Lake, near Juno, and Blue Lake, which is nearby the town of Sitka.

Where are some scenic places in Alaska?

Alaska is a paradise, especially for lovers of chilly weather and stunning sights. Check out Denali Park, Kodiak Island, and drive the 127 miles of the Seward Highway for naturally breathtaking environments that cannot be beat. The possibilities are very nearly endless. Bring a camera, too - you'll absolutely need to take all the pictures. Looking for more scenic drives in Alaska, by chance? Check out our picks for some of the most unforgettable scenic drives in Alaska! 

 

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Kenai River, Kenai, AK, USA