A scenic road trip, turquoise blue waters, and unforgettable catches.
Alaska’s summer fishing season is a dream for anglers from around the world. With endless daylight and world-class salmon runs, it’s the perfect time of year to cast a line. One of the most popular spots for a day trip is Cooper Landing — a small town nestled along the upper Kenai River, known for its stunning scenery and legendary trout and salmon fishing. Just a couple of hours from Anchorage, Cooper Landing offers an unbeatable blend of accessibility and wilderness.
8:30 AM — Depart Anchorage
We hit the road on Saturday morning with plans to arrive in Cooper Landing in the early afternoon. From Anchorage, Cooper Landing is under a 2 hour drive depending if you make photo stops along the way. Before leaving Anchorage, we stopped at a local coffee hut to get our morning caffeine fix! With coffee in hand and fly rods packed, we began the 2-hour drive south along the Seward Highway—one of Alaska’s most scenic drives.
9:15 AM — Photo Ops on the Turnagain Arm
Driving along Turnagain Arm offers endless photo opportunities. With towering cliffs on one side and tidal waters on the other, it’s hard not to stop every few miles. Keep an eye on the mountainside for Dall sheep perched on rocky ledges—and if the tide is in, you might even spot beluga whales gliding through the water.
Make sure to fill up on gas, grab a coffee or snacks in Girdwood! Girdwood is a popular stop along the Seward Highway as it’s the last major settlement before driving into more remote areas of the Kenai Peninsula where there are minimal gas stations.
9:25 AM — Back on the Road!
Now that we’ve gotten a refill on coffee and picked up some chips for the remainder of the drive, it’s time to make the last stretch to Cooper Landing!
10:45 AM — Arrive in Cooper Landing!
After a scenic drive through the heart of the Kenai Peninsula, we rolled into the charming town of Cooper Landing—known for its turquoise waters and legendary fishing. We made our way to a favorite local spot on the Russian River, just about a mile past the Russian River Campground on the left side of the Sterling Highway.
To access the Russian River, visitors must pay a parking fee per vehicle and a separate per-person fee. If you’re planning to cross the river via the Russian River Ferry, there’s an additional fee per person for the ferry ride.
Once we parked, we put on our gear and got the fly rods ready for action!
11:00 AM — Lunch on the Riverbank
Before hitting the water for our day of adventure, we cracked open the coolers and enjoyed a quick lunch of sandwiches and snacks. While we ate, we watched other anglers reel in their catches and even spotted a few eagles soaring overhead.
FYI—you cannot cross the Russian River with coolers on the Ferry, so make sure to have some snacks in reusable bags or in your backpacks to not go back and forth from the river to the parking lot!
11:20 AM — Hitting the Water
Before we started fishing, the sun came out to say hi! Our time on the water began slowly—just a few hopeful casts and not much action. We watched a couple of anglers nearby who seemed to be having a bit more luck than us. Still, there’s something incredibly peaceful about standing knee-deep in the river, casting your line into the flowing water. Just be careful—those rocks are slick and the current moves faster than you’d expect!
1:30 PM — The Fish are Here!
After moving spots a bit more up the river into the sanctuary area, we began having more luck! A bite here and a bite there made it our turn to skillfully reel it out the water. One of our first catches was a young Sockeye Salmon.
Since we were part of a larger group and the Russian River is a popular spot, open fishing space was limited. It’s important to leave enough room between anglers—not just for courtesy, but for safety, especially when casting. We rotated in and out of the water with 2–3 people fishing at a time, giving everyone a chance to cast while letting others take a break and enjoy the view.
On the Russian River, you’ll also be fishing for Silver Salmon like this gorgeous catch:
This salmon was a bit on the smaller side, so we decided to release it. With daily limits set by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, we wanted to prioritize keeping the bigger catches and make the most of our time on the river.
5:00 PM — Wrap Up & Head Back
After a full day of casting and catching, we pulled out tired, but happy.
7:30 PM — Back in Anchorage
We got back to Anchorage around 7:30 with some light traffic along the Seward Highway. Traffic sounds bad generally, but with views of the Turnagain arm—it’s not so bad! Before heading home, we stopped by one of Anchorage’s most popular pizza spots—Moose’s Tooth.
There’s nothing quite like a summer day spent fishing on the Kenai. Between the scenic drive, the thrill of the catch, and the unbeatable company, our Cooper Landing day trip was everything we hoped for and more. Whether you’re an experienced angler or just looking for a peaceful way to connect with Alaska’s outdoors, the Russian River is a perfect spot to cast a line and make some memories.
We’re already planning our trip back for next weekend because once summer hits, fishing season goes by in a flash!