Drifters Lodge is a small, locally owned and operated fishing lodge, situated at the headwaters of the world-famous Kenai River in Cooper Landing, Alaska. We have been in operation for 14 seasons and strive to improve and expand our services for our guests each year.
Centrally located on the Kenai Peninsula, Drifters Lodge is a great home-away-from-home, allowing for easy day trips to Seward, Kenai, Soldotna, Homer, Girdwood and Whittier. So, if your plans include these or other South Central Alaska destinations, you don’t need to pack and unpack multiple times, taking up a lot of your precious vacation time. Make Drifters Lodge your base of operations.
Our guests return year after year to experience our one of a kind property. The most important thing to us is that you enjoy your stay so much that the next time you come to Alaska; we are part of your plans. Our returning guests become part of the Drifters Lodge Extended Family.
Our staff will help you with all of your needs prior to your arrival and during your stay. We are also happy to help you plan your Alaskan Vacation outside of Cooper Landing. We will do everything we can to ensure that your entire Alaskan Vacation is one to remember. If you have a special request during your stay or something that you want to experience while you are here, just let us know and we will work hard to make it happen for you. We offer first class accommodations and so many fishing choices, that it could take a month or more to take advantage of them all! We will help you narrow down the choices and find the best fit for you and your unique Alaskan Vacation.
Cooper Landing is famous for the variety of available activities. So, if fishing is not your main priority, do not be put off, plenty of other activities will keep you busy. Check out our Activities page to see some ideas, or give us a call and chat with us, we are always happy to recommend options to ensure your stay in Cooper Landing is the best possible experience.
The Lodge has a nightly campfire at the river’s edge to unwind after an adventurous day (marshmallows provided). Or, maybe the Swedish Sauna, with its big picture window overlooking the Kenai River and Chugach Mountains would suit your relaxation needs better. Either way, we’ve got you covered.
Drifters Lodge is road accessible via the Scenic Seward Highway. It is an easy and beautiful 99 mile drive from Anchorage International Airport, it usually takes about two hours, but we always allow for a little time to stop and take pictures.
Some people may consider us to be a little bit crazy by doing what we do, and living here year round 35 miles from anywhere. However, we may be a little biased, but we live on one of best rainbow trout fisheries in the World. We love this resource with a burning passion and we love sharing it with people even more. We all look forward to your stay and to the opportunity to make your Alaskan Dream Vacation come true!
Our Staff
About Cooper Landing
Make Cooper Landing Your Home Base for Kenai Peninsula Exploration
Cooper Landing is a premier Alaska destination, not only for visitors from around the world, but also for all of us who live here. The Kenai Peninsula is referred to as “Alaska’s Playground” by Alaskan residents. Why? Because Cooper Landing offers much more than your average Alaskan destination.
But what sets this Alaskan “home-away-from-home” apart? Why do so many visitors frequent here?
Cooper Landing is home to the spectacular Kenai River, surrounded by natural abundance. Cooper Landing has been designated —“The Gem of the Kenai”. The beauty that surrounds Cooper Landing all year round is simply unparalleled, even in Alaska! If you stay with us at Drifters Lodge, you will see why Cooper Landing has been voted the Best Place to Live in Alaska.
The Kenai River’s baby blue waters and world-class fishing is one of the greatest assets of this town. The variety, abundance and size of the fish available in the Kenai River are unparalleled. The Kenai River is joined by a number of other natural wonders in Cooper Landing, such as, the breathtaking Chugach Mountains, the famous Russian River, The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and so much more. Cooper Landing is home to seven different types of large Alaskan mammals (Bears, wolves, Fox, coyote, Dall sheep, Mountain Goat)-no other place in Alaska can boast the potential for viewing such a variety of mammals in one place! The awesome Bald Eagles soar above the Cooper Landing area year round. The Bald Eagle is almost always visible in the sky or on a tree top somewhere.
Cooper Landing is not just a picturesque town to take in with your eyes-the area offers many great recreational activities, too. Fishing is the primary draw to Cooper Landing. In addition, the area offers scenic floats, horseback riding, nearby ocean fishing, rafting, mountain biking, hiking, bird-watching, kayaking and flight-seeing. Join us at Drifters Lodge on the Kenai River in Cooper Landing and we will help you experience the best of what the Kenai Peninsula has to offer.
Where to Stay and Enjoy Cooper Landing
If you are interested in Cooper Landing hotels, bed and breakfasts, lodges or riverfront cabins, you’ll find that Kenai River Drifters Lodge offers the best of it all. We are located at the headwaters of the Kenai River; our Cooper Landing lodge is a place for comfort, relaxation and enjoyment. It has great access to many rivers and streams plus all the other nearby Kenai Peninsula recreational activities. Few other Alaskan Lodges can boast the unparalleled beauty, comfort, hospitality and accessibility to the rest of the Kenai Peninsula that our Cooper Landing lodge offers.
Kenai River Drifters Lodge is more than worth the stay, as you will find when you arrive. Like so many others who have visited before you, and return again and again, you are destined to fall in love with this place and make memories that could not be made anywhere else.
Working at Drifters
Interested in coming to work in Alaska?
Interested in living in beautiful Copper Landing on the Kenai Peninsula?
If you love the outdoors, living in a lodge setting and working in a big team environment, then Drifters Lodge is the place for you this Summer!
Interested applicants should send their resumes, along with references to our Operations Manager at [email protected], indicating which position(s) they are interested in.
Drifters Lodge is an equal opportunity employer.
Testimonials
“Bob & Stephanie: I just wanted to let you know how much we (myself, my daughter, my son-in-law) enjoyed our rafting trip with Evan on 9/6/13. He did a fabulous job pointing out animals and things of interest…learned about Bob’s rock!! The rafting trip was one of the highlights of my Alaska vacation/cruise. thanks to Evan.”
“Dear Bob, Thank you for such a lovely stay. All 7 of us had a SUPER time! Drifter’s Lodge is fantastic! We highly recommend it! It’s beautiful there, as well as being centrally located for hiking, fishing, visiting, Seward and Homer, Exit Glacier (we went all the way to the top!) Thank Jefferson for the kayak arrangement. 2 loons seranaded us 3 gals right next to our kayak on Peterson Lake… a mystical experience. Thanks again.”
“Dear Bob and all at Drifters Lodge, We loved it!! That was one of the finest vacations we have ever taken! The cabin, the staff, the guides and the fishing were incredible. Thank you so much and we plan to see you next year!”
“I just wanted to tell you how much fun we had with our special guide, Marisa. She was wonderful with both my 85-year old mother and 4-year old grandson (who, by the way, has talked non-stop about “rowing” the boat). We all laughed so hard during our trip that my that my sides are still aching. Marisa was wonderful and if we manage to go again next year, we’ll definitely request her. She’s first class all the way!”
“Hey there! Just wanted to say that we LOVED our stay at Drifter’s Lodge!! We have already recommended you to several of our friends. We look forward to stopping by to say “howdy” with the whole family as we pass through on August 29. I have attached the fish picture we showed you as we left! Thanks Again!!”
“Bob, Just wanted to put in a plug for Matty. Float on Thursday was awesome (except for the wind blowing us back upriver). While I don’t float with guides a whole lot, out of the half dozen trips in the last 2 of 3 years this way was by far the funnest one. He put in a hard day’s work to get us some awesome fish, and other than rowing against the wind, seemed to have a good time also. Kudos. ”
“Hi there, we just wanted to say a big thank you for a brilliant time fishing yesterday afternoon. Pat was excellent as a guide, and extremely patient as we learnt how to fish. It was a real highlight to our vacation, and none of our friends back in the UK can really believe we managed to catch fish at our first ever attempt! You looked after us really well and made it very easy with getting fitted out, getting our licenses (and even helping us back the RV out!)”