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Planning Your Alaska Vacation

Some topics to consider in your trip planning.

Jadyn Sockeye June Middle Kenai

Alaska Trip Planning - Where to Start

Dreaming of a trip to Alaska, but don’t know where to start? It’s a big state, and planning can be overwhelming. Give us a call in the office and we can talk through ideas to get you on a good track! Here are some topics to consider that may help you narrow your focus.

“Why the Kenai Peninsula?”

The Kenai Peninsula is unique among Alaska fishing destinations due to the accessibility of world-class fishing, but also the chance to incorporate other adventures into your travel. Everything is on the road system, so you can explore independently by car. The variety and abundance of adventures within an easy reach has earned the peninsula the nickname: Alaska’s Playground. 

The Kenai River provides everything you could want as a serious angler, but doesn’t limit your ability to have a well-rounded Alaska experience. In contrast to remote Alaskan fishing destinations, choosing a fishing lodge on the Kenai River allows you to arrive and depart any day you like, avoid bush plane travel and clear-weather dependence to get to your lodge, and enjoy the creature comforts that come with being on the road system: restaurants, access to supplies and grocery stores, and charming local towns.

Choosing a Fishing Lodge

Choosing a fishing lodge is a big decision with many factors, and you may be wondering: Is Drifters Lodge right for me? 

Here are a few of the reasons why guests choose Drifters Lodge:

  • Support throughout your planning and booking process. We are available by phone and email to answer all your questions and provide advice informed by years of experience living and working in Alaska. 
  • Our location in Cooper Landing. Of all Kenai River fishing lodges, only a handful are located in Cooper Landing. If you envision staying in the mountains, in a small, peaceful town surrounded by national forest and refuge lands, our location checks all the boxes. 
  • We are in close proximity to both saltwater and freshwater fishing, including a wide variety of river and tributary trips for salmon, rainbow trout, arctic grayling, plus ocean halibut, rockfish and lingcod.
  • The flexibility of our Fishing Packages. We do not have set durations to our packages or specific arrival/departure days, allowing for plenty of flexibility to add days to your trip or continue on with another leg of your journey throughout the area or elsewhere in the state.
  • Small family lodge feel. We have approximately 12-16 package guests per week. These small numbers allow for personal attention and connection throughout your stay with us!
  • Our team of in-house guides. They are on the water every day. They know how the river is fishing and they work together as a team to give our guests the best experience possible. We have guests who return to fish with their favorite guides year after year.

Choosing Travel Dates

When should I come? To best answer this question, you should first define your travel and fishing priorities. If you have a specific goal such as filling the freezer with salmon, fly fishing for the biggest rainbows, or enjoying mild weather, there are ideal dates for each of those things.

Take a look at our fish calendar for a quick reference on when each species is available and the peak dates. 

You may want to consider other factors too. For example, if you want to target sockeye salmon, but a hike-in trip isn’t physically comfortable for you, consider travel dates during the late run in July. We access the fishing by boat versus the typical June hike-in on the Russian River.

I only have a couple of Days. Can I fit in some fishing?

Absolutely! We offer shorter 1-3 Day Lodging and Fishing Packages and also guided full or half day trips, so you can schedule fishing into your vacation.

The most important consideration for a day trip is: Where will you be staying the night before? Many fishing trips require an early morning start, and so we recommend staying in Cooper Landing, Sterling, or Soldotna the night before your trip to minimize drive time in the morning. Coming from Seward, Homer, or Anchorage is possible, especially for an afternoon half day on the upper Kenai River. 

Talk with us about the fishing opportunities available during your travel dates, the location of those trips, and reasonable logistics for getting there. We provide all the fishing gear including waders and extra rain layers if needed.

Considering Drifters Lodge? Next Steps

  • Fill out our inquiry form or just give us a call in the office! Helpful details to have handy are: Potential travel dates, group info, fishing and activity interests, and any questions you have.
  • We enjoy talking with you over the phone as it allows us to go over details and questions in depth, but you are welcome to email us also.
  • From our initial conversation, we create a customized quote and email it to you for your review.
  • Our quotes are fully adjustable! We work to get the itinerary exactly how you envision your trip, balanced with our expertise and knowledge of the season and trips available.
jayden and the girls sockeye salmon

“Are you traveling to Alaska with children?”

Generally speaking, full day boat fishing trips are appropriate for ages 10 and up, and hike-ins are best for 12 and up. While we don’t have a strict minimum age to participate, we’ve found that 6 to 8 years old is when kids start to get the most out of a half day fishing experience.

It is important the child be able to focus for the duration of the trip and that they have the motor skills and ability to follow the guide’s instructions. Safety is the first priority. If you have young children, we can discuss options to tailor the experience to their capabilities.

Our 2 and 3 hour scenic rafting trips are great for all ages and best for ages 3 and up. We do sometimes recommend a private raft depending on the age(s) and make up of your family group. The trip is mellow, informative and splashy!

Our fishing and rafting guides are patient and easy-going teachers who seamlessly incorporate instruction and fun facts throughout the float. Many of them got hooked on fishing, rafting and the outdoors at a young age, too, so they know how meaningful those formative experiences can be in instilling a lifelong love and respect for the outdoors!