Anchorage to Soldotna A Travel Log

Starting at Downtown Anchorage you will get on the Seward Highway. This is a main one-way street that is 4 lanes wide & crazy 35 MPH. Turns into a 55 MPH freeway . At mile 9.7 turns in to narrow 2 lane road with Potters Mash on your left. In the next couple of miles there are a couple of pull outs on the left to view birds & maybe a moose or 2. On right is Cook Inlet. This part of Cook Inlet is known as Turnagain Arm. Warning if Tide is out do not go out in it , is Quicksand. Mile 11.7 start of Chugach State Park. This part of the road is curvy with lots of pullouts. Alaska State Law delay of 5 or more vehicles is against the law. So be aware!!! Also lights on is A Law here on the Seward Highway. There are rock cliffs on the left & Turnagain Arm on your right for the next for the next 20 or so miles. Watch for Goats & Rock climbers on left & Whales, including Beluga, & Bore Tides on the right. This part of the road is an Avalanche area in the Winter. From mile 30 to mile 37 the road is under construction & climbs up & back down to the Alyeska Access Road. Alyeska is a Ski area & a class 5 resort. This is also the small town of Girdwood. Mile 46.7 Alaska Railroad loading area to Whittier on the left. Mile 48 Big Game Alaska on right. A wildlife park. Mile 48.1 Portage Glacier Road on left . Road curves around the end of Turnagain Arm. Watch for Moose. Mile 52 Welcome to The Kenai Peninsula sign. 3 lane road for next 5 miles stay to right except to pass please. Mile 58.5 Turnagain Pass Recreation Area bathrooms garbage dumpsters Emergency Call Box & parking. Elevation 988. A good place to take a break. From here till mile 81 road is new with lots of passing lanes & pull outs. Mile 70.3 (or abouts) Hope Highway cut off. This is just after a new bridge that was completed this summer. From here to Summit lake you climb up mountains. Watch for all kinds of animals. Mile 81.2 Summit Lake Lodge a large log lodge restaurant bar. There is also a nice gift shop here. From here to the Sterling Highway is avalanche area. Mile 89.3 junction with Sterling Highway. Seward is 37.7 miles but we will turn right here.

The Sterling Highway is 142.5 miles west & south to Homer Alaska. Mileage will still be from Anchorage. The road narrows & is not always in the best of conditions lots of curves & frost heaves. There are lots of good fishing lakes & streams on this road. Always be aware that this is Bear Country be very careful. Mile 93.9 Kenai Lake. Start of the best sport fishing in Alaska. Mile 100.7 access to Kenai Princess Lodge. Bridge crossing end of Kenai Lake & start of Kenai river. This is also the start of Cooper Landing (a small town) food, snacks, fishing guides, raft trips here. The road follows the Kenai river winding in & out. Watch for Moose, Black & Brown Bear & small animals. Mile 105.6 Russian River Campground watch for fisherpersons along here. Be Aware this is Dangerous Brown Bear Country. Mile 106.2 Resurrection Pass Trail. A 38 mile trail to Hope Alaska that climbs to 2600 feet & down to Turnagain Arm. From here to Sterling you pass lots of small lakes & streams. Mile 134 Sterling Alaska the Moose River joins the Kenai River at this point. Mile 147 Fred Meyers Store on left parking for RV'S here. You are now in Soldotna Alaska the home of Merget ^ Possum^ & SIR^WOOKIE.

If any of you plan this trip please let us know & we will be glad to help. E-Mail me at wookie@ptialaska.net A must to buy if you plan to come to Alaska is get a current copy of "THE MILEPOST" by Vernon Publications Inc. Http://www.alaskainfo.com or e-mail books@alaskainfo.com This book has details on all roads to & in Alaska. Cost US $21.95 & worth every penny