Watch The Alaska Salmon Spawn On The Easy Russian River Falls Trail
By Megan McDonald|Published July 21, 2020
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Megan McDonald
Author
Megan McDonald is a writer, photographer, and owner of humu media, an Alaska-based digital media agency. She spends her free time traveling with her husband and daughter around the US and the world.
Take a day and head on out to Cooper Landing, where you can explore a stunning area on the Kenai Peninsula! Home to two big and beautiful rivers, the Kenai River and the Russian River, Cooper Landing has many little nooks and crannies to explore. The Russian River Falls Trail is a gorgeous, easy to hike trail that leads you to a waterfall where you can see salmon spawn, and possibly even a bear find its dinner!
If you’re on the Kenai Peninsula and in the Cooper Landing area, you need to head on over to the Russian River Falls Trail for an experience you won’t want to miss.
This is an easy trail that brings you to the Russian River Falls where salmon will jump when they spawn in the summertime. It’s a beautiful setting with a scenic payoff.
It’s wide and filled with gravel, and sturdy strollers are welcome. You will find a couple of spots with some rocks that you will have to maneuver around, but for the most part it’s easy to navigate.
The entire elevation gain of the trail is only 570 feet.
To see the salmon spawn, you’ll want to get out there during the summer season. There’s a limited time for when the salmon are running, so you’ll want to make sure you head there during those weeks.
The entire hike is 5.1 miles, round-trip on an out and back trail.
Even if the salmon aren’t running, it’s a gorgeous hike all on its own. Hiking through forest and alongside the burbling river provides a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.
The trail starts at mile 52 on the Sterling Highway, off of access road to the Russian River Campground.
There’s a small parking area on a pullout off of the access road. The trailhead also takes you on the Russian River Trail, so make sure you read the signs as you travel along your hike.
Have you ever hiked the beautiful Russian River Falls Trail? What did you think? Will you head on out there this summer? Let us know in the comments below!
