A well-known Kenai Peninsula (Alaska) recreation spot will temporarily close next year to repair a portion of a road and strengthen the hillside areas near the Kenai River, a report said.
As per the U.S. Forest Service’s announcement, the Russian River Campground road and campground will be closed to the public from August 1, 2022, to June 1, 2023. Campground reservations will be unavailable during the closure.
The improvements will focus on widening and renovating Russian River Campground Road, which the Forest Service said will make the road safer for recreational vehicles, cars, and pedestrians. In addition to extending the current road’s shoulder, a guardrail will be constructed, and sections of the hillside along the banks of the Kenai River will be reinforced.
According to the Forestry Service, work is set to be completed before the sockeye salmon sport fishing season starts.
“Reducing the long-term threat of erosion and landslides is essential to preserving the water quality for healthy salmon spawning and rearing in the Russian and Kenai Rivers,” a department release said.
The project is expected to affect numerous recreational activities in the area. Access to sportfishing will not be available via either the Anglers Trail or the White Trail. The Russian Lakes Trail will also not be accessible from the campground. In addition, hunting access won’t be available from the Russian Lakes Trailhead from the campground, which could impact the sport and federal subsistence hunting season for small and large game.
Barber, Aspen Flats, and Upper Russian public use cabins will not be available from the Lower Russian Lakes Trail. The cabins can be reached through the Snug Harbor Road, the Upper Russian Lakes Trailhead, or floatplane.
“Residents and visitors should be mindful of the upcoming closure when making plans to recreate in the area,” the statement said.
The Russian River Campground is located just off the Sterling Highway near Cooper Landing. Information on the coming closures is available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/chugach.
Let’s embrace the upcoming closure at Russian River Campground as a chance to explore the Kenan Peninsula’s beauty differently. Challenges may emerge, but adapting and finding new paths can lead to wonderful nature experiences and lasting memories in this stunning wilderness.