Kenai Peninsula Boat Launches
Real-time ramp operational status, verified WGS84 GPS coordinates, River Mile float calculators, and tidal launch windows across all 16 Kenai and Kasilof River boat ramps.
Legend
All 16 Kenai & Kasilof Boat Launches
Bing's Landing Boat Launch
Middle river launch near Sterling. Paved ramp, parking, restrooms. Key access for sockeye, coho, and rainbow trout.
Izaak Walton Boat Launch
Quieter launch at the confluence of the Moose and Kenai rivers. Excellent trout and sockeye access.
Keystone Boat Launch
Middle river launch point. Popular for early-season sockeye and powerboat access near Soldotna.
Swiftwater Park Access & Launch
Central Soldotna park with boat launch, camping, elevated boardwalks, and active middle river fishing.
Centennial Park Boat Launch
City-maintained launch in downtown Soldotna. Extensive boardwalks, boat launch, camping, and restrooms.
The Pillars Boat Launch
Major lower river launch site. Essential access for tidal sockeye and silver salmon fishing.
Eagle Rock Boat Launch
Lower river launch. Access to chrome silver salmon and lower river tidal stretches.
Lower Skilak Lake Boat Launch
Remote launch at the outlet of Skilak Lake. Starting point for middle river floats and lake trout access.
Jim's Landing
Upper river drift boat launch below Skilak Canyon. Turquoise drift water for trout and salmon.
Sportsman's Landing / Russian River Ferry
Major upper river hub for the Russian River ferry, bank fishing, and drift boat put-in. Distinct from Russian River Campground (2.2 mi east).
Kasilof River SRS Boat Ramp
Primary lower Kasilof drift boat launch and take-out near the Sterling Highway bridge.
Tustumena Lake Boat Launch / Upper Kasilof Put-In
Primitive launch at Tustumena Lake outlet (upstream end of Kasilof River). Put-in for 15-mile wilderness drift float.
Cooper Landing Boat Launch
Upper river drift launch below Kenai Lake. Convenient access point in Cooper Landing.
Kenai Lake Bridge Launch
Primitive launch at the outlet of Kenai Lake, where the river officially starts.
Upper Skilak Lake Boat Launch
Paved launch on the north shore of Skilak Lake, popular for lake fishing and camping.
City of Kenai Dock & Launch
Massive paved launch facility near the mouth of the Kenai River. Primary lower river ramp.
Point-to-Point Float Distances & CFS Transit Times
Use this matrix alongside our Live USGS Soldotna River Gauge to estimate drift times between launches. Spring/Fall flows (3,500–6,000 CFS) run significantly slower than peak July glacial discharge (11,000–16,000+ CFS).
| Put-In → Take-Out Segment | Distance | Low/Mod Flow (< 6,500 CFS) | Peak Summer Flow (10,000+ CFS) | Navigation & Sonar Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper Landing (RM 82) → Sportsman's Landing (RM 75) Upper Kenai · Drift Boat / Raft Only (No Motors) | 7.0 River Miles | 2.5 – 3.5 hrs (non-stop) · 5–6 hrs fishing | 1.5 – 2.2 hrs (non-stop) · 4–5 hrs fishing | Bridge pilings at RM 82, fast glacial seams, heavy July bank/ferry congestion near RM 75. |
| Sportsman's Landing (RM 75) → Jim's Landing (RM 70) Upper Kenai · Drift Boat / Raft Only (No Motors) | 5.0 River Miles | 2.0 – 2.5 hrs (non-stop) · 4–5 hrs fishing | 1.2 – 1.8 hrs (non-stop) · 3.5–4.5 hrs fishing | Russian River confluence congestion (RM 75.5), sweeping outside bends, active brown bear corridors. |
| Jim's Landing (RM 70) → Upper Skilak Lake (RM 65) Upper Kenai Canyon · Drift Only in Canyon; Small Kicker Allowed on Skilak Lake | 5.0 River Miles (+ 2.5 mi lake row/tow) | 3.5 – 4.5 hrs total including lake crossing | 2.5 – 3.5 hrs total (Class II+/III canyon waves) | Expert whitewater canyon section at RM 67–65 followed by slackwater wind hazard on Skilak Lake. |
| Lower Skilak Outlet (RM 50) → Bing's Landing (RM 40) Middle Kenai · Powerboats (Max 50 HP 4-Stroke) & Drift Boats | 10.0 River Miles | 3.5 – 4.5 hrs drift · 6–8 hrs fishing | 2.5 – 3.2 hrs drift · 5–7 hrs fishing | Shallow gravel bars near Skilak outlet in May/June; mid-channel glacial boulders above Naptowne Rapids. |
| Bing's Landing (RM 40) → Swiftwater / Centennial (RM 23 / 20.5) Middle Kenai · Powerboats (Max 50 HP 4-Stroke) & Drift Boats | 17.0 – 19.5 River Miles | Full-day 7–9 hr float (often split at Izaak Walton or Keystone) | 5.5 – 7.5 hr float | Naptowne Rapids boulder garden (RM 39.5–35); powerboat wake management in narrow channels. |
| Centennial Park (RM 20.5) → The Pillars (RM 12.5) Lower Kenai · 50 HP 4-Stroke (Drift-Only Mondays in July/Aug) | 8.0 River Miles | 2.5 – 3.5 hrs drift · 5–7 hrs fishing | 1.8 – 2.5 hrs drift · 4.5–6 hrs fishing | RM 19 & RM 14 ADF&G sonar transducer zones; Eagle Rock (RM 11.5) ramp closed—must take out at Pillars (RM 12.5) or City Dock (RM 1.5). |
| Tustumena Outlet (RM 15) → Sterling Hwy Bridge (RM 8) Kasilof River · 100% Drift Boat Only Above Bridge | 7.0 – 11.0 River Miles | 4.0 – 5.5 hrs fishing float | 3.0 – 4.5 hrs fishing float | Tight boulder chutes in upper 3 miles; Kasilof SRS public ramp at RM 8 has State Parks restrictions—verify take-out access before launch. |
Launching at City of Kenai Dock (RM 1.5) & The Pillars (RM 12.5)
Cook Inlet experiences extreme 18-to-28-foot semi-diurnal tidal swings. At the City of Kenai Dock (RM 1.5), minus low tides expose mudflats and shallow channels near the river mouth. Always cross-reference our Kenai River Entrance NOAA Tide Chart before launching deep-draft powerboats below RM 10.
At The Pillars (RM 12.5), tidal push slows current speed for 2 to 3 hours around high slack water, triggering massive upstream waves of Sockeye and August Coho just below the RM 14 and RM 19 sonar counters.
Eagle Rock (RM 11.5) & Kasilof SRS (RM 8) Restrictions
Eagle Rock State Recreation Site (Kenai RM 11.5): Closed to boat launching due to severe riverbank erosion and ramp hazards. Do not plan a take-out at Eagle Rock; continue downstream to City of Kenai Dock or launch/retrieve at The Pillars (RM 12.5).
Kasilof River SRS Ramp (RM 8 / MP 109.3): While park grounds remain open for walk-in bank anglers, the boat ramp carries State Parks restriction notices. Drift boaters floating from Tustumena Outlet should arrange commercial/private take-out access near the bridge prior to launch.
Want a Guided Seat on Today's Best Section?
Our boats trail the strongest sonar pushes across the Upper, Middle, and Lower Kenai and Kasilof rivers daily. Check open seats or book a private boat buyout online.