Federal campground in Cooper Landing, AK.
The Dena’ina people call this special place Yaghanen — “the good land.” Today, it is known as the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. From ice fields and glaciers to tundra, forests, and coastal wetlands, the refuge is often called “Alaska in miniature.” Biodiversity here is unusually high for this latitude due to the meeting of two distinct biomes: the Sitka spruce-dominated coastal rainforest and the westernmost reach of North America’s boreal forest. This rich ecosystem serves as a critical anchor for biodiversity on the Kenai Peninsula amidst regional growth, shifting fire regimes, and a changing climate. Wildlife & Fisheries Mammals: Home to moose, brown and black bears, lynx, wolves, and more. Birds: Nesting grounds for trumpeter swans and various waterfowl. Fisheries: The famed Kenai River originates within the refuge and is world-renowned for sockeye (red), and coho (silver)…