Soldotna

About the Area

The world-famous Kenai River runs right through town, which is just one of the attractions Soldotna has to offer. The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge headquarters is just south of the city on Ski Hill Road and offers animal and nature exhibits, free wildlife movies and hiking trails.

Soldotna's business district along the Kenai Spur and Sterling highways cater to many needs, from custom salmon processing to galleries that specialize in Native art, as well as services like tire repair.

The Soldotna Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center is at the corner of the Sterling Highway and Kalifornsky Beach Road. There are stairs leading down to the river offering close-up views of people fishing along the banks of the Kenai.

The Visitors Center houses the world record sport-caught king salmon. The Soldotna Historical Society has a museum near Centennial Park and the Visitors Center with postwar homesteaders' log cabins, wildlife displays and Native artifacts.

Central Peninsula Hospital is located in Soldotna between Kobuk Street and the Kenai Spur Highway on West Marydale Avenue. The emergency entrance is on Fireweed Street. Fishers who get snagged with lures can have them removed at the hospital, which will then be placed on one of two Styrofoam dummies in the hospital. The duo of dummies picks up several hundred lures during the course of the summer.

In the winter months, residents enjoy the frequent sled dog races held near Soldotna Municipal Airport, as well as the lighted cross-country ski trails located behind Skyview High School south of town that are maintained by the Tsalteshi Trail Association. For a bird's eye view, charter a flightseeing trip with one of the air taxi services based out of Soldotna.

Must-see in Soldotna

Besides the fishing? Visit Soldotna's Homestead Museum, located on Centennial Park Road off Kalifornsky Beach Road. The museum depicts life for Soldotna's first homesteaders, who arrived in 1947. Check out the originals homesteaders' cabins, as well as wildlife displays and Alaska Native artifacts.

Links
City of Soldotna
Soldotna Chamber of Commerce