With 11 parks and 200 acres of trails, picnic areas, gardens and more, no trip to Kenai is complete without sampling the local parks. Beaver Creek Park at 6031 Kenai Spur Highway has a boardwalk, picnic tables, Kenai River access, bank fishing, and is just a short stroll from Beaver Creek. Check out Cunningham Park at 2432 Beaver Loop Road for the same amenities, but also a preferred fishing destination during silver salmon season.

Daubenspeck Family Park at 296 Marathon Road is one of the newest additions with a dog training area, swimming spots, ice skating, and cross-country skiing trails in the winter. Covered picnic tables are reservable, and charcoal grills, horseshoe pits, beach/swimming areas and plenty of trails provide the perfect getaway.

Park Picks

Check out Erik Hansen Scout Park at 913 Mission Avenue for interpretive displays, two gardens, and a viewing telescope. Lookout benches provide fantastic views, and the bronze Boy Scout statue that overlooks Cook Inlet precedes a short walk to the bluff’s edge. Birders love this destination.

At Fourth Avenue Park, located at 1108 4th Avenue, families love the playground, basketball court, covered picnic shelters with grills, and grassy fields. Leif Hansen Memorial Park at 10959 Kenai Spur Highway features a reservable gazebo (perfect for weddings), a town clock, several gardens, and the Veteran’s and Mariner’s Memorial.

What will you discover in Kenai’s great outdoors?