Kenai Multisport Family Adventure
Known as the “Great Land”, Alaska is big and diverse enough to challenge anyone’s imagination. The Kenai Peninsula is a remarkably spectacular slice of Alaska. Here Mother Nature shows off her stuff: glacier-draped mountain peaks, serpentine rivers, blazing sunsets, big fish and brown bears. Join us for an active exploration that includes the best of this magnificent natural setting. On our adventure we sea kayak through the wilderness of Thumb Cove on Resurrection Bay, cast our fishing lines into the Moose River hoping to snag a world-class salmon, hike alongside a spawning river in the Kenai Wildlife Refuge, cruise the rugged shores of Kenai Fjords National Park viewing marine wildlife galore and fly across Cook Inlet in a bush plane to a private brown bear viewing camp. And if that’s not enough, we make a trip to the “end of the road”, the historical town Homer on Katchemak Bay. We divide our time between our rustic yet comfortable “wildlife tented-lodge,” and our more primitive “adventure camp” on the wilderness shores of Thumb Cove. What’s more to say? Pack up the family and head north this summer to share a grand adventure in Alaska’s wild places.
Important Notice: Day 1 is the day you should plan to arrive at the meeting point for the trip. This may require departing your hometown one or more days in advance.
Kenai Multisport Family Adventure Itinerary:
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Day 1
Your trip begins today in Anchorage, Alaska. Depart your home city to arrive into Anchorage by 12:30 p.m. This afternoon we transfer by van 2.5 hours south along the spectacular Seward Highway to Seward and Kenai Fjords National Park. Today’s destination is our Seacoast Adventure Camp located deep in Thumb Cove off Resurrection Bay. In Seward we board a small boat for a short shuttle (about 30 minutes) to our backcountry wilderness camp where we spend the next two nights. This is gorgeous wilderness … hanging glaciers, towering forests, cascading waterfalls. There’s time for an evening paddle (hard-shell, two person sea kayaks) up the cove after you’ve been introduced to sea-kayaking skills. Wilderness camping at Thumb Cove. All meals included from Day 1 dinner – Day 7 lunch.
Sea Kayaking: 1-3 hours; Terrain: moderate open water kayaking with waves, tides, currents. -
Day 2
Enjoy a spectacular day of sea-kayaking. We paddle across the cove, exploring the crystal-clear waters and amazing coastline scenery. The paddling here is protected from the stronger winds and currents on Resurrection Bay – it’s perfect for both kayaking novices and experienced paddlers. There’s time in the late afternoon to hike near the hanging glaciers or simply relax or beach comb around camp (if the tides are right – maybe a bit of clamming!). At some point during your stay at our Seacoast Adventure Camp, your guides will introduce you to the basics of GPS navigation so that throughout the week you can practice reviewing your exact positioning. Wilderness camping at Thumb Cove.
Sea Kayaking: 4-6 hours; Terrain: moderate open water kayaking with waves, tides, currents. -
Day 3
Break camp early morning for our shuttle back to Seward. The rest of the day is all about marine wildlife viewing as we enjoy a cruise through Kenai Fjords National Park. Your chances are great of seeing Orca and Humpback whales, harbor seals, sea lions, sea otters and a myriad of seabirds while motoring through terrifically rugged coastal scenery. After our cruise, we travel northwest towards Sterling to a lovely lodge located on the confluence of the Kenai and Moose Rivers. Here we enjoy well-deserved hot showers followed by happy hour with hors d’oeuvres. Then we make a fifteen minute trip up the Moose River to our home for the next four evenings, the Kenai Wildlife Tented Camp.
Wildlife Cruise: 3+ hours. -
Day 4
This morning we take time to explore the incredible environment just upstream from our tent camp. A few strokes of the paddle will bring us to the border of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. Moose, beaver, brown and black bear, arctic fox, timber wolf and even the reclusive lynx call this area home. Not a single trail accesses this area, so our canoes / kayaks are the perfect means for exploring this pristine wilderness. After lunch (back at camp), it’s time for a little world-class fishing. In our 4-person drift boats (or motorized skiffs) we cast our lines into salmon rich waters for an afternoon of reeling them in! Depending upon our catch, we return to camp and prepare the fish for an evening bar-b-que.
River Paddling (Kayaking / Canoeing): gentle rapids, upstream paddle and downstream float. Afternoon Drift Boat Fishing. -
Day 5
After breakfast we strap on our boots for a morning hike in the Wildlife Refuge. Following a mountain stream on a forested tundra trail, we climb steadily uphill to a vantage point allowing us to watch fish jumping up a waterfall as they make the final swim of their lifecycle. The ability of Pacific salmon to find the origin of their birth (spawning) after migrating thousands of miles from home is truly a remarkable feat. Enjoy a picnic lunch before returning to camp. Then it’s off to Bear Camp! A 50-minute scenic bush float plane flight across Cook Inlet lands you on the shores of Chinitna Bay, below the flanks of Mt. Illiamna. We spend a few precious hours watching wild brown bears in their native environment at a private camp with a platform that offers awesome viewing. Brown bears are certainly one of Alaska’s iconic symbols – have your cameras ready! Return flight to our tented camp in the late afternoon for a bit of relaxation prior to dinner.
Hiking: 3+ hours gradual uphill in; Bear Viewing/ Scenic Flight: 4 hours. -
Day 6
No trip to Alaska is complete without a visit to the “End of the Road.” After breakfast we grab our day packs and head to Homer, a lively historical town noted for its “last frontier” color and gorgeous setting. Your first view of Homer and the 4.5 mile long spit that extends out into Katchemak Bay is truly unforgettable… the setting is “eye-popping beautiful.” We spend a fun filled day exploring the Alaska Maritime Wildlife Refuge headquarters/ museum, a local artist’s studio, hiking a beachside trail and soaking in the uniqueness of the famous boardwalk at “Land’s End”. Return to camp in time for dinner and a final evening on the Kenai.
Hiking and town exploration: 6-8 hours; Terrain: easy beachside trail and small historic town. -
Day 7
This morning we visit Fort Kenai, an early Russian encampment at the mouth of the Kenai River. Historically colorful, this area has been important for hundreds of years as ancestral fishing grounds for the early Kenaitze Indians (an Athabascan group) as well as for transportation to the Alaskan gold fields and for the once popular hunting of sea otters. The Russian presence is still apparent in the fort’s “onion-top” Russian Orthodox Church. Tour a local salmon cannery and learn about the current fishing fleet and one of the “world’s most dangerous jobs”. Return to camp for lunch, freshen up, a final farewell and an afternoon departure for Anchorage. Please do not schedule a flight out of Anchorage prior to 8 p.m. Breakfast and lunch included.
Although we do our very best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control.
No single rooms are available for request on this adventure. All group members will be automatically paired with a suitable roommate when possible.
All meals from Day 1 dinner through Day 7 lunch; tented accommodations in camps; transportation from Anchorage for duration of trip and return to Anchorage; Kenai Fjords wildlife cruise; support vehicle as needed; motor boat transfer to Seacoast Adventure Camp; roundtrip scenic bushflight to private Bear Camp viewing site; guided drift-boat fishing and all necessary fishing tackle; group camping and cooking gear; kayaks / canoes and related equipment; and expert kid lovin’ group leadership.
Airfare to Anchorage; insurance of any kind, excess baggage charges, alcoholic beverages or soft drinks, optional gratuities, fishing license ($20 for the day) and items of a personal nature.
This trip is rated Moderate [3]. Active beginners in good physical shape are welcome. No kayaking / canoeing experience is needed although participants should be able to swim and be comfortable in the water. Hikes are short with only moderate elevation gain / loss. Fishing skills will be taught for the day of drift boating.
Temperatures during the summer months are pleasant during the day (50°- 75° F) and cool at night (in the 40s). August trips may face nighttime temperatures in the mid 30s to low 40s. You must be prepared for weather extremes varying greatly from day to night and from region to region.
This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and pre-departure information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased within 21 days of your initial trip deposit, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).
We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.
Kenai Multisport Family Adventure
The key to staying comfortable while on an active trip is layering. To get maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation and weather protection. This gear list has been created to help you in choosing your equipment for the trip. Try to bring only what is necessary as this will help you and the field staff.
Weather
Summer temperatures in Alaska range from the 50s to the mid-70s during the days. Evenings will dip into the 40s, and in September evening temperatures can be in the 30s. Although some days have sunshine, you must also be prepared for wet, cold and windy weather.
Gear Checklist
- Tents
- Sleeping bag/pad, bag-liner, pillow
- Cooking equipment and eating utensils
- Group first aid kit
- Hard shell & inflatable kayaks
- Spin or fly fishing equipment and driftboat
- Airline tickets
- Photo identification
- Duffel bag, large (wheels and retractable handle are fine)
- Daypack, large enough to pack for 2-nights at the seacoast adventure camp
- Luggage tags and luggage locks
- Waterproof, breathable rain jacket (or poncho) and pants
- Lightweight, easily washable items for sightseeing or evenings
- Fleece pants or tights
- Mid-weight fleece or wool sweater/jacket
- T-shirts, synthetic and quick-dry
- Long sleeve shirts (thermal lightweight and mid-weight)
- Hiking shorts, quick-drying
- Hiking pants, quick-drying
- Underwear
- Hiking socks
- Liner socks
- Sun hat (wide brim or baseball cap)
- Wool or fleece hat
- Wool or fleece gloves
- Head net (optional)
- Paddling gloves (optional)
- Swimsuit
- Lightweight, water resistant hiking boots
- Walking shoes for travel
- Flashlight or headlamp with extra batteries
- Waterproof pack cover (or large plastic bag)
- Two 1-quart size water bottles, or hydration system
- Sunglasses and retainer strap
- Sunblock and lip balm
- Insect repellent with DEET (non-aerosol)
- Personal first aid kit
- Toiletry kit
- Towel (for showers)
- Ziploc bags to separate wet items from dry
- Camera and film/memory cards
- Waterproof disposable camera
- Reading and writing materials
- Ear plugs
- Motion sickness remedies
- Bandana
- Headnet
- Compact Binoculars
- Field Guides
- Travel Games
- Watch with alarm or travel clock
- Favorite kid’s snacks
- Spare contact lenses or glasses
- Spending money for extras
- Gaiters for hiking in thick bush
Things to Consider
- Please remember to always pack essential items such as appropriate identification, money, eyewear, a change of clothing (including hiking boots), and medications in your carry-on baggage, in case your luggage is delayed.
- Cotton is wonderful in warm weather. However, once it becomes wet, it will drain your body heat. Bring wool or synthetics such as Capilene, MTS and Thermax.
- Always test your layers before a trip. Your outer layer should fit easily over the inside ones without binding and bunching up.
- Make sure boots are broken-in. Bring moleskin for foot treatment. Thin liner socks worn under regular hiking socks may minimize the risk of blisters. The liner sock should be synthetic.
- Plastic bags help keep clothing and gear dry. Bring a large trash bag to cover luggage. Use Ziploc bags to keep wet clothes separate from dry clothes.
- If you wear prescription glasses, use a safety cord and bring an extra pair if possible. Contact lens users should also bring an extra set, or bring eyeglasses for a backup.
- While flying, we recommend you hand-carry your camera, important documents, medications and other items that are difficult to replace. It is also a good idea to have some identification inside your checked bag.
Feel free to give us a call at 1(800) 622-2236 should you have any questions regarding the gear list. The staff at our stores and Direct Sales 1(800) 426-4840 will be happy to help you with gear questions. Or visit REI's website at www.rei.com, the “Expert Advice” section has great information to help you prepare for your trip.
