ACCESS & FACILITIES:
Access to the South Beach is
from
Royal
Street
via
Cannery Road. Old Cannery
Road is no longer available
for fee collection or beach
access.
There is no beach
access or access to the fishery from Old Cannery Road
north to Royal Street. A staffed fee station is provided at
this location.
Protect the beach! The City of Kenai has provided
trash-only dumpsters and restrooms for your
convenience. Both are serviced daily and have limited
capacity; please pack out what you pack in and do not
place fish debris in dumpsters or clean your fish in the
parking lot. Throw your fish waste into the ocean.
Littering ordinances will be enforced, including burying
refuse in the sand and deliberately discarding fish waste
onto the beach and surrounding areas.
Protect the dunes! Ground fires, motorized vehicles,
and foot traffic are prohibited on the vegetated dunes.
The dunes anchor the mouth of the river and prevent
flooding and erosion. They also provide valuable habitat
for shorebirds and other waterfowl. Trespassing on
protected areas is punishable with a fine up to $500.
Traveling on the beach: Access
onto the beach requires use of a
four-wheel drive or all-terrain
vehicle (approximately three miles
to the mouth of river). Extreme
caution must be exercised due to soft sand and
unforgiving tides.
Protect the dunes and vegetative areas by driving
(including ATV’s) below the high tide mark.
The
vegetative areas on the South Beach provide valuable
habitat for shorebirds and other waterfowl.
Restrooms/Dumpsters: Restrooms and dumpsters are
limited but are serviced daily. Use the restrooms
provided and practice “pack-it-in, pack-it-out” standards
as much as possible to keep the beach clean.
Camping: Tents must stay 25’
from any vegetation and your
paid camping receipt must be
visibly displayed on your tent. If
setting up a tent on the beach, please place it as close
to your vehicle as possible. Camping is limited to a 10foot x 10-foot area.
Remember… your paid parking receipt must be hung
from the mirror of your vehicle and paid camping receipt
attached to your tent
Fires: Campfires may be allowed within
certain areas depending on conditions.
Please check local signage prior to
starting any fires. The City of Kenai
Police Department will issue citations for
all illegal fires.
IMPORTANT TIPS:
Tide Table
Kenai River Entrance
Cook Inlet water is cold and tidal influences severe
and many of its bank areas are muddy. A life jacket and extra
clothing are always sound advice. ALWAYS keep watch of
children at all times.
Extreme caution must be exercised while traveling
the beach - four-wheel drive trucks or all-terrain vehicles are
generally required. The sand is very soft (especially at beach
access points) and high tides can be very unforgiving.
ALWAYS check the tide table before venturing onto the beach.
ALWAYS use approved beach access points.
ALWAYS keep valuables properly secured and
protected.
Bears have been known to occasionally visit the
South Beach area. ALWAYS keep your area clean and free of
debris and litter. Please return all fish waste to the ocean – do
not place in dumpsters.
Familiarize yourself with fishing, motor & boat
regulations affecting the Kenai River Special Management Area
and the Dip Net Fishery.
BRIEF HISTORY:
In March 1996, the Board of Fisheries
amended the Cook Inlet Personal Use
Salmon Management Plan by liberalizing it
and establishing a personal use fishery
season for Alaska residents. The dipnet
season is currently July 10 through July 31
and requires a personal use fishery permit. Please familiarize
yourself with current permit requirements and regulations,
which may be found in the fishing regulation booklet published
by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game Division of Sport
Fish. Permits may be obtained at most local vendors that sell
sport fishing licenses.
ENVIRONMENTAL & SOCIAL IMPACTS:
A significant increase in participation of this fishery has caused
environmental and social issues such as litter problems,
trespassing on private property, destruction of vegetated areas,
fish waste on the beach, fire safety
issues, and life safety issues.
The City
of Kenai, the Alaska Department of Fish &
Game’s Sport Fishing Division, the Alaska
Department of Public Safety’s Alaska
Wildlife Troopers, Kenai River Sport
Fishing Association, Inc. (KRSA), and the
Kenai Peninsula Borough have been
working cooperatively to address these issues.
Jul-16
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
S
M
T
W
R
F
S
S
M
T
W
R
F
S
S
M
T
W
R
F
S
S
AM
9:00
9:54
10:59
----0:18
1:15
2:08
2:56
3:40
4:21
5:02
5:42
6:23
7:06
7:52
8:43
9:42
10:55
----0:24
1:33
2:37
HIGH TIDES
FEET PM
17.9 9:43
16.4 10:30
15.2 11:22
----- 12:16
17.3 1:33
17.7 2:37
18.3 3:27
19.3 4:40
20.3 4:48
21.3 5:25
22.0 6:01
22.5 6:37
22.4 7:14
21.9 7:53
21.0 8:34
19.6 9:20
18.2 10:12
17.0 11:14
----- 12:20
19.8 1:43
20.3 2:52
21.0 3:49
FEET
18.7
17.9
17.4
14.7
14.9
15.8
16.9
18.0
19.2
20.2
21.0
21.5
21.7
21.6
21.3
20.8
20.2
19.8
16.6
17.1
18.2
19.5
AM
3:26
4:19
5:21
6:32
7:43
8:42
9:28
10:08
10:45
11:21
11:57
0:07
0:48
1:30
2:15
3:04
4:01
5:06
6:21
7:38
8:47
9:44
LOW TIDES
FEET PM
3.8 3:37
4.6 4:23
5.1 5:17
5.1 6:19
4.5 7:26
3.4 8:28
2.1 9:20
0.8 10:06
-0.5 10:48
-1.7 11:28
-2.5 ----2.1 12:34
1.6 1:11
1.4 1:50
1.5 2:32
1.8 3:18
2.2 4:11
2.5 5:13
2.4 6:26
1.6 7:42
0.4 8:52
-0.9 9:50
South Beach
FEET
2.2
3.9
5.3
6.3
6.7
6.5
5.8
4.9
3.9
2.9
-----2.9
-2.8
-2.1
-0.9
0.7
2.4
4.0
5.0
5.2
4.6
3.6
Launch Ramp Closure Should be expected due to low tides.
IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION:
Kenai Police Department
Kenai Parks & Recreation
Kenai City Public Works
AK Wildlife Troopers(AWT)
AK Dept. of Fish & Game
In-Season Sonar Estimates
In-Season Sport Fishing Report
Kenai Chamber & Visitors Center
283-7879
283-3692
283-8236
262-4573
262-9368
262-9097
262-2737
283-1991
WELCOME to the Kenai River Personal Use
Fishery. Since this fishery occurs within the
Kenai City limits, the following information has
been developed to assist you in having a safe
and enjoyable experience.
MANAGEMENT FEES:
Management fees assessed to both camping and
parking are used to offset costs associated with
maintaining the beach and providing services such as
trash removal, restrooms, enforcement of City
Ordinances, and other basic services.
Day Use Parking
ATV Parking (2)
Overnight Parking
Overnight Parking
Camping (No Park)
Drop off
5:00 AM to Midnight
5:00 AM to Midnight
Noon to Noon Next Day
Midnight to Noon Next Day
Noon to Noon Next Day
Midnight to Midnight
$20
$20
$45
$55
$25
$10
Refunds will not be issued for any reason.
FEE STATIONS:
Fee collection stations are set up and staffed on both
the north and south beach access points. Hang receipt
on mirror of vehicle. If tent camping, place receipt
visibly on tent. You may request a duplicate receipt for
your tent from the attendant if you purchase overnight
parking.
One can expect long lines at times. Please remain
patient and follow instructions as given and pay
particular attention to signs. For your safety and that of
others, the Kenai Police Department monitors all fee
stations and is in constant contact with attendants.
Parking, camping and all other City Ordinances citable
under the Municipal Code will be enforced as well. With
the exception of the City Dock all fee collection stations
will be open 24 hours a day during the fishery.