Captain Cook State Recreation Area
Virtually undiscovered by most visitors to the Kenai Peninsula, Captain Cook State Recreation Area offers a peaceful setting of forests, lakes, streams and saltwater beaches. The recreation area is named for Captain James Cook, the English mariner, who in 1778 explored what is now known as Cook Inlet. At that time, Denaina Indians, who harvested seasonal runs of salmon and other wild foods, occupied the area. Remains of Denaina barabaras, or housepits, are evidence of the Indians' earlier presence. In recent years, this area has been used for commercial fishing with beach set nets.
Animals you may see during your visit include moose, bears, coyotes, wolves, beavers and muskrats. In the waters of the inlet are beluga whales and harbor seals, and in the salt-free waters of Swanson River and Stormy Lake, sportsmen will find rainbow trout, silver salmon and arctic char. Birds include bald eagles, sandhill cranes, trumpeter swans, pacific and common loons, golden-eye ducks, mergansers, thrushes, warblers and jays.