Ninilchik State Recreation Area
Ninilchik and its picturesque Russian church is a highlight for many travelers driving along the Sterling Highway. This picturesque little village is among the oldest on the Kenai Peninsula, settled in the 1820s by employees of the Russian-American Company. Many settlers stayed even after imperial Russia sold Alaska to the United States, and their descendants form the heart of the present community.
Surrounding the community is Ninilchik State Recreation Area. The recreation area is actually composed of four separate units that total 97 acres and offer a variety of activities including camping, clam digging and soaking in the beautiful views of Mount Iliamna and Mount Redoubt - both active volcanoes on the west side of the Cook Inlet. The park consists of Ninilchik Beach State Recreation Site, Ninilchik View Campground, Ninilchik River Campground and Ninilchik Scenic Overlook.
There are three campgrounds in the recreation area and all are ideally located to spend a day exploring historical Ninilchik Village and the Russian Orthodox Church.