Captain Cook State Recreation Area
- Status
- Status not posted
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Not stated — check with park
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- dnr.alaska.gov(907) 522-8368
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Captain Cook State Recreation Area is a 1,370-acre recreation area in Kenai Peninsula County, about 16 miles north of Kenai.
The park supports boating, fishing, biking, wildlife watching, and hiking. For overnight stays there are campsites (tent sites).
Fees and passes
Per vehicle daily parking fee at developed units (typically $5), per-site/vehicle camping (typically $20) and boat-launch fees; many remote units and marine parks are free. Listed by unit in the statewide fee table.
Statewide fee rule from Alaska's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.
Alaska park passes
- Annual Day Use Parking Pass — $60. Day-use parking at most state parks for the calendar year (not Pillars/Eagle Rock boat launches, Arctic Valley, Eagle River Nature Center) Details
- Annual Boat Launch Pass — $150. Boat launch fees for the calendar year Details
- Disabled Veterans Camping Pass. Camping for qualifying disabled veterans Details
From the Alaska state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- Reserve Alaska State Parks (reservealaskastateparks.com)
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Camping
Discovery Campground
Campground managed by:
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
CampingFishingHikingBikingBoatingWildlife viewing and birding
Fishing
This state recreation area is named for Captain James Cook, the famous English mariner, who in 1778 explored what is now known as Cook Inlet. At that time, the area was occupied by the Tanaina People, who harvested seasonal runs of salmon and other wild foods. Remains of Tanaina house pits are evidence of the Peoples' earlier presence. In recent years the beach area has been used for commercial fishing with beach set-nets.
Anglers may enjoy fishing for rainbow trout and silver salmon in Swanson River as well as rainbows and arctic char in Stormy Lake. Current fishing regulations will give complete information on seasons and limits. Winter visitors enjoy ice fishing on Stormy Lake.
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Picnic areas
- Picnic shelters
- Parking
Camping
- Tent camping
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
ADA Facility - Yes
Water - ♿
Picnic Shelters - ♿
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 36.9 Kenai Spur Highway
AK - Nearest town
- Kenai — about 16 mi north (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 60.7850, -151.0467
- Phone
- (907) 522-8368
Google Maps directionsApple Maps
Directions from the park
From Anchorage drive south on the Seward Hwy, stay to your right, turn onto the Sterling Hwy South, turn right onto Kenai Spur Hwy. Located by driving 25 miles north of Kenai on the North Kenai Road to milepost 36.
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Alaska State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- Alaska DNR ArcGIS 'ASP Park Boundary' layer (OpenData/Recreational_ParkBoundary MapServer/2, refreshed daily), with unit pages from the region 'List of Units' tabs
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology