Captain Cook State Recreation Area

Captain Cook State Recreation Area is a park on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska.[3] It is located on the shores of Cook Inlet at the northern terminus of the Kenai Spur Highway, about 25 miles (40 km) north of Kenai and 14 miles (23 km) north of Nikiski. Both the Inlet and the recreation area are named after Captain James Cook who explored the area in 1778.[1]

Captain Cook State Recreation Area
View from the bluff of a rocky portion of the beach, and the mudflats that can be seen at low tide. Mount Spurr is visible in the distance.
Nearest cityNikiski
Coordinates60°48′19″N 151°00′54″W
Area3,466 acres (1,403 ha)[1]
Authorized1971[2]
Governing bodyAlaska Department of Natural Resources

History

Archeological evidence, as well as Cook's observations indicate the area was previously inhabited by the Dena'ina people, who gathered salmon in the area. The beaches in and around the park have also been the site of commercial fishing activity.[1] The park is one of the oldest in the Alaska State Park system, having been authorized in 1971, with major capital improvement projects in 1978 and 2010.[2]

Features
A portion of the nature trail in autumn

One of the park's main features is the Discovery Campground, a 53-site wooded camping area on the bluffs above Cook Inlet[4] (Discovery was the name of one of the ships in Cook's expedition.)[5] Campers are advised to keep a clean camp as black bears are known to frequent the area.[1] There is a nature trail which encircles the campground.[6]

Below the campground is a beach on Cook Inlet, rocky in some places but more sandy near the river outlet. Beachcombers can find agates here. At low tide extensive and dangerous mud flats are exposed below the beach.[1] On a clear day visitors to the bluff and beach can see the distant Aleutian Range, including the volcano Mount Spurr[7] as well as several offshore oil rigs.[8]

The park is the northern terminus of the Swanson River and its associated canoe trail.[6][7]

Stormy Lake

The park is also home to Stormy Lake, a 161.9-hectare (400-acre) lake with boat launch and picnic areas as well as a small, primitive, boat-accessible campground.[2] The lake was the site of two efforts to eradicate invasive species.[9]

In winter months the park features ice fishing on the lake and cross-country ski trails.[6]

References
  1. Captain Cook SRA Alaska Department of Natural Resources
  2. Recreational Boating Access Projects, Southcentral Projects, Alaska Department of Fish and Game
  3. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Captain Cook State Recreation Area
  4. Discovery Campground, Alaska Department of Natural Resources
  5. Colledge, J.J.; Warlow, Ben (2006). Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy. Chatham Publishing. p. 99. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
  6. Map of the SRA
  7. The Milepost 2018 edition, page 553 ISBN 9781892154378, Morris Communications
  8. Cook Inlet Oil and Gas activities map Alaska Department of Natural Resources
  9. Earl, Elizabeth, Fish population booms in Stormy Lake Peninsula Clarion, 10/7/2015
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