Kasilof: known for fishing, dogs

About 15 miles south of Soldotna on the Sterling Highway is Kasilof. It is located along the Kasilof River, whose turquoise waters pour out of the 25-mile long Tustumena Lake, a drainage of the Tustumena Glacier.

Fishing is a favorite summertime activity. The Kasilof River State Recreation Area offers 25 day-use sites and a boat launch used by fishing guides and sport fishermen.

The Kasilof Regional Historical Association is committed to keeping the area's background alive. Members have preserved several historic buildings and keep the McLane Center, at .5 mile Kalifornsky Beach Road, open during the summer.

In the winter, the attention shifts to racing sled dogs. Kasilof is home to the Tustumena 200 Sled Dog Race. As a qualifying event for the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, it is common to see world-renown teams cross the finish line. The start and finish line of the 200-mile race is at the Tustumena Lodge. After following the trail into the Caribou Hills, mushers and dogs get a mandatory overnight break at the Clam Shell Lodge located at Kasilof's neighbor to the south, Clam Gulch. Each of those three locations allow spectators to get an up-close view of these amazing human and canine athletes.

For more information:

Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation, dnr.alaska.gov.parks/, (907) 262-5581

Kasilof Regional Historical Association, www.kasilofhistoricalsociety.org, (907) 262-2999

Tustumena 200, www.tustumena200.com