Soldotna: river runs through it

The world-famous Kenai River, which runs right through town, is Soldotna's main attraction.

But the community, which is the seat of government for the Kenai Peninsula Borough, also is the headquarters for the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge just south of the city on Ski Hill Road. Here visitors can find animal and nature exhibits, free wildlife movies and hiking trails.

Soldotna's business district along the Kenai Spur and Sterling highways caters to many needs, from custom salmon processing to galleries that specialize in Native art, as well as services like tire repair.

The Soldotna Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center is at the corner of the Sterling Highway and Kalifornsky Beach Road. There are stairs leading down to the river offering close-up views of people fishing along the banks of the Kenai. The visitors center houses the world record sport-caught king salmon — 97 pounds, 4 ounces — which was caught in the Kenai River in 1985 by Les Anderson.

The Soldotna Historical Society has a museum near Centennial Park and the Visitors Center with postwar homesteaders' log cabins, wildlife displays and Native artifacts.

Central Peninsula Hospital is located in Soldotna between Kobuk Street and the Kenai Spur Highway on West Marydale Avenue. The emergency entrance is on Fireweed Street. Fishers who get snagged with lures can have them removed at the hospital, which will then be placed on one of two Styrofoam dummies in the hospital. The duo of dummies picks up several hundred lures during the course of the summer.

In the winter months, residents enjoy the frequent sled dog races held near Soldotna Municipal Airport, as well as the lighted cross-country ski trails located behind Skyview High School south of town that are maintained by the Tsalteshi Trail Association. For a bird's eye view, charter a flightseeing trip with one of the air taxi services based out of Soldotna.

The city has a number of parks and campgrounds, including Centennial Park, which has more than 175 designated campsites and access to the Kenai River, and Swiftwater Park, which has 40 campsites and river access.

For more information:

The city of Soldotna, www.ci.soldotna.ak.us, (907) 262-9107;

The Soldotna Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center, www.visitsoldotna.com/, (907) 262-1337.