Kenai River Drifters Lodge

Drifters Lodge has operated in Cooper Landing since 1998, a small, locally owned outfit with six private cabins for two to four guests and a river house sleeping eight to ten. Guided fishing covers rainbow trout and sockeye, silver, and king salmon on the Kenai, Kasilof, and Russian rivers, plus fly-in trips; the lodge also arranges rafting, kayaking, and glacier cruises.

A seasonal crew of roughly 20 to 25 guides and lodge staff live together on the property, and the lodge trades on repeat guests and a show-up-and-enjoy-Alaska, stress-free setup.