Russian River Falls
Chugach National Forest · Cooper Landing, Alaska
A set of cascades on the Russian River in Chugach National Forest near Cooper Landing, where sockeye salmon leap upstream through the rapids in summer and brown and black bears often gather to catch them. A wide, gently graded gravel trail of about 2.3 miles through spruce and birch forest leads from the Russian Lakes trailhead to a viewing deck above the falls, making it one of the easiest bear- and salmon-watching walks on the Kenai Peninsula. The early sockeye run peaks in June and the larger late run from mid-July into August. Access is through the Russian River Campground road, which the Forest Service closed for construction to rebuild and widen from 15 August 2025, with another planned closure from 24 March to 3 June, so check whether the trailhead is open before driving. Day-use parking has cost around $20-$25.
Russian Lakes Trailhead, Russian River Campground Road, Sterling Highway Milepost 52, Cooper Landing, Alaska, 99572, United States
Trail open daylight hours when the Russian River Campground road is open. The road and campground were closed for construction from 15 August 2025, with further closures scheduled (check fs.usda.gov/r10/chugach).
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