Discover the four seasons of beautiful Cooper Landing. It is not just a summer playground. A two hour scenic drive will take you to the heart of the Kenai Peninsula, approximately 100 miles south of Anchorage. Extra time should be allowed for stops to take pictures or just to reflect. You will come upon many breathtaking views that still make this 31 year resident stop to take in nature's majesty and feel humbled. The highways are kept clear of snow in the winter. You will find ample passing lanes. Click on map for larger image.

Leaving Anchorage, within minutes on the Seward Highway, you will come alongside the Turnagain Arm. Snow capped mountains retain their white tops well into summer. This is truly where sky, mountains, and water meet to complete your vision and expectations of Alaska. Along the highway you will find many places to pull off for pictures or to take a short hike.

Ice climbing along the highway.

Fireweed in the fall.

Goats and sheep grazing in the summer.

Portage Glacier.

In the winter you will see huge frozen waterfalls. Ice climbers take full advantage of these natural ice formations. In the summer, watch for mountain sheep grazing along the roadway or climbing the jagged rocks.

Portage Glacier is a short drive off the Seward Highway. It's the home of the Begich-Boggs Visitor Center and glacier tours up to the face.

Welcome to Girdwood.

Girdwood, the home of Alyeska Ski Resort, will be your last wintertime stop for gas and food until you arrive in Cooper Landing. Beautiful landscapes continue to unfold as you pass the Whittier turnoff and enter the Kenai Peninsula.

Within minutes you will reach Turnagain Pass. In the winter it is a playground for snow machines, cross country skiers and other winter sports. In the summer you will enjoy hiking, camping and berry picking. A short distance beyond Turnagain Pass you will reach the turnoff to the town of Hope. You may want to return to this area for an afternoon of hiking, fishing or shopping.

Summit Lake Lodge will be your next landmark. The lodge is closed during the winter, but it is a popular place to eat and shop in the summer. Snuggled amid mountains and lakes, you feel the spirit of Alaska. Camping, lodging and fishing are available. Another 15 minute drive will bring you to a fork in the road where the Seward Highway and the Sterling Highway meet. Bear right and follow the signs to Kenai and Homer. Sunrise Inn welcomes you first as you enter our community. Look just beyond the inn to see Kenai Lake, surrounded by mountains and the magic of Cooper Landing.

The Stevenson Retreat is located 1/4 mile past the bridge that divides the Kenai Lake and the Kenai River. There is a public boat ramp here for fishing or rafting down the river. You will find the Stevenson Retreat on the riverside, directly across the highway from the Cooper Landing Grocery Store and The Alpine Motel. , on the river. We look forward to hearing about your drive as you make yourself at home at our Retreat. Stevenson Retreat Kate Stevenson, hostess PO Box 817 Cooper Landing, Alaska 99572 907-240-1113 StevensonRetreat@yahoo.com