Kenai National Wildlife Refuge

Kenai National Wildlife Refuge For the official source of information about Kenai NWR go to kenai.fws.gov/. For more info about the USFWS: www.fws.gov or www.fws.gov/home/socialmedia

As of 10/2021, the Visitor Center is temporarily closed to the public, but you can reach staff with Refuge questions/trip planning at 907-260-2820 daily from 10am-4pm. Trails in the Visitor Center area are always open 24/7. Headquarters/Administrative Building is also closed but staff are available Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm and the main Refuge Office number is 907-262-7021.

It is Spoooky Season here at the Kenai NWR, so we wanted to highlight some spooky and mysterious wildlife for this month...
10/07/2026

It is Spoooky Season here at the Kenai NWR, so we wanted to highlight some spooky and mysterious wildlife for this month's s!
Starting off with a mystery...

About a month ago, a couple biologists went into the field to survey some vegetation. When they were out there, one biologist noticed that the bark of an aspen tree looked a bit chalky. He touched the bark out of curiosity and yellowish-white powder came off.
What do you think caused this white chalky tree bark?

Check back on Friday for the answer...

📷:S. Camp/USFWS

October is here and with it some fun events at the refuge visitor center! Mark your calendars now and see you at the ref...
10/03/2026

October is here and with it some fun events at the refuge visitor center! Mark your calendars now and see you at the refuge!

Why do leaves change color? The colors you see in fall are often in the leaves year round, but the green (chlorophyll) ...
10/03/2026

Why do leaves change color? The colors you see in fall are often in the leaves year round, but the green (chlorophyll) covers them up. Chlorophyll is the green pigment that plants use to absorb sunlight and turn it into energy during photosynthesis. When autumn arrives and the trees stop photosynthesizing, the chlorophyll breaks down, and the leaf color changes.

🍂Here is a science color code: 🍂
• Yellow and Orange =Carotenoids: Stay hidden under the green chlorophyll all summer and show up when chlorophyll breaks down.
• Red and Purple =Anthocyanins: Form in autumn from trapped sugars when days are sunny and nights are cool.
• Brown= Tannins: Remain in the leaf structure after all other colorful pigments break down and fade away.

Share your spectacular images of Autumn leaves in the Kenai NWR in the post. Bonus points if you can guess the lake in the background of this image.
📷 M.Ostrowski/KNWR

The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) is offering personal use firewood collection by permit beginning October 1, ...
09/30/2026

The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) is offering personal use firewood collection by permit beginning October 1, 2026. The permit packets, designated cutting area maps of areas open to firewood, and instructions for completing permits will be provided at a self-serve station outside Refuge Headquarters at 33398 Ski Hill Road, Soldotna beginning today, September 30, 2026.

Once a permit is completed and in hand, woodcutting will be permitted along Swan Lake Road from the junction of Swanson River Road to Paddle Lake Trailhead, Swanson River Road from Dolly Varden Campground north to Swanson River Landing, Funny River Road from MP 4 to MP 9.5, Dolly Varden Campground, Upper and Lower Skilak Road including Engineer Lake Road and portions of Upper and Lower Skilak Campgrounds, Ohmer Campground, Jims’ Landing and Ski Hill Road. No wood cutting is allowed along the Refuge Service Entrance Roads. Additional regulations apply. Please consult the area maps and permit conditions attached to the permit packet for details.

The Refuge Headquarters office hours are from 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. Monday - Thursday. For further information, contact Refuge Headquarters by calling (907) 743-9145

09/30/2026

It's Fat Bear Week at Katmai National Park and Preserve, but the bears here on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge are busy getting ready for winter too.

Our bears spend the summer taking advantage of what the refuge has to offer; salmon, berries, leafy plants, and even insects! All that eating helps them build the fat reserves they'll need when the cold Alaskan winter arrives.

This guy seems to have found something else worth investigating…
(turn your sound on) 🐻

What do you think this bear found? Share your favorite bear story below!

🎥C. Canterbury/ KNWR
30 second video: A brown bear wades through shallow wetlands right up to check out and sniff the camera. The sounds you hear are them sniffing the camera and moving in the water.

Good morning from the autumn woods. USWFS personnel will begin ignition today at the Spirit lake unit on the Kenai NWR. ...
09/29/2026

Good morning from the autumn woods.

USWFS personnel will begin ignition today at the Spirit lake unit on the Kenai NWR. The project area is approximately 6 miles east of the Kenai Municipal Airport. Piles consisting of hand piled spruce will be ignited. We are expecting 1-3 days of active ignition. Expect to see smoke from these efforts to remove these fuels before the winter arrives.

Recently, Connections Homeschool joined Ranger Riley for a guided B.A.R.K. Ranger walk on the refuge’s Ski Hill Multi-us...
09/18/2026

Recently, Connections Homeschool joined Ranger Riley for a guided B.A.R.K. Ranger walk on the refuge’s Ski Hill Multi-use Trail. During the walk, our four-legged visitors learned how they can help protect wildlife, habitats, and other visitors while enjoying the outdoors with their humans!

The Multi-use Trail is the only trail near the Refuge Headquarters and Visitor Center where dogs are permitted, making it a great place to practice being a responsible B.A.R.K. Ranger!

Want to bring your "pack" to become B.A.R.K. Rangers? Ranger-led walks are geared toward groups, so homeschool groups, scouts, clubs, and other organizations are especially encouraged to sign up by calling (907) 621-6143 to schedule a program!

If you’d rather explore on your own, stop by the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center (Wednesday to Saturday 10am-4pm) to pick up a B.A.R.K. Ranger Activity Book! The activity book teaches you what B.A.R.K. stands for, provides helpful information about being a responsible pet owner on public lands, and gives you and your pup something fun to work through together.

Can’t get an activity book? No problem! You can still participate by learning the B.A.R.K. Ranger rules and contacting Ranger Michelle. To become a B.A.R.K. Ranger (and get a dog tag), you’ll need to text Ranger Michelle at (907) 251-5642 with:

🦴What B.A.R.K. stands for
🦴 A photo of your dog somewhere on the Kenai refuge (where dogs are allowed) following BARK Ranger rules

B.A.R.K. stands for:
🐾 Bag your pet’s waste
🐾 Always leash your pet
🐾 Respect wildlife
🐾 Know where you can go

And if you want to become a B.A.R.K. Ranger very soon, come join us for Fall Fun Day on Saturday, September 26! Ranger Riley will be leading a B.A.R.K. Ranger walk at 3:00 PM. Bring your pup, your leash, and your best ranger attitude!

Think your dog has what it takes to BARK? We’d love to welcome them to the pack! 🐾

09/16/2026

🐿️ Ever wonder what the red squirrels in your neighborhood are up to? From gathering mushrooms and spruce cones for winter to jumping from tree-to-tree using their tails for balance, squirrels (which are in the rodent family) have some fascinating ways of surviving here in Alaska. 🐿️

Our Little PEEPS (Pre-school Environmental Education ProgramS) for this month (tomorrow, Thursday, September 14) is focused on the red squirrels that live on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. PEEPS is geared to our little learners ages 2-5 and is an hour of story time, active games, and a craft. Come to the session that fits your family best: 9am or 10:30am at the Environmental Education Center on Ski Hill Road, Soldotna.

🎥C. Canterbury/ KNWR
9 second video: A red squirrel moves quickly across fallen branches and logs beside a calm body of water. The squirrel pauses briefly before continuing along the branches. Trees, grasses, and their reflections are visible in the water in the background.

NOTE 9/18: The contractors are ahead on this project and may be switching to the North Side tomorrow through Monday. Th...
09/14/2026

NOTE 9/18: The contractors are ahead on this project and may be switching to the North Side tomorrow through Monday. There will be a time period that the Multi-Use Trail will be closed--it's happening fast so please be patient. :)

-------------------------
Refuge Update: Temporary Road Closure and Detour for Visitor Center and Headquarters Access -- Ski Hill Road in Soldotna

The south entrance of Ski Hill Road will be temporarily closed from September 15 to September 24 for planned resurfacing; all vehicle and pedestrian traffic should utilize the north entrance of Ski Hill Road via Funny River Road.

A second phase of construction will occur between September 25 and October 8 with a temporary closure of the north entrance and road section; all traffic will then detour through the south entrance.

Active construction in the area is currently planned between 8 am and 6 pm, Monday-Friday. Access to the Kenai Refuge Visitor Center and Headquarters during normal business hours will remain open throughout the project.
📷KNWR

Address

PO Box 2139; 33398 Ski Hill Rd
Soldotna, AK
99669

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+19072602820

Website

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