Upper Kenai River Trail To Lower . . .

Life is tenacious; it works its way through the charred remains in search of the light.

We take over four glorious hours to hike six miles in the Skilak area. I recall the worry I felt at running into bear in the dense forrest last I traversed the Upper to the Lower Kenai River Trail with my children when they were still in grade school.

In 2019, the Swan Lake fire, which burned from June 5 up past September 30, ravaged just over 167,000 acres of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. This once densely wooded playground is now charred. The blackened remains of the trees that use to grace the Ridgeline of the Upper Kenai River Trail now provide an open view of the winding river and Skilak Lake.
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In spite of the damage left in the wake of the flames, new life and the unscathed old as well as the sun’s reflective light grace our day with beauty. At trail’s end, we drive up to Cooper Landing and reward our efforts with dinner at Gwin’s Lodge before our evening’s drive home.