Regulations for the entire Wildlife Refuge System are contained in 50CFR Part
25-36. The refuge upholds all current state laws as well as refuge specific regulations.
Aircraft
Motorboats
Off-Road Vehicles
Snowmobiles
Hunting and
Trapping
Fishing
Canoe
System
Other Public Uses
36.39 Public Use
Public
Use of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) is permitted subject to all other
parts of 50 CFR Part 36, those sections of 50 CFR Subchapter C not supplemented
by Part 36, and the following refuge-specific requirements:
Aircraft
Aircraft Regulations
(North)(5.6 MB, pdf)
Aircraft
Regulations (South) (8 MB, pdf)
Aircraft
Regulations (Chickaloon) (5.1 MB, pdf)
The operation of aircraft on
the Kenai NWR, except in an emergency, is permitted only as authorized in designated
areas as described below. These areas are also depicted on a map available from
refuge headquarters.
Within the Canoe Lakes, Andy Simons, and Mystery Creek
Units of the Kenai Wilderness, only the following lakes are designated for airplane
operations:
Canoe Lakes Unit
Pepper, Gene, and Swanson Lakes are
only open for sport ice fishing.
| Scenic Lake | Grouse
Lake | Snowshoe Lake |
| Nekutak Lake | King Lake | Wilderness
Lake |
| Shoepac Lake | Bedlam Lake | Mull Lake |
| Norak
Lake | Taiga Lake | Tangerra Lake |
| Bird Lake | Cook Lake | Sandpiper
Lake |
| Vogel Lake | | |
Andy Simons Unit
Tustumena
Lake and all wilderness lakes within one mile of the shoreline of Tustumena Lake.
All unnamed lakes.
| Upper Russian Lake | Dinglestadt
Lake | Kolomin Lakes |
| Twin lakes | Lower Russian Lake | Wosnesenski
Lake |
| Emerald Lakes | Iceberg Lake | Pothole Lake |
| High Lake | Green Lake | Harvey Lake |
| Martin Lake | Windy
Lake | |
Mystery Creek Unit
An unnamed lake in section
11, T. 6 N., R. 5 W., S.M., AK.
(B) Airplanes may operate on all lakes
outside the Kenai Wilderness except those lakes with recreational developments,
including, but not limited to, campgrounds, campsites, and public hiking trails
connected to road waysides. The non-wilderness lakes closed to aircraft operations
are as follows:
North of the Sterling Highway
| Cashka
Lake | Rainbow Lake | Anertz Lake |
| Dolly Varden Lake | Dabbler
Lake | Weed Lake |
| Nest Lakes | Lily Lake | Silver Lake |
| Mosquito Lake | Forest Lake | Breeze Lake |
| Watson Lake | Upper
Jean Lake | Imeri Lake |
| Afonasi Lake | | |
North
of the Sterling Highway
All lakes in the Skilak Loop Area (South of Sterling
Highway and North of Skilak lake) are closed to aircraft except that airplanes
may land on Bottenintnin Lake, which is open year-around and Hidden Lake, which
is only open for sport ice fishing.
(i) Headquarters Lake is restricted
to administrative use only.
(ii) Notwithstanding any other provision of
these regulations, the operation of aircraft is prohibited between May 1 and September
30, inclusive, on any lake where nesting trumpeter swans and/or their broods are
present except Scenic and Lonesome Lakes where the closure is between May 1 and
September 10, inclusive.
(iii) the operation of wheeled airplanes, at the
pilot's own risk, is authorized on the unmaintained Big Indian Creek Airstrip,
on gravel areas within 1/2 mile of Wosnesenski Glacier terminus lake, and within
the SE 1/4, section 16 and SW 1/4, section 15, T. 4 S., R. 8 W., Seward Meridian.
(iv) Unlicensed aircraft are permitted to operate on the refuge only as
authorized by a special use permit from the refuge manager.
(v) Airplanes
may operate only within designated areas on the Chickaloon Flats, as depicted
on a map available from the refuge manager.
(vi) Airplane operation is
permitted on the Kasilof River, the Chickaloon River outlet, and the Kenai River
below Skilak Lake from June 15 through March 14. All other rivers on the refuge
are closed to aircraft.
Back to top
Motorboats
Motorboats are authorized on all waters of the refuge except under the
following conditions and within the following areas:
(i) Motorboats are
not authorized on lakes within the Canoe Lakes Unit of the Kenai Wilderness except
those lakes as designated for airplane operations as described on a map available
from the refuge manager. Boat motor use is not authorized on those portions of
the Moose and Swanson Rivers within the Canoe Lakes Unit of the Kenai Wilderness.
(ii) That section of the Kenai River from the outlet of Skilak Lake downstream
for three miles is closed to motorboat use between March 15 and June 14, inclusive.
However, any boat having a motor may drift or row through this section provided
the motor is not operating.
(iii) That section of the Kenai River from
the power line crossing located approximately one mile below the confluence of
the Russian and Kenai Rivers downstream to Skilak Lake is closed to motorboats.
However, any boat having a motor attached may drift or row through this section
provided the motor is not operating.
(iv) Motors in excess of 10 horsepower
are not authorized on the Moose, Swanson, Funny, Chickaloon (upstream of river
mile 7.5), Killey, and Fox Rivers.
(v) A "no wake" restriction
applies to Engineer, Upper and Lower Ohmer, Bottenintnin, Upper and Lower Jean,
Kelly, Petersen, Watson, Imeri, Afonasi, Dolly Varden, and Rainbow Lakes.
(vi)
Notwithstanding any other provisions of these regulations, operation of a motorboat
is prohibited between May 1 and September 30, inclusive, on any lake where nesting
trumpeter swans and/or their broods are present, except Windy, Scenic, and Lonesome
Lakes where the closure is between May 1 and September 10, inclusive.
Back
to top
Off-Road Vehicles
(i) The
use of air cushion, airboat, or other motorized watercraft, except motorboats,
is not allowed on the Kenai NWR, except as authorized by a special use permit
from the refuge manager.
(ii) Off-road vehicle use, including operation
on lake and river ice, is not permitted. Licensed highway vehicles are permitted
on Hidden, Engineer, Kelly, Petersen, and Watson Lakes for ice fishing purposes
only, and must enter and exit lakes via existing boat ramps.
Back
to top
Snowmobiles
Operation
of snowmobiles is authorized on the Kenai NWR subject to the following conditions
and exceptions:
(i) Snowmobiles are permitted between December 1 and April
30 only when the refuge manager determines that their is adequate snow cover to
protect underlying vegetation and soils. During this time, the manager will authorize,
through public notice, the use of snowmobiles less than 46 inches in width and
less than 1,000 pounds (450 kg) in weight. Designated snowmobile areas are described
on a map available from the refuge manager.
(ii) All areas above timberline,
except Caribou Hills, are closed to snowmobile use.
(iii) The area within
sections 5, 6, 7, and 8, T. 4 N., R. 10 W., S.M., AK., east of the Sterling Highway
right-of-way including the refuge headquarters complex, the environmental education/cross-country
ski trails, Headquarters and Nordic Lakes, and the area north of the east fork
of the Slikok Creek and northwest of a prominent seismic trail to Funny River
Road is closed to snowmobile use.
(iv) An area, including the Swanson River
Canoe Route and portages, beginning at Paddle Lake parking area, then west and
north along the Canoe Lakes wilderness boundary to the Swanson River, continuing
northeast along the river to Wild Lake Creek, then east to the west shore of Shoepac
lake, south to the east shore of Antler Lake, and west to the beginning point
near Paddle Lake, is closed to snowmobile use.
(v) An area, including the
Swan lake Canoe Route, and several road-connected public recreational lakes, bounded
on the west by Swanson River Road, on the north by the Swan Lake Road, on the
east from a point at the east end of Swan lake Road south to the west bank of
the Moose River, and on the south by the refuge boundary, is closed to snowmobile
use.
(vi) Within the Skilak Loop Special Management Area, snowmobiles are
prohibited except on Hidden, Kelly, Petersen, and Engineer Lakes for ice fishing
access only. Upper and Lower Skilak Lake campground boat launches may be used
as access points for snowmobile use on Skilak Lake.
(vii) Snowmobiles may
not be used on maintained roads within the refuge. Snowmobiles may cross a maintained
road after stopping and when traffic on the roadway allows safe snowmobile crossing.
(viii) Snowmobiles may not be used for racing or for the harassment of
wildlife.
Back to top
Hunting
and Trapping
(i) Firearms may not be discharged within 1/4 mile of
designated public campgrounds, trailheads, waysides, buildings, or the Sterling
Highway from the east refuge boundary to the east junction of the Skilak Loop
Road.
(ii) A special use permit, available from the refuge manager, is
required prior to baiting black bears.
(iii) Hunting with the aid or use
of a dog for taking big game is permitted only for black bear, and then only under
the terms of a special use permit from the refuge manager.
(iv) Hunting
and trapping within sections 5, 6, 7, and 8, T. 4 N., R. 10 W., S.M., AK., encompassing
the Kenai NWR headquarters/visitor center and associated environmental education
trails are prohibited. the boundary of these administrative and environmental
education areas is depicted on a map available from the refuge manager.
Back
to top
Fishing
Fishing is prohibited
June 1 to August 15, on the south bank of the Kenai River from the Kenai-Russian
River Ferry dock to a point 100 feet downstream.
No motorized equipment (such as power ice augers) or motor boats are allowed in the wilderness areas.
Back
to top
Canoeing
Your cooperation
in following these regulations will make your experience more enjoyable and help
protect the wilderness quality of the canoe system.
Canoeists are required
to register at all three entrances. Group size is limited to 15 persons or less.
Leave a trip plan with trusted family or friend. If you don't arrive back as planned,
they should contact the refuge.
Discharging firearms is prohibited unless
hunting during a legal hunting season or in defense of life and property from
wildlife.
Aircraft may not land on any lakes within the canoe system.
Motorized
watercraft are not allowed on the canoe system.
Wheeled vehicles such as
canoe carts and mountain bikes are not allowed on the system.
Wood used
in campfires must be dead and down. Chainsaws are not allowed in wilderness to
gather wood for campfires.
Natural and cultural features cannot be collected
except for berries and edible mushrooms.
Fireworks are prohibited!
Back
to top
Other Public Uses
(i)
Camping
A. Camping may not exceed 14 days in any 30 day period anywhere on
the refuge.
B. Campers may not spend more than two consecutive days at the
Kenai-Russian River access area, more than seven consecutive days at Hidden Lake
campground, or more than seven consecutive days in refuge shelters.
C. Within
developed campgrounds, camping is permitted only in designated areas and open
fires are permitted only in Service-provided fire grates or portable, self-contained
, metal fire grills.
D. No camping is permitted within 1/4 mile of the Sterling
Highway, Ski Hill, or Skilak Loop roads except in designated campgrounds.
E.
Campers may cut only dead and down timber for campfire use.
F. Pets in developed
campgrounds are permitted only on a leash no longer than nine feet.
(ii)
Removal of timber, including the cutting of firewood for home use, is permitted
only as authorized by a special use permit from the refuge manager.
(iii)
Leaving personal property unattended longer than 72 hours is authorized only in
designated areas or as authorized by a special use permit from the refuge manager.
(iv) Rock outcrop islands in Skilak Lake used by nesting cormorants and
gulls and the adjacent waters within 100 yards are closed to public entry and
use from March 15 to September 30. Maps showing these areas are available from
the refuge manager.
(v) All radio transmitters, neck and leg banks, ear
tags, or other research marking devices recovered from wildlife shall be turned
in to the refuge manager or the Alaska Department of Fish and Game within five
days after recovery.
(vi) Use of non-motorized wheeled vehicles is permitted
only on refuge roads designated for public vehicular access.
(vii) The
use of motorized equipment, including but not limited to, chainsaws, generators,
and auxiliary power units, is not permitted within the Kenai Wilderness, except
snowmobiles, airplanes, and motorboats in designated areas.
Contact
Us
