Russian River and Russian River Falls

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The Russian River is one of the most prized fishing spots in all of Alaska. Located just 39 miles east of Soldotna, it is endowed with gorgeous mountains and deep forest scenery. Draining through the Upper Russian Lake, the river flows through a wilderness area with no human activity to Lower Russian Lake. At the outlet of this lake is a set of falls and rapids that fish must negotiate, making for excellent photo opportunities of jumping salmon with the added possibility of seeing bears catching their meals out of the river.

A fish ladder is built into the area to assist salmon in returning to the spawning grounds. The ladder goes through part of a mountain and is spring fed from the upper river area. The falls are almost too steep for the salmon to climb although many of them do make it up the falls.

The river is a great fishing spot for salmon, trout and grayling. Bears are spotted here daily and this is a wonderful 5 mile round trip hike from the Russian River Campground off the Sterling Hiway. This is a river that can be waded and is one of the most popular fly fishing streams in all of Alaska. We will be fly fishing the river this weekend.

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Photos

Hiking the Trail
Patti and Diane hiking the trail to the falls.

Russian River Falls
Look closely and spot the salmon trying to climb the falls. The fish is near the bottom right of the picture.

The Salmon at the bottom of the Falls
The salmon gather at the bottom of the falls in a pool of water, then try jumping up the falls to return to their spawning ground.

The bottom of the Falls
Notice the fish lader covered in green at the edge of the water pool.

The edge of the Russian River
Although this is a narrow creek sized river, it is full of trout, salmon, dolly varden and grayling.