Captain Cook State Recreation Area

Captain Cook State Recreation Area covers roughly 3,400 acres along Cook Inlet and brings together beaches, forests, lakes, and hiking trails in one coastal setting. Discovery Campground with about 50 campsites sits north of Kenai and offers access to water, restrooms, and picnic areas.

The area joined the Alaska State Parks system in 1971 and became one of the state's earliest established recreation zones. Before that, the coastal waters served for generations as hunting and fishing grounds for indigenous peoples.

The Dena'ina Athabascan people established fishing camps along these shores and practiced salmon harvesting according to traditions passed down through families. The coastal landscape today reflects this long relationship between local communities and the waters.

The site is best visited during low tide when the mudflats become accessible and walking is easier. Discovery Campground sits about 25 miles north of Kenai and serves as a good base for exploring the area.

At low tide, vast mudflats emerge where visitors can spot offshore oil platforms in the distance, creating a striking reminder of the region's industrial side. This contrast between wild landscape and human presence shapes the character of a low-tide visit.