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These scenic lakes in the foothills north of the Kenai
River system attract waterfowl, forest birds, beavers, moose, and
river otters.
River otter
Ring-necked duck
NOTABLE
SPECIES
Rainbow trout
Beaver
River otter
Ring-necked duck
White-winged scoter
Long-tailed duck
Common loon
Red-necked grebe
Gray Jay
Dark-eyed junco
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 FIELD NOTES
These scenic
lakes provide habitat for fish, birds, beavers and river otters.
Walk along their shores and listen for bird songs in June and
July. Loons, grebes, mallards and scoters nest on the lakes.
Long-tailed ducks make stopovers. Juncos, warblers, gray jays,
spruce grouse and chickadees dart through the woods. River otters
pass between the lakes, sometimes leaving smooth runs where their
bellies slide across the ground. Beavers feast on aquatic
vegetation, and on birch, willow and other hardwoods along the
shore.
 HABITAT
Stands of young
mixed white spruce, birch and cottonwood trees intersperse with
marshes, black spruce bogs, and lakes. Willows and alders rim the
shore.
VIEWING TIP
Watch for fresh
wood chips that indicate late-night beaver activity and green
limbs piled in the water near lodges. Stay the night in one of the
campgrounds to increase your opportunities to see and hear some of
the shyer and more nocturnal wildlife.
HIKING CONNECTION
The northern
end of the 4.4 mile (one way) Seven Lakes Trail starts at Kelly
Lake Campground and heads southeast to Engineer Lake and Skilak
Lake Loop Road.
GETTING THERE
Sterling Highway milepost
68.3—turn south to Kelly Lake (0.5 mile) and Peterson Lake (1.0
mile) campgrounds.
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