The Moose River gives its water to the Kenai at their confluence in the central Sterling, making this town a launch point for river trips and other outdoor activities.
Canoe and boat rentals abound in Sterling, and the town’s many outdoor recreation areas offer access to the rivers.
The Izaak Walton State Recreation site, located where the Kenai and Moose Rivers meet in the heart of Sterling, features boat launches, camping, and day-use parking.
For those preferring lakes to rivers, the Scout Lake State Recreation Area includes a day-use picnic area and swimming beach, with a lake-side hiking trail.
For a longer boating or fishing trips, Sterling visitors can explore the Swan Lake and the Swanson Canoe Trail Systems, both of which allow canoers to find themselves in more isolated wilderness.
The Swanson Trail System, a part of the Kenai Wildlife Refuge, contains more than 40 lakes and 46 miles of river connected by portages and suitable for both single-day or multi-day outings.
Both the Swanson and Swan Lake systems can be accessed on Swan Lake road, where entrances to the Swan Lake system are found at mile 4 and mile 9.8.
The Swanson system has an entrance at mile 12.2, which includes a parking lot.