Russian River campground access
Russian Lakes trail access

A two-mile road leads to a wooded Forest Service camp ground on the Russian River, Alaska's largest recreational sockeye (red) salmon fishery.

The entrance station is staffed from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend and you will be assigned one of the 83 camping sites, unless you wish only to park for the day. There are about 80 parking spots.

Fees are charged for parking to double unit campsites. When the entrance station is closed no parking fees are paid.

During the peak season, overflow camping and parking area are available, but these too fill up. There are other campgrounds nearby.

The fishery may be closed for conservation purposes where an insufficient number of salmon are reaching the spawning grounds. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game tries to give at least a 12 hour notice.

The fishery is managed to ensure a minimum escapement of 16,000 sockeye salmon from the first run spawn; 30,000 for the late run. The fish count takes place upstream at a weir between the falls and the lower lake.

Red salmon enter in two separate runs. The first around mid-June. Most are in the sixth year of life and weight 6 pounds but some may exceed 12 pounds. Red, in the late run, travel almost twice as fast from their saltwater environment to fresh water spawning grounds and arrive in mid-July. These fish are in their fifth year and are generally smaller. There are more of them though, 65,000 on an average.

Anglers may use only streamer of "coho" flies for Russian River reds. A relatively light-to-medium-action rod and reel with 20 pound test line is preferred, as a sensitive rod helps in feeling the fish take the fly.

The fish do not strike the fly, but mouth it with a gentle tug.

A good reason for joining the crowds at the Russian River is that you have a better than average chance of catching a scrappy, good-sized fish that is also fine dinner fare.

If it's just the camping experience you're after, come when the reds aren't running.

The river also has rainbow trout (special regulations apply), Dolly Varden and silver salmon. It is unlawful to fish for king salmon here, although you may see some kings in the river.

Occasionally, a black or brown bear will join the fishing gang or nose through camp. If you see one , stay well away and seek safety in a trailer, camper or car. Don't try to scare it off. Inform Forest Service personnel as soon as possible.

To lessen the chance of attracting bears, keep all fish and food in odor-reducing containers and out of tests. Place all trash only in dumpsters provided. Clean fish only at the river or designated cleaning stations and keep all pets closely leashed.

Two trails start from this area. The Lower Russian Lake trail is 6 miles round trip. The trail, of compacted gravel, has been upgraded to difficult wheelchair-accessible standards. After 1.5 miles there is a fork, the Lower Russian Lake trail crosses the bridge here. There is a cabin at the Lower Russian Lake. The other fork avoids the bridge and parallels the creek to just before its confluence with the Russian River. Here the trail forks. Take the developed trail about a quarter mile to the Russian River Cascades and an overlook.