Location / Coordinates: Anchor Point, Alaska is located within the Kenai Peninsula Borough. The city is built at the junction of the Anchor River and its north fork overlooking Cook Inlet. Homer is just 14 miles further down the Sterling Highway and Anchorage is a little over 200 miles or about four hours drive.
Coordinates: Latitude N59.78 & Longitude W-151.83
Population / Elevation: Anchor Point has just over 1750 residents who live about 200 feet above sea level.
Description: Anchor Point, Alaska enjoys some of the most scenic vistas in Alaska. Overlooking Cook Inlet, there are majestic views of volcanoes (Mt. Spurr, Mt. Redoubt, Mt. Iliamna, and Mt. St. Augustine) and snow-topped mountains. Anchor Pint is a full-service community with everything a community needs. Churches, a library, and a Chamber of Commerce. Most residents have indoor plumbing. The anchor Point Health Clinic is a qualified Emergency Care Center and there is a hospital just a 15 minute drive into Homer. Anchor Point mostly caters to the sport-fishing industry, and there is a sawmill to process timber from the surrounding area.
A Volunteer fire department, the local post of the VFW, Anchor Point Senior Citizens, and Friends of the Library keep this little community well acquainted.
What to do there: Anchor Point, Alaska offers an excellent variety of fishing opportunities. Fishing opens with the King Salmon season on Anchor River the weekend for Memorial Day. It runs for five consecutive weekends. July 1st, Anchor River reopens for all species other than King Salmon and continues until the river freezes over. Pink Salmon and Silver Salmon run during the later half of the summer season. Steelhead Trout begin their run in mid August (the best time for them is September). All Steelhead and Rainbow Trout in the Anchor River are catch and release.
Fly-fishing is very popular on the Anchor River, or the ever popular Kenai river just a short drive out of town during the summer season. Sport fishing is good throughout the summer season and into fall. Take a charter trip for Halibut, King Salmon, Silver Salmon, and other saltwater fish.
Site seeing in and around Anchor Point is a rewarding experience. Don’t forget your camera, as you are very likely to spot moose, beaver, whales, Anchor Point Seals, otter, and of course brown and black bear. In the summer season the Fireweed is in bloom—it is a spectacular sight, magenta spears carpeting the meadows with the turquoise waters of Cook Inlet and snow-capped volcanoes in the background.
There are hunting and guiding tours available in Anchor Point, Alaska.
Anchor Point, Alaska has everything you may have forgotten—tackle, film, gas, souvenirs, and snacks.
History: Anchor Point, Alaska is named for a lost anchor. Captain James Cook sailed into this inlet looking for a Northwest Passage and lost a large kedge anchor in the powerful tidal currents here. A kedge anchor is a light anchor used to free a grounded boat by hauling in on an anchorline that has been secured in deeper water by a smaller boat or dinghy.
The first inhabitants of Anchor Point, Alaska were the Tenaina Indians, a branch of the Athabascan Tribe. In 1896 gold seekers arrived to sluice and pan for the yellow metal that had washed up on the shores. World War II ended, missionaries and homesteaders soon arrived to farm and raise livestock in the area. Many of these original homesteaders have families still living in the area.
How to get there: The Sterling Highway connects Anchor Point to Anchorage, Seward, and Homer (and all points in between). Just down the road, Homer has an airport, Alaska State Ferry access as well as boat launching and docking facilities.
Facilities: Anchor Point, Alaska is well-equipped for tourists, Bed & Breakfasts, cabins, hotels and motels, and camping sites. Get your day started with an espresso then have a meal with one of several dining spots around Anchor Point. If a picnic is on your list of things to do, stop in one of two grocery stores for supplies.
RV info: There a couple of RV parks in Anchor Point, Alaska. They have full hook-ups showers and laundry.
