Captain Cook State Recreation Area
{{Short description|Park in Alaska, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Captain Cook State Recreation Area
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| photo = Beach from bluff at Captain Cook.jpg
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| photo_caption = View from the bluff of a rocky portion of the beach, and the mudflats that can be seen at low tide. Mount Spurr is visible in the distance.
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| nearest_city = Nikiski
| coordinates = {{coord|60|48|19|N|151|00|54|W|display=inline,title}}
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| area= {{convert|3,466|acre}}
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| governing_body = Alaska Department of Natural Resources
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Captain Cook State Recreation Area is a park on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska.{{gnis|1412729}} It is located on the shores of Cook Inlet at the northern terminus of the Kenai Spur Highway, about {{convert|25|mi}} north of Kenai and {{convert|14|mi}} north of Nikiski. Both the Inlet and the recreation area are named after Captain James Cook who explored the area in 1778.[http://www.dnr.alaska.gov/parks/units/captcook.htm Captain Cook SRA] Alaska Department of Natural Resources
History
Archeological evidence, as well as Cook's observations indicate the area was previously inhabited by the Dena'ina people, who gathered salmon in the area. The beaches in and around the park have also been the site of commercial fishing activity. The park is one of the oldest in the Alaska State Park system, having been authorized in 1971, with major capital improvement projects in 1978 and 2010.
Features
One of the park's main features is the Discovery Campground, a 53-site wooded camping area on the bluffs above Cook Inlet[http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspunits/kenai/discoverycamp.htm Discovery Campground], Alaska Department of Natural Resources (Discovery was the name of one of the ships in Cook's expedition.){{cite book |title=Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy |url=https://archive.org/details/shipsroyalnavyco00coll |url-access=limited |last=Colledge |first=J.J. |last2=Warlow |first2=Ben |year=2006 |publisher=Chatham Publishing |isbn=978-1-86176-281-8 |page=[https://archive.org/details/shipsroyalnavyco00coll/page/n114 99] }} Campers are advised to keep a clean camp as black bears are known to frequent the area. There is a nature trail which encircles the campground.
Below the campground is a beach on Cook Inlet, rocky in some places but more sandy near the river outlet. Beachcombers can find agates here. At low tide extensive and dangerous mud flats are exposed below the beach. On a clear day visitors to the bluff and beach can see the distant Aleutian Range, including the volcano Mount SpurrThe Milepost 2018 edition, page 553 {{ISBN|9781892154378}}, Morris Communications as well as several offshore oil rigs.[http://dog.dnr.alaska.gov/Documents/Maps/ActivityMaps/CookInlet/CookInletOilAndGasActivityMap-201511.pdf Cook Inlet Oil and Gas activities map] Alaska Department of Natural Resources
The park is the northern terminus of the Swanson River and its associated canoe trail.[http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/units/cptckmap.htm Map of the SRA]
The park is also home to Stormy Lake, a {{convert|161.9|ha|adj=on}} lake with boat launch and picnic areas as well as a small, primitive, boat-accessible campground.[http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishingSportBoatingAccessSouthcentral.stormyLake Recreational Boating Access Projects, Southcentral Projects], Alaska Department of Fish and Game The lake was the site of two efforts to eradicate invasive species.Earl, Elizabeth, [http://peninsulaclarion.com/news/2015-10-07/fish-population-booms-in-stormy-lake Fish population booms in Stormy Lake] Peninsula Clarion, 10/7/2015
In winter months the park features ice fishing on the lake and cross-country ski trails.
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Protected areas of Alaska}}
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Category:Monuments and memorials to James Cook
Category:Protected areas of Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska
Category:State parks of Alaska