The Upper Kenai River is a beautiful, glacier-fed river that offers excellent paddling opportunity just a few hours away from Anchorage. The river has easy road access, great fishing, and some very good scenery making it a popular choice among paddlers and fisherman. This section of river between Jim's Landing and Skilak Lake consists of multiple II-IV rapids and should only be attempted by experienced paddlers. The river travels through a canyon with large boulders and standing waves that require careful navigation. The water is very cold and unforgiving so use extreme caution. Catarafts and river kayaks are the boat types that are adequate for running the Upper Kenai River. Once on Skilak Lake paddlers can be exposed to rough and cold waters so be prepared for the elements and pay attention to the weather.