Sterling Highway
Encyclopedia
The Sterling Highway is a 142-mile (229-km) highway in the Southcentral region of the U.S. state
of Alaska
, leading from the Seward Highway
at Tern Lake Junction, 90 miles (144.8 km) south of Anchorage
, to Homer
.
Construction of the highway began in 1947 and was completed in 1950. It is part of Alaska Route 1
. It leads mainly west from Tern Lake to Soldotna
, paralleling the Kenai River
, at which point it turns south to follow the eastern shore of Cook Inlet
. It is the only highway in the western and central Kenai Peninsula
, and most of the population of the Kenai Peninsula Borough lives near it. The highway also gives access to many extremely popular fishing
and recreation areas, including the Kenai, Funny, and Russian
rivers.
The southern end of the highway is at the tip of the Homer Spit
, a sandbar extending five miles (8 km) into Kachemak Bay
. A ferry terminal here connects the road to the Alaska Marine Highway
.
Mileposts along the Sterling Highway do not begin with 0 (zero). Instead, they begin with Mile 37 (km 59), continuing the milepost numbering of the Seward Highway
where the two highways intersect near Tern Lake. The 0 (zero) mile marker
for the Seward Highway
is at its terminus in downtown Seward
at the intersection of 3rd Avenue and Railway Avenue. Thus, mileposts along the Sterling Highway reflect distance from Seward
, which is not actually on the Sterling Highway.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, leading from the Seward Highway
Seward Highway
The Seward Highway is a highway in the U.S. state of Alaska that extends 127 miles from Seward to Anchorage. It was completed in 1951 and runs through the scenic Kenai Peninsula and Turnagain Arm, for which it was designated an All-American Road by the U.S...
at Tern Lake Junction, 90 miles (144.8 km) south of Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
, to Homer
Homer, Alaska
Homer is a city located in Kenai Peninsula Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population was 5,364. One of Homer's nicknames is "the cosmic hamlet by the sea"; another is "the end of the road"...
.
Construction of the highway began in 1947 and was completed in 1950. It is part of Alaska Route 1
Alaska Route 1
Alaska Route 1 is a state highway in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Alaska. It runs from Homer northeast and east to Tok by way of Anchorage...
. It leads mainly west from Tern Lake to Soldotna
Soldotna, Alaska
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,759 people, 1,465 households, and 969 families residing in the city. As of 2008, the population was close to 4,200. The population density was 541.9 people per square mile . There were 1,670 housing units at an average density of 240.7 per square mile...
, paralleling the Kenai River
Kenai River
The Kenai River called Kakny in the Dena'ina language, is a river in the Kenai Peninsula of south central Alaska. It runs westward from Kenai Lake in the Kenai Mountains, through the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and Skilak Lake to its outlet into the Cook Inlet of the Pacific Ocean near Kenai...
, at which point it turns south to follow the eastern shore of Cook Inlet
Cook Inlet
Cook Inlet stretches from the Gulf of Alaska to Anchorage in south-central Alaska. Cook Inlet branches into the Knik Arm and Turnagain Arm at its northern end, almost surrounding Anchorage....
. It is the only highway in the western and central Kenai Peninsula
Kenai Peninsula
The Kenai Peninsula is a large peninsula jutting from the southern coast of Alaska in the United States. The name Kenai is probably derived from Kenayskaya, the Russian name for Cook Inlet, which borders the peninsula to the west.-Geography:...
, and most of the population of the Kenai Peninsula Borough lives near it. The highway also gives access to many extremely popular fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
and recreation areas, including the Kenai, Funny, and Russian
Russian River (Alaska)
For other uses, see Russian River.The Russian River is a 13-mile-long river on the Kenai Peninsula in the U.S. state of Alaska. It flows northward from Upper Russian Lake in the Kenai Mountains through Lower Russian Lake, draining into the Kenai River...
rivers.
The southern end of the highway is at the tip of the Homer Spit
Homer Spit
The Homer Spit is a geographical landmark located in Homer, Alaska on the southern tip of the Kenai Peninsula. The spit is a long piece of land jutting out into Kachemak Bay. The spit is also home to the Homer Boat Harbor. The harbor contains both deep and shallow water docks and serves up to...
, a sandbar extending five miles (8 km) into Kachemak Bay
Kachemak Bay
Kachemak Bay is a 64-km-long arm of Cook Inlet in the U.S. state of Alaska, located on the southwest side of the Kenai Peninsula. The communities of Homer, Halibut Cove, Seldovia, Nanwalek, Port Graham, and Kachemak City are on the bay as well as three Old Believer settlements in the Fox River...
. A ferry terminal here connects the road to the Alaska Marine Highway
Alaska Marine Highway
The Alaska Marine Highway or the Alaska Marine Highway System is a ferry service operated by the government of the U.S. state of Alaska. It has its headquarters in Ketchikan, Alaska....
.
Mileposts along the Sterling Highway do not begin with 0 (zero). Instead, they begin with Mile 37 (km 59), continuing the milepost numbering of the Seward Highway
Seward Highway
The Seward Highway is a highway in the U.S. state of Alaska that extends 127 miles from Seward to Anchorage. It was completed in 1951 and runs through the scenic Kenai Peninsula and Turnagain Arm, for which it was designated an All-American Road by the U.S...
where the two highways intersect near Tern Lake. The 0 (zero) mile marker
Zero mile marker
Zero mile markers were markers where drivers could set their odometers to follow directions in early guide books.Also known as control stations or control points, the markers or landmarks were locations that allowed travelers to have a precise point to start the travel using directions in early...
for the Seward Highway
Seward Highway
The Seward Highway is a highway in the U.S. state of Alaska that extends 127 miles from Seward to Anchorage. It was completed in 1951 and runs through the scenic Kenai Peninsula and Turnagain Arm, for which it was designated an All-American Road by the U.S...
is at its terminus in downtown Seward
Seward, Alaska
Seward is a city in Kenai Peninsula Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 3,016....
at the intersection of 3rd Avenue and Railway Avenue. Thus, mileposts along the Sterling Highway reflect distance from Seward
Seward, Alaska
Seward is a city in Kenai Peninsula Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 3,016....
, which is not actually on the Sterling Highway.
Towns and places along the Sterling Highway
- Tern Lake Junction (Seward HighwaySeward HighwayThe Seward Highway is a highway in the U.S. state of Alaska that extends 127 miles from Seward to Anchorage. It was completed in 1951 and runs through the scenic Kenai Peninsula and Turnagain Arm, for which it was designated an All-American Road by the U.S...
), mile 37 (km 60) - Cooper LandingCooper Landing, AlaskaCooper Landing, also commonly referred to as The Landing, is a census-designated place in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska, United States, about 160 kilometers south of Anchorage, at the confluence of Kenai Lake and Kenai River...
, mile 48 (km 78) - Russian RiverRussian River (Alaska)For other uses, see Russian River.The Russian River is a 13-mile-long river on the Kenai Peninsula in the U.S. state of Alaska. It flows northward from Upper Russian Lake in the Kenai Mountains through Lower Russian Lake, draining into the Kenai River...
, mile 52 (km 85) - SterlingSterling, AlaskaSterling is a census-designated place in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 4,705.-Geography:Sterling is located at .Sterling is east of Kenai....
, mile 81 (km 130) - SoldotnaSoldotna, AlaskaAs of the census of 2000, there were 3,759 people, 1,465 households, and 969 families residing in the city. As of 2008, the population was close to 4,200. The population density was 541.9 people per square mile . There were 1,670 housing units at an average density of 240.7 per square mile...
, mile 94 (km 152) - KenaiKenai, AlaskaKenai is a city in Kenai Peninsula Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 7,464...
and NikiskiNikiski, AlaskaNikiski is a census-designated place in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska, United States. The population was 4,327 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Nikiski is located at ....
, via Kenai Spur Highway, mile 94 (km 152) - KasilofKasilof, AlaskaKasilof is a census-designated place in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 549.-Geography:Kasilof is located at ....
, mile 109 (km 175) - Tustumena LakeTustumena LakeTustumena Lake is a lake on the west side of the Kenai Peninsula in southcentral Alaska, near the town of Kasilof. The lake is long and up to wide and receives drainage from Tustumena Glacier. The outlet forms the headwaters of the Kasilof River. The lake and the area around it are known for...
, mile 111 (km 179) - Clam GulchClam Gulch, AlaskaClam Gulch is a census-designated place in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 173.-Geography:Clam Gulch is located at on the shores of Cook Inlet...
, mile 118 (km 190) - NinilchikNinilchik, AlaskaNinilchik is a census-designated place in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 772.-Geography:...
, mile 136 (km 218) - Anchor PointAnchor Point, AlaskaAnchor Point is a census-designated place in Kenai Peninsula Borough, in the U.S. state of Alaska. As of the 2000 census the population was 1,845. Anchor Point is the westernmost point in the North American highway system.-History:...
, mile 156 (km 252) - HomerHomer, AlaskaHomer is a city located in Kenai Peninsula Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population was 5,364. One of Homer's nicknames is "the cosmic hamlet by the sea"; another is "the end of the road"...
, mile 173 (km 278)