| Ninilchik River | |
|---|---|
 Ninilchik River in Ninilchik, Alaska - June 3, 2011 | |
  Location of the mouth of the Ninilchik River in Alaska | |
| Native name | Niqnalchintnu (Tanaina) |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Borough | Kenai Peninsula |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Kenai Peninsula |
| • coordinates | 60°12′02″N 151°18′34″W / 60.20056°N 151.30944°W[1] |
| • elevation | 275 ft (84 m)[2] |
| Mouth | Cook Inlet |
• location | Ninilchik, 38 miles (61 km) southwest of Kenai |
• coordinates | 60°03′27″N 151°39′36″W / 60.05750°N 151.66000°W[1] |
• elevation | 23 ft (7.0 m)[1] |
| Length | 21 mi (34 km)[3] |
The Ninilchik River (Dena'ina: Niqnalchintnu) is a 21-mile-long (34 km) stream on the Kenai Peninsula of the U.S. state of Alaska.[3] From headwaters near the west coast of the peninsula, the river flows south, parallel to the coast, then turns sharply west near Ninilchik.[4] Ninilchik Road runs parallel to the lower river along its left bank to near the road's intersection with the Sterling Highway.[4] At Ninilchik, the river passes under the highway, flows through Ninilchik State Recreation Area, and empties into Cook Inlet.[4]
A small boat harbor, used mainly by fishing boats, is dredged out of the river mouth near the town.[5] The river is a popular fishing location for king salmon in May and June, silver salmon and Dolly Varden in late summer and early fall, and steelhead in late fall.[6] Digging for razor clams along the beaches near Ninilchik is also popular.[6]
- ^ a b c "Ninilchik River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. March 31, 1981. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
- ^ Derived by entering source coordinates in Google Earth.
- ^ a b Orth, Donald J.; United States Geological Survey (1971) [1967]. Dictionary of Alaska Place Names: Geological Survey Professional Paper 567 (PDF). University of Alaska Fairbanks. p. 691. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 17, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
- ^ a b c Alaska Atlas & Gazetteer (7th ed.). Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. 2010. p. 69. ISBN 978-0-89933-289-5.
- ^ "Visitor Information". Ninilchik Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
- ^ a b Limeres, Rene; Pedersen, Gunnar; et al. (2005). Alaska Fishing: The Ultimate Angler's Guide (3rd ed.). Roseville, California: Publishers Design Group. p. 323. ISBN 1-929170-11-4.