Anchor Point - census-designated place in Alaska, United States

Anchor Point is an unincorporated community on the Kenai Peninsula in Southcentral Alaska. It is the westernmost point in the North American highway system.

Understand

In the summer of 1778 Captain James Cook sailed into Cook Inlet searching for the Northwest Passage. While near Anchor Point he lost a large anchor there due to the powerful tides. Because of this it is named Anchor Point.

Get in

The only access to Anchor Point is by the Sterling Highway. The closest harbor and airport are in Homer, about fifteen miles away. The cities of Kenai and Soldotna are about eighty miles away, Anchorage is about two hundred miles.

Get around

Renting a car in Homer is one option, taxis from Homer will take you to and from Anchor Point for about forty dollars each way. There is no local transportation of any kind, and no bike routes or sidewalks. (Anchor Point is an unincorporated community and minimal local infrastructure)

See

• Anchor River state Recreation Area has campgrounds, fishing, and beach access.

• Anchor Point is America's Most Westerly Highway Point, which is on Sterling Highway.

• The North Fork Road provides a glimpse into the backcountry as well as access to town of Nikolaevsk, inhabited by Russian "Old Believers". There is a Russian cafe and tea house called "The Samovar". Call ahead to make sure it is open. The road is mostly paved but very curvy. The southern part of the road has no guardrails. Exercise extreme caution, especially on hills, during icy conditions or during and after heavy rains.

• On a clear day visitors to the beach can see several large volcanoes and other mountains some 75 miles distant on the other side of Cook Inlet.

Do

Many anglers come to Anchor Point for the fishing. You can fly fish in the Anchor River or you can charter a boat to take you fishing out on the ocean. Be sure to obtain a license and familiarize yourself with the current regulations before doing any fishing in the Anchor river, which is tightly regulated for salmon and trout fishing. Visitors in summer can drive down to the Anchor River State Recreation Area Beach to witness the odd spectacle of tractors that drive directly into Cook Inlet to launch and retrieve boats. Since there is no harbor this is the only way to access the Inlet from Anchor Point. Larger boats must use the Ninilchik or Homer harbors.

Just a short drive from Anchor Point is The Normal Lowell Art Gallery. It is a wonderful art gallery of paintings Mr. Lowell has made of the area. The gallery is open May-September and is free to the public. The gallery is located 4 miles south of Anchor Point at mile 160.9 on the New Sterling Highway between Anchor Point and Homer, Alaska. Mr. Lowell is very friendly and is open to talking about what it was like homesteading and painting in Alaska for the past 50 years.

Buy

Anchor Point's visitor facilities are geared almost entirely toward fishing. There are several shops selling fishing equipment and supplies. There are also two small groceries. If you’re looking to stock up at all there are larger grocery stores in Homer.

Eat

The Anchor River Inn is the unofficial center of town and has an on-site restaurant.

Blue Bus features burgers and milkshakes

Ramiro's food stand offers handmade Mexican food as well as to-go sandwiches.

As with most Alaskan towns there are several drive-up espresso stands in the area.

Drink

The Inn and the VFW are Anchor Point's only bars. There is a liquor store adjacent to the Inn.

Sleep

The Anchor River Inn offers lodging and supplies, or you can camp at the four state campgrounds along the river.

Connect

The Alaska State Troopers have a post in Anchor Point, and there is a volunteer fire department. Dial 911 for emergencies

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