Kenai Mountains – Turnagain Arm
National Heritage Area
KMTA’s mission is to recognize, preserve, and interpret the historic, scenic, natural resources, and cultural landscape of the Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm historic transportation corridor. It is the only National Heritage Area in Alaska. National Heritage Areas are places where historic, cultural, and natural resources combine to form cohesive, nationally important landscapes. Unlike national parks, National Heritage Areas are large lived-in landscapes. Consequently, National Heritage Area entities collaborate with communities to determine how to make heritage relevant to local interests and needs.
We put a lot of effort into making sure that every cache in our GeoTrail has safe and accessible parking coordinates, with the length of a 20’ camper in mind. Please reference the parking coordinates in each cache listing as a precaution. Many locations have gravel parking areas, which may only receive intermittent maintenance during the year.
Using a handheld GPS unit may be your preference, due to often-poor cell coverage in many parts of this area. If so, please be sure beforehand to have Alaska maps loaded (it is often not included in the Contiguous USA map downloads). Even with a GPS, be aware of your surroundings.
KMTA National Heritage Area
The Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm is designated by an Act of Congress as a National Heritage Area to preserve the history, culture, scenic, and outdoor recreational resources through the National Park Service.
GeocacheAlaska!
GeocacheAlaska! Inc. is a non-profit educational organization promoting geocaching activities throughout the state of Alaska.
GeoTrail
As an Official GeoTrail, the KMTA region has a series of 23 related geocaches placed along the route of the official KMTA Field Trip Guide. Geocachers may download a Passport that includes a map of the 23 geocaches. Upon finding these geocaches, a “code word” must be obtained from each container and written on the Passport. Finding at least 20 of the geocaches earns you the ability to purchase a special Geocoin to commemorate this GeoTrail. Finding all 23 geocaches will also get you a free Pathtag!