Kenny Lake, AK

Set in the heart of the Copper River Valley, Kenny Lake is a quiet, spread-out rural community strung along the scenic Edgerton Highway. Home to a couple hundred residents, the area feels wide open and peaceful, framed by sweeping views of the Wrangell Mountains. Instead of a traditional downtown, daily life branches out along the highway corridor, where you will find family homes on generous acreage, working hay fields, and the local K-12 school that serves as a central hub for families.

Farming runs deep in Kenny Lake, originally settled by homesteaders in the mid-twentieth century who were drawn to the valley's workable soil and relatively sunny growing seasons. Today, that independent homesteading spirit is still very much alive, with locals tending gardens, raising livestock, and enjoying plenty of elbow room. While it sits on the route toward Chitina and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, bringing seasonal travelers through for fuel, groceries, and cabins, year-round residents cherish the tight-knit community feel, quiet winters, and endless access to fishing, hunting, and trails right out the back door.