Update May 22, 2026: Need ASAP for June, 2026. Experienced Line Cook, Bartender, Gift & Tackle w/liquor 21+, Housekeepers. Fly up & see Alaska.

Opening May 10, 2026 please apply at https://www.gwinslodge.com/jobs  

Seasonal POSITIONS ARE FOR May - September 30. Inexpensive on-site housing. 

Want to enjoy Alaska for several months of our Summer? Apply now and get on board! Application is on GwinsLodge.com Send a resume and explain why you want to work on the Last Frontier! Half the people who work here end up returning to Alaska. Email Jobs@GwinsLodge.com.

Now accepting applications for the summer season at Gwin’s Lodge. Are you seeking an adventure of a lifetime? Like whitewater rafting, rock climbing, hiking and fly fishing on the world-famous Kenai and Russian Rivers? Then we just might be the perfect location for you. Situated in the Chugach National forest, smack dab in the middle of the beautiful and scenic Kenai Peninsula in the town of Cooper Landing.

Our lodge was established in 1952 and one of the oldest log roadhouse lodges in Alaska. We are a family-owned and operated business with a full-service restaurant with a beer garden, to go shop, liquor and tackle shop, 17 rental cabins and a large concert pavilion. Gwin's Lodge is dedicated to providing the highest level of hospitality, accommodations, products, and services at a convenient central Kenai Peninsula location.

Gwin’s lodge is a small community nestled in the foothills of a beautiful mountain, across the road from the Kenai River. Employees live in cabins clustered together in the center of property within walking distance of our full-service restaurant and bar, our store that sells a small selection of grocery items, clothing, fishing tackle/gear, hiking gear, and alcohol, and we are within walking distance of some of the best fishing, hiking, rafting, and wildlife viewing on the peninsula. We also book trips for a variety of excursion companies who will sometimes contact us about last-minute seats available for employees to take advantage of if they are available. Our employees have had opportunities to fish and raft nearby rivers, deep-sea fish for Halibut and rockfish, and tour the Kenai Fjords among other things. We are also the closest lodge to the Russian River, which has legendary salmon fly fishing opportunities as well as incredible views of salmon swimming up the Russian River Falls. We are also close to dozens of lakes with incredible fishing opportunities for trout and grayling. Because we all live on the same property where we work, every year our staff quickly becomes a community that travels, hikes, and fishes together during their time off. We value creating memorable experiences for both guests at our lodge and the employees who work here, and we choose to work and live here because of the beauty and recreational opportunities around us.

Gwin’s is a great place to work and live because nearly everything you need is available right on or next to the property. Even though we are in a remote location there is no need to leave Cooper Landing to go to a bigger town over the summer unless you want to! That being said, we will definitely make sure that employees can get to town in the event of a medical emergency if they do not have a car and we also have the Cooper Landing volunteer EMS ready to help if needed. Our proximity to hundreds of great trails, lakes, rivers, and destinations paired with our connections to dozens of top-tier excursion companies will allow you to fully experience the Kenai peninsula and beyond. Part of being successful in the Alaskan tourism industry comes from experiencing these incredible opportunities for yourself first-hand, and we want to do everything we can to make that happen. After working a season with Gwin’s Lodge, we hope that you have taken full advantage of all these incredible opportunities to see wildlife, beautiful scenery, and experience Alaska for all its beauty. Because we are nestled right in the center of the peninsula, we are positioned perfectly for you to be able to reach Seward, Homer, Anchorage, and beyond very easily. 

The ideal Gwin’s Lodge employee possesses the following traditional values characteristics: cheerful, respectful, honest, and 100% commitment to his/her job responsibilities. Gwin’s Lodge employees are expected to perform in a spirit of friendly cooperation and teamwork that are essential to a productive environment. They want to work hard and play hard by using their free time to explore and experience the surrounding area. 

Warning... Gwin's Lodge has been hit by a smear campaign of disgruntled former staff who pot stirred and literally made up stories. Do not believe libelous jealous hate online.  Zero staff were fired without cause. In 2025, one server was fired for complaining rudely to a guest about no tip on a take out order. Another for theft of an employee's phone.  Her phone rang right in HIS bag. Employee items had gone missing and that ended after he left. Another was fired due to a seemingly drug crazed threatening rage and 911 was called. He was normal prior to that. Our bookkeeper is 84 years old and was a former Gwin's general manager. I would text her salary changes and she missed a couple that were immediately corrected when the employee noticed right away.  I gave them her number to ensure it was handled! That got twisted that we are deliberately doing wrong when the exact opposite is true. We are never raising our voice, or being or asking for something unreasonable, but some of the staff sure did. We didn't beg for staff's food but gave complements as to how good the cooking smelled... that got twisted into begging for food! Crazy... we own a restaurant... we have food. Unbelievable but people just buy online slander without any critical thinking... Like how would they even know some of the things they claim to speak of. We would appreciate honest hard working staff from now on. In 2024 some staff were on the take and we had proof.  We didn't confront them but they resigned first near seasons end when their tactics were being observed. Their friends / coworkers also left after finishing the season because they believed lies of their friends over the actual truth.  We have ZERO incentive to lie about that, or get rid of good staff, of which many were. Please don't steal and then don't lie about people (when you were the actual guilty party involved.)

Gwin's Lodge employees are encouraged to arrive and move into their designated employee housing at least two to three days before commencing their work schedule. Our goal is to acquaint the staff to the Kenai Peninsula area, as well as give them time to enjoy some of the complimentary fishing charters and outdoor recreation opportunities we will schedule for you.

Our staff housing is made up of a cluster of dry (no running water) cabins similar to college dorm rooms with two twin beds (can be switched to a full-sized bed if occupied by a couple), shelving, clothing rods, a mini-fridge, and a lockable storage cabinet. Employees have access to community staff bathrooms (four lockable rooms, each with a sink, toilet, and shower) that are cleaned daily. The property has multiple area for employees to host campfires after work. Employees have the option to purchase their own small kitchen appliances for their staff housing (such as electric kettles, microwaves, or toaster ovens) online or in Anchorage or Soldotna if they choose to.

Employees receive a shift meal when they work and get 20% off in the restaurant and 20% in the gift shop (excluding Alcohol and fishing licenses).

A Three Bears grocery store is 8 miles east and another larger Three Bears is 28 miles west. Fred Meyers (Kroger) is 39 miles west.

Internet bandwidth is limited so sign up with your phone carrier for a higher service level if you send pictures or stream media.

We organize low cost fishing charters and outdoor recreation opportunities for our employees. In addition, Trapper's Creek Smoking Company will smoke 20 pounds of fish per employee at no cost.

We also get local discounts for employees on fishing trips, white water rafting, Zipline and Kenai fjords tours and other summer attractions.

Employees get 20% off on anything they buy in the roadhouse and store except fishing licenses and alcohol we also offer friends and family discounts if you have someone who wants to visit and stay in our cabins.

We are located at 14865 Sterling Highway, Milepost 52, Cooper Landing, Alaska. We are approximately 100 miles from Anchorage, 50 miles from Seward, and 120 miles from Homer. There is a shuttle service available during the season between Anchorage and Cooper Landing. We can also coordinate with you to plan a flight for when we are going to anchorage for a supply run and get supplies for you when we go to town.

The Kenai Peninsula offers countless opportunities for outdoor fun. There are miles of well-maintained hiking and biking trails near Gwin's Lodge. In addition to world-class lake, river, and deep sea fishing, activities include scenic and whitewater rafting (up to class V), kayaking, gold panning, and wildlife watching and photography.