Fairbanks Paddlers annually celebrate the arrival of spring with a trip on the Delta-Clearwater River near Delta Junction. This area has some of the first water to open up in the Interior each spring, so if our timing is right we may have an excellent opportunity to see many species of waterfowl (including swans) up close. I suspect that we are a couple of weeks late for that this year. The day trip will be on May 3, 2026 (Sunday) coordinated by Alan Batten. Interested paddlers should contact the coordinator, who will send out details day or two before by email. Interested paddlers should contact the coordinator’s assistant, Gail Davidson, as Alan is currently unavailable.
Contact info: Gail Davidson, akmtngrl@gmail.com, H: 907-479-7127, C: 907-460-1983
Contact info: Alan Batten, alanbatten@acsalaska.net, H: 907-488-3205, C: 907-378-6384.
Membership and Waivers
Please note that all participants must be current members of Fairbanks Paddlers. Memberships can be renewed at https://www.fairbankspaddlers.org/join/ or at the put-in. Liability insurance for our trips is arranged through the American Canoe Association (ACA). This takes a big worry off the minds of those of us who volunteer to coordinate trips, and we hope it will lead to having more volunteers step forward. However, this does add another level of bureaucracy to our trips, so we hope you will all be patient with that. All participants will need to fill out an online ACA insurance waiver. There will be a fee ($10) charged by the ACA to non-ACA members to cover the insurance. If you would like to join ACA it is $40 per year.
Parking at the put-in requires either a $5 parking fee to Alaska State Parks, or a State Parks parking sticker on your car’s windshield. These cost $60 and can be ordered online at https://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/passes, or purchased at the Alaska Public Lands Information Center in the Morris Thompson Center or at the DNR Information Center in the woods off of University Avenue and Airport Way. State Parks are in serious financial trouble these days (especially the Delta Junction-area State Parks) and need our support. We don’t need a boat launching sticker–those are for boats on trailers.
Trip Description
This is a flat-water trip that moves from the crystal clear Delta-Clearwater River onto a slough of the Tanana, then a short paddle up a creek to Clearwater Lake and across the lake to the take-out. From the Clearwater State Recreation Site to Clearwater Lake is about 12 miles and takes 4-8 hours depending on the wind direction and water conditions. Occasionally, depending on water level, the initial turn up the creek requires some strategy but there will be many of us there to help if this area turns out to be a problem. In recent years the current was strong enough here that most of us had to drag our canoes for a few hundred feet. You pretty much have to get into the water (calf deep or knee deep) to do this. If you are lucky you can find gravel in the streambed to walk on, but where the gravel stops there is thick organic muck so be psychologically prepared. A map and further river information is available at the State Parks web site (http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspunits/northern/pdfs/clearwaterfloatguide.pdf). The Clearwater River itself has a gentle current and no serious obstacles. The slough of the Tanana has a strong current that must be respected, but no serious obstacles other than an occasional sweeper that must be avoided. The Clearwater Lake outflow has a sluggish current that is not too hard to paddle against, except sometimes at the mouth as noted above. Paddlers should have basic boating skills, be able to avoid sweepers and be able to paddle in a straight line well enough to make progress upstream. The water is extremely cold so plan accordingly. Rain gear and extra clothes in a dry bag are a must. If one paddles straight through the trip can be done in 4 hours or a little more. We’ll stop for an hour for lunch and will probably lolligag a bit beyond that, so I would estimate something like 6 hours for the trip.
What to bring
Canoes and hard-shell kayaks are the most common boats on this trip; going up the creek with a packraft or raft could be quite challenging and even IK’s have to struggle. All participants must bring and wear a personal flotation device (life jacket). Migrating ducks, geese and swans commonly make the lake their first stop in the interior, so bring your binoculars. Bring a dry change of clothes in a water proof bag and a variety of layers so you are prepared for temperature changes. The Delta Junction area can be distinctly cooler or warmer than Fairbanks. River boots or waterproof knee boots could be useful if we have to drag the boats a ways. It could rain so bring a raincoat. There may be a few mosquitoes out. Also bring lunch and drinks. We will stop for lunch on a gravel bar.
Join the Fairbanks Paddlers for the second of three summer socials! We are having a family-friendly potluck at the Alaskaland/Pioneer Park Wilderness Pavilion on Wednesday, July 9, from 6:30-8:00 p.m. The Fairbanks Paddlers will be grilling up bratwursts and swapping boating stories and summer trip adventures!
If you are a paddler, have always wanted to be a paddler, have a wooden boat, a homemade watercraft, a Klepper, or any other special – or not-so-special – boat, come join us!
Join the Fairbanks Paddlers for the first of three summer socials! We are having a family-friendly potluck at the Tanana Lakes Pavilion on Wednesday, June 11, from 6:30 -8 pm. The Fairbanks Paddlers will be grilling up hamburgers and hot dogs, along with paddling tales to share! You can bring a boat and enjoy paddling on the lake before or after the potluck, or just show up and enjoy food and camaraderie with fellow paddlers. New members are welcome.
Fairbanks Paddlers annually celebrate the arrival of spring with trips on the Delta-Clearwater River near Delta Junction. This area has some of the first water to open up in the Interior each spring, so if our timing is right we may have an excellent opportunity to see many species of waterfowl (including swans) up close.
This year, there are two separate overnight trips on the same weekend of April 26-27. In addition, there will be a day trip on May 3.
Trip 1 – Clearwater State Recreation Site to Clearwater Lake Boat Ramp Overnight
Don Pendergrast will be coordinating a trip that will end at Clearwater Lake. This trip involves paddling several miles up the outlet stream from Clearwater Lake to the takeout. Though the current isn’t particularly swift, it can be challenging to paddle against in inflatables such as packrafts and inflatable kayaks. This trip will put in at the Clearwater Campground on Saturday, April 26, 2025, 11:00 AM. Take out at Clearwater Lake landing, on Sunday, April 27, 2025. Campsite availability limits this trip to 8 individuals. Lake crossing may be windy, road access to the take out may not be cleared of snow requiring boat and gear dragging half a mile. To join this trip, contact Don Pendergrast ( ranger.don46@gmail.com ). He will keep a wait list if too many people want to participate. All participants must be a member of Fairbanks Paddlers https://www.fairbankspaddlers.org/join , and sign this ACA SmartWaiver https://waiver.smartwaiver.com/e/t2wzZuTzLi667TWHKwFP8k/
Trip 2 – Clearwater State Recreation Site to Tanana River Bridge Overnight
Bruce Campbell will be coordinating a second trip that will put in at the same place, but will take out at the Tanana River bridge near Big Delta. This trip will be targeted towards packrafters, but all craft are welcome. It avoids the upstream paddle and lake crossing from the slough of the Tanana to the Clearwater Lake boat landing. Contact Bruce Campbell ( brucecanoe@gmail.com ) by April 20th, if you wish to participate in the Delta Clearwater float downstream to the Tanana River Bridge. Please let Bruce know if you are planning to be self-sufficient or if you wish to participate in group meals. Participants also must be Fairbanks Paddlers members. The ACA SmartWaiver for this trip can be signed at https://waiver.smartwaiver.com/e/ageN4CDDrKGfxpD5AZrwVN/
Please note that trip coordinators may cancel or reschedule either trip if ice conditions on the Tanana or Clearwater Lake are not suitable.
Trip 3 – Clearwater State Recreation Site to Clearwater Lake Boat Ramp Day Trip
Gail Davidson is coordinating a day trip the weekend after the two overnight trips. It will put in at the Clearwater State Park Campground on Saturday, May 3, 2025, 11:00 AM, and take out at Clearwater Lake boat landing late that afternoon. Contact Gail at akmtngrl@gmail.com by May 1 if you want to join. The ACA SmartWaiver for this trip can be signed at: https://waiver.smartwaiver.com/e/JwkKSgybEAUoWpZiwqh8yX/
Parking at Put-in
The put in for both trips is at the Clearwater State Recreation Site This can be accessed by turning onto Jack Warren Road at mile 268 of the Richardson Highway and driving 11 miles, or by turn from Mile 1415 of the Alaska Highway onto Clearwater Road and driving 8-1/2 mile. Parking at the put-in requires either a $5 parking fee to Alaska State Parks, or a State Parks parking sticker on your car’s windshield. These cost $60 and can be ordered online at https://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/passes .
River Description
The trip taking out at Clearwater Lake is a flat-water trip that moves from the crystal clear Delta-Clearwater River onto a slough of the Tanana, then a short paddle up a creek to Clearwater Lake and across the lake to the take-out. From the Clearwater State Recreation Site to Clearwater Lake is about 12 miles and takes 4-8 hours depending on the wind direction and water conditions. Occasionally, depending on water level, the initial turn up the creek requires some strategy. In some years the current was strong enough here that most paddlers had to drag canoes or kayaks for a few hundred feet. If this is necessary, it may require wading in cold water (calf deep or knee deep) to do this. A map and further river information is available at the State Parks web site (http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspunits/northern/pdfs/clearwaterfloatguide.pdf). The Clearwater River itself has a gentle current and no serious obstacles. The slough of the Tanana has a strong current that must be respected, but no serious obstacles other than an occasional sweeper that must be avoided. The Clearwater Lake outflow has a sluggish current that is not too hard to paddle against, except sometimes at the mouth as noted above. Paddlers should have basic boating skills, be able to avoid sweepers and be able to paddle in a straight line well enough to make progress upstream. The water is extremely cold so plan accordingly.
The packraft-led trip taking out at the Tanana bridge near Big Delta continues approximately 13 miles down the Tanana River beyond the mouth of the outlet stream from Clearwater Lake. The main Tanana can have swift currents, strong eddy lines, sweepers, multiple braided channels, and there is often shelf ice in places along banks at this time of year. Winds can be quite strong.
What to Bring
All participants must bring and wear a personal flotation device (life jacket).Please communicate with the trip coordinator about any group meal planning and shared group gear. Appropriate camp and cooking gear may depend on your choice of watercraft. Temperatures can easily drop below freezing at night. Good rain gear and a dry change of clothes in a water proof bag is a must. Bring a variety of layers so you are prepared for temperature changes. The Delta Junction area can be distinctly cooler or warmer than Fairbanks, and strong winds are common. River boots or waterproof knee boots could be useful if you have to drag boats. It’s early for mosquitos, but if it’s warm enough, they could be out. Migrating ducks, geese and swans commonly make the lake their first stop in the interior, so bring your binoculars.
Many interior boaters remember Ron and Lou Davis, the founders of CanoeAlaska. For over 25 years they taught a whole generation of Fairbanks Paddlers how to canoe. Sadly Ron is gone now, and we’d like to have a potluck to remember him with a wealth of friendship, good food, stories and toasts.
We’ve reserved the Pavilion #1 at Red Squirrel Campground at Chena Hot Spring Road MP 43 in the Chena River State Recreation Area, for the Saturday afternoon (3 PM till midnight) and Sunday morning (midnight till 2 PM) of July 20, and 21.
We plan a potluck cookout at 6 PM on Saturday, July 20th. Fairbanks Paddlers will provide hamburgers, brats, buns, and condiments. Please bring something to offer to complete the meal.
We encourage you to come for a paddle, a meal, perhaps an overnight stay.
The club is not organizing or sponsoring group paddling on the river. There are several options for floats on the Upper Chena River for those with appropriate skills and safety gear. Avoiding woody debris obstructing the river channel constitutes the main challenge of paddling sections of the Chena. Skills to recognize hazards, maneuver in swift current, and avoid sweepers or logjams are essential for a safe trip.
Additional information about the upper Chena:
RSVP
If you plan to join us for the potluck and/or plan to camp at Red Squirrel, please RSVP by completing this form.
Fairbanks Paddlers annually celebrate the arrival of spring with a trip on the Delta-Clearwater River near Delta Junction. This area has some of the first water to open up in the Interior each spring, so if our timing is right we may have an excellent opportunity to see many species of waterfowl (including swans) up close. I suspect that we are a couple of weeks late for that this year. The day trip will be on May 5, 2024 (Sunday) coordinated by Alan Batten. Interested paddlers should contact the coordinator, who will send out details early next week. Note that I’ll need to contact you via email so if you contact me via text or voice be sure to give me your email address.
Contact info: Alan Batten, alanbatten@…, H: 907-488-3205, C: 907-378-6384.
(Note: Cam Leonard is coordinating an overnight trip May 4 and 5, but it sounds like that trip is already full.)
Membership and Waivers
Please note that all participants must be current members of Fairbanks Paddlers. Memberships can be renewed at https://www.fairbankspaddlers.org/join/ or at the put-in. Liability insurance for our trips is arranged through the American Canoe Association (ACA). This takes a big worry off the minds of those of us who volunteer to coordinate trips, and we hope it will lead to having more volunteers step forward. However, this does add another level of bureaucracy to our trips, so we hope you will all be patient with that. All participants will need to fill out an online ACA insurance waiver. There will be a fee ($10?–I don’t know how much yet) charged by the ACA to non-ACA members to cover the insurance. If you would like to join ACA it is $40 per year.
Parking at the put-in requires either a $5 parking fee to Alaska State Parks, or a State Parks parking sticker on your car’s windshield. These cost $60 and can be ordered online at https://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/passes, or purchased at the Alaska Public Lands Information Center in the Morris Thompson Center or at the DNR Information Center in the woods off of University Avenue and Airport Way. State Parks are in serious financial trouble these days (especially the Delta Junction-area State Parks) and need our support. We don’t need a boat launching sticker–those are for boats on trailers.
Trip Description
This is a flat-water trip that moves from the crystal clear Delta-Clearwater River onto a slough of the Tanana, then a short paddle up a creek to Clearwater Lake and across the lake to the take-out. From the Clearwater State Recreation Site to Clearwater Lake is about 12 miles and takes 4-8 hours depending on the wind direction and water conditions. Occasionally, depending on water level, the initial turn up the creek requires some strategy but there will be many of us there to help if this area turns out to be a problem. In recent years the current was strong enough here that most of us had to drag our canoes for a few hundred feet. You pretty much have to get into the water (calf deep or knee deep) to do this. If you are lucky you can find gravel in the streambed to walk on, but where the gravel stops there is thick organic muck so be psychologically prepared. A map and further river information is available at the State Parks web site (http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspunits/northern/pdfs/clearwaterfloatguide.pdf). The Clearwater River itself has a gentle current and no serious obstacles. The slough of the Tanana has a strong current that must be respected, but no serious obstacles other than an occasional sweeper that must be avoided. The Clearwater Lake outflow has a sluggish current that is not too hard to paddle against, except sometimes at the mouth as noted above. Paddlers should have basic boating skills, be able to avoid sweepers and be able to paddle in a straight line well enough to make progress upstream. The water is extremely cold so plan accordingly. Rain gear and extra clothes in a dry bag are a must. If one paddles straight through the trip can be done in 4 hours or a little more. We’ll stop for an hour for lunch and will probably lolligag a bit beyond that, so I would estimate something like 6 hours for the trip.
What to bring
Canoes and hard-shell kayaks are the most common boats on this trip; going up the creek with a raft could be challenging and even IK’s have to struggle. All participants must bring and wear a personal flotation device (life jacket). Migrating ducks, geese and swans commonly make the lake their first stop in the interior, so bring your binoculars. Bring a dry change of clothes in a water proof bag and a variety of layers so you are prepared for temperature changes. The Delta Junction area can be distinctly cooler or warmer than Fairbanks. River boots or waterproof knee boots could be useful if we have to drag the boats a ways. It could rain so bring a raincoat. There may be a few mosquitoes out. Also bring lunch and drinks. We will stop for lunch on a gravel bar.
