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.
