Rivers

Most of the rivers in the  table below are in the Alaska Rivers section of the American Whitewater Rivers Info database. We plan to add links to river level data for Alaska Rivers from the USGS and the Alaska River Forecast Center to the table.  This national whitewater inventory is a great resource, and includes descriptions and water level information for many of the river sections.  A number of runs are not yet listed in this database. We hope to update the list with additional runs of interest to Alaskan paddlers.

Fairbanks Paddlers’ hopes to eventually add our database of  Alaskan Rivers that includes many of the flatwater trips around the state.

Whitewater River List

Region	River Name/Section	Class	USGS Data	ARFC Data	Trip Links
Arctic	Alatna [AK] through Gates of the Arctic National Park	I(II)	*	*	*
SE	Alsek [AK] Haines Junction to Dry Bay	III+(V+)	*	*	*
Western	Aniakchak [AK] Surprise Lake to Aniakchak Bay	I-IV	*	*	*
Southcentral	Archangel Creek [AK] Fairangel Creek Confluence to the Little Su Confluence	V	*	*	*
Arctic	Atigun/Sagavanirktok [AK] Dalton Hwy Bridge to Slope Mt. Road Camp	III-IV	*	*	*
Southcentral	Bird Creek [AK] 5 miles upstream to Turnagain Arm	V+	*	*	*
Copper/Wrangells	Bremner [AK] to Copper River	I-III+	*	*	*
Southcentral	Browns Creek [AK] Browns Creek Canyon	III	*	*	*
Alaska Range	Brushkana Creek [AK] Denali Hwy to Nenana River	II+	*	*	*
Southcentral	Campbell Creek [AK] South Fork Gorge (Prospect Heights to Hilltop Ski Area)	V	*	*	*
Southcentral	Canyon Creek [AK] Seward Highwy at outlet of Lower Summit Lake to Seward Hwy a...	IV	*	*	*
Southcentral	Caribou Creek [AK] Squaw Creek to Glenn Highway Bridge	V	*	*	*
Southcentral	Carlson Creek [AK] Lower Canyon to Tidewater	II-III(IV)	*	*	*
Southcentral	Chakachatna [AK] Chakachamna Lake to Cook Inlet	V+	*	*	*
Copper/Wrangells	Chakina [AK] Gravel bar to Chitina River	V	*	*	*
Arctic	Charley [AK] Upper river gravel bar to Yukon River to Circle	III	*	*	*
Copper/Wrangells	Cheshnina [AK] Lower Tonsina to Copper River Bridge	III+	*	*	*
Copper/Wrangells	Chetaslina [AK] Chichokna River to Copper River	V+	*	*	*
Southcentral	Chickaloon [AK] 30 Mile Airstrip to Matanuska	III	*	*	*
Western	Chilikadrotna [AK] Twin Lakes (Lake Clark Nat.Park & Preserve) to points along ...	I-III	*	*	*
Copper/Wrangells	Chistochina [AK] Chistochina Glacier to Copper River	I-II	*	*	*
Copper/Wrangells	Chitina [AK] Nizina River to Chitina	II	*	*	*
Copper/Wrangells	Chitistone [AK] Glacier Creek to Nizina River	II-III	*	*	*
Southcentral	Chulitna [AK] East Fork to Talkeetna	II	*	*	*
Southcentral	Coal Creek [AK] Glacier to Matanuska River	IV	*	*	*
Arctic	Colville [AK] Thunder Creek to Harrison Bay	I-II	*	*	*
Southcentral	Copper (Iliamna) [AK] Lower or Upper Copper Lake to Lower Pike Lake or Intricate B...	III-IV	*	*	*
Southcentral	Copper [AK] 1. Copper Glacier to Gulkana R.	II	*	*	*
Southcentral	Copper [AK] 2. Gulkana R. to Chitina R.	II	*	*	*
Southcentral	Copper [AK] 3. Chitina R. to Gulf of Alaska	II	*	*	*
Southcentral	Dadina [AK] Bush strip to Copper River	III-IV(V+)	*	*	*
Alaska Range	Delta [AK] 1. Denali Hwy at Tangle Lakes to MP 212.5 Richardson Hwy bet...	I-III	*	*	*
Alaska Range	Delta [AK] 2. Suzy Q Creek to Donnelly Creek Campground	II-IV	*	*	*
Southcentral	Drop Creek [AK] Upper gravel bar to Copper River	II	*	*	*
SE	Eagle (Juneau) [AK] Lake to Veterans Memorial Highway	II(III)	*	*	*
Southcentral	Eagle [AK] 1. Echo Bend to Rapids Camp	IV	*	*	*
Southcentral	Eagle [AK] 2. Upper	I	*	*	*
Southcentral	Eagle [AK] 3. Bridge to Bridge	II(III)	*	*	*
Southcentral	Eagle [AK] 4. Lower: Military Stretch	II-III	*	*	*
Arctic	Firth [AK] Margaret Lake to Beaufort Sea	III-IV	*	*	*
SE	Fish Creek [AK] Eaglecrest Road to N. Douglas Hwy.	II-V(V+)	*	*	*
Interior	Fortymile [AK] Taylor Hwy Fortymile Bridge to Yukon River (Eagle)	II(III)	*	*	*
Interior	Fortymile, Middle Fork and North Fork [AK] Joseph Airstrip to Taylor Hwy Fortymile Bridge	II(III)	*	*	*
Interior	Fortymile, South Fork [AK] West Fork of Dennison Fork to Taylor Hwy Fortymile Bridge	II(III)	*	*	*
Southcentral	Gakona [AK] Gakona Glacier to Copper River	III	*	*	*
Southcentral	Gilahina [AK] McCarthy Road (mi. 28) to Chitina River	III	*	*	*
Southcentral	Glacier (Sheridan River) [AK] Sheridan Glacier to Copper River Highway	III	*	*	*
SE	Gold Creek [AK] Basin Road Bridge into Cope Park	III-V(V+)	*	*	*
Southcentral	Granite Creek [AK] 2600-foot level to Glenn Highway	IV-V+	*	*	*
Southcentral	Gravel Creek [AK] Gravel Creek Glacier to Matanuska River	IV+	*	*	*
Alaska Range	Gulkana [AK] 1. Summit Lake to Paxson Lake	III	*	*	*
Southcentral	Gulkana [AK] 2. Paxson Lake to Sourdough Campground	II-III	*	*	*
Southcentral	Happy [AK] Near Sheep Lake to Skwentna River	III+	*	*	*
Southcentral	Hicks Creek [AK] Hicks Lake to Matanuska River	V+	*	*	*
Arctic	Hulahula [AK] Grasser's Airstrip to Arey Island (Arctic Ocean)	III	*	*	*
Southcentral	Jacksina [AK] Upper river to Nabesna River	IV	*	*	*
Alaska Range	Jarvis Creek [AK] Trail above McCumber Creek to Trail below Ober Creek	IV-V	*	*	*
Southcentral	Kenai [AK] Kenai Lake (Sterling Highway) to Skilak Lake	II-III	*	*	*
Southcentral	Kennicott [AK] McCarthy Road to Nizina River	II+	*	*	*
Southcentral	Kern Creek [AK] 600' Elevation to Turnigan Arm	V	*	*	*
Southcentral	Kiagna [AK] Gravel bar to Chitina River	V+	*	*	*
Western	Kijik [AK] Lachbuna to Lake Clark	V	*	*	*
Arctic	Killik [AK] Lakes in upper river to Umiat or Colville River	II-III	*	*	*
Southcentral	Kings [AK] Upper Kings to Glenn Highway	V+	*	*	*
Western	Kisaralik [AK] Kisaralik Lake to confluence with Kuskokwim River	II-III	*	*	*
Copper/Wrangells	Klutina [AK] Klutina Lake to Richardson Highway Bridge at Copper Center	III	*	*	*
Arctic	Kongakut [AK] Mountains to Arctic Ocean	II-III	*	*	*
Copper/Wrangells	Kotsina [AK] Upper Kotsina to Copper River (including lower canyon gorge)	V+	*	*	*
Copper/Wrangells	Kuskulana [AK] 1. Nugget Creek to McCarthy Road	IV+	*	*	*
Copper/Wrangells	Kuskulana [AK] 2. McCarthy Rd. Bridge to Chitina River	III	*	*	*
Southcentral	Lake Creek [AK] Chelatna Lake to Yentna River	III+	*	*	*
Copper/Wrangells	Lakina [AK] 1. Mill Creek to McCarthy Road Bridge	III-IV	*	*	*
Copper/Wrangells	Lakina [AK] 2. McCarthy Road Bridge to Chitina River	III+	*	*	*
SE	Lawson Creek [AK] Treadwell Ditch to Salt Water	II(V+)	*	*	*
SE	Lemon Creek [AK] Upper Quarry to Costco	III-IV+	*	*	*
Copper/Wrangells	Little Nelchina [AK] Little Nelchina Br. on Glenn Highway to Tazlina Lake	II-III	*	*	*
Southcentral	Little Susitna [AK] 1. Upper	IV+	*	*	*
Southcentral	Little Susitna [AK] 2. Mother Lode Cookhouse & Saloon to Shrock Road Bridge	IV-V	*	*	*
Southcentral	Lowe [AK] 1. Heiden Canyon	V	*	*	*
Southcentral	Lowe [AK] 2. Keystone Canyon	III	*	*	*
Southcentral	Lowe [AK] 3. Below Keystone Canyon	II	*	*	*
Southcentral	Matanuska [AK] 1. Lions Head	III+	*	*	*
Southcentral	Matanuska [AK] 2. Glacier Park Bridge to Palmer	II+	*	*	*
Southcentral	Matanuska, East Fork and Main Stem [AK] near Hunter Lake to Caribou Creek	II+	*	*	*
Copper/Wrangells	McCarthy Creek [AK] near Bonanza Ridge to McCarthy	III+(V+)	*	*	*
SE	Mendenhall [AK] Mendenhall Lake to Riverside Drive	II(III)	*	*	*
Southcentral	Mineral Creek [AK] 1. Mineral Creek Road to Lower Canyon putin	V	*	*	*
Southcentral	Mineral Creek [AK] 2. Upper Canyon takeout to coast	II+	*	*	*
SE	Montana Creek [AK] McGuinness Creek to Mendenhall River	II-III+	*	*	*
Southcentral	Moose Creek [AK] Buffalo Mine Rd. to Glenn Hwy.	III+	*	*	*
Copper/Wrangells	Nabesna [AK] Nabesna Glacier to Northway Indian Village	II	*	*	*
Copper/Wrangells	Nadina [AK] Nadina Glacier to Copper River	V+	*	*	*
Southcentral	Nellie Juan [AK] Nellie Juan Lake to Kings Bay (Prince William Sound)	V	*	*	*
Alaska Range	Nenana [AK] 1. Carlo Creek to McKinley Village	II-III	*	*	*
Alaska Range	Nenana [AK] 2. McKinley Village to Riley Creek	III	*	*	*
Alaska Range	Nenana [AK] 3. Riley Creek to Twin Rocks	III+	*	*	*
Alaska Range	Nenana [AK] 4. Twin Rocks to Healy (Nenana Canyon)	III-IV	*	*	*
Interior	Nenana [AK] 5. Healy to Rex Bridge	II	*	*	*
Western	Newhalen [AK] Upper landing on Iliamna-Nondalton Road to Newhalen	IV-V	*	*	*
Arctic	Nigu [AK] Gates of the Arctic National Park	I-II	*	*	*
Copper/Wrangells	Nizina [AK] 1. Nizina Glacier to Kennicott River	II+	*	*	*
Copper/Wrangells	Nizina [AK] 2. Kennicott River to Chitna River	II-III	*	*	*
Arctic	Noatak [AK] Twelvemile Creek to Noatak Village	I(II)	*	*	*
SE	Peterson Creek [AK] Meadows to Falls	III+(V+)	*	*	*
Southcentral	Portage [AK] Portage Lake to Turnagain Arm	I	*	*	*
SE	Power Creek [AK] Feeding Eyak Lake near Cordova	IV-V	*	*	*
Southcentral	Reeds Creek [AK] Good Hope Creek Confluence to Reed Lakes Trailhead	V	*	*	*
Alaska Range	Riley Creek [AK] Tripple Lakes Trail to Nenana River	III	*	*	*
SE	Salmon Creek [AK] Bridge to Bake	II-V	*	*	*
Alaska Range	Sanctuary [AK] Denali Road to Teklanika River	V+	*	*	*
Copper/Wrangells	Sanford [AK] Upper gravel bar to Copper River	II	*	*	*
Alaska Range	Savage [AK] Denali Park Road Bridge to Stampede Road	V	*	*	*
Arctic	Sheenjek [AK] Last Lake to Fort Yukon	I-II	*	*	*
Southcentral	Sheep [AK] Near Glacier to Talkeetna River	IV(V+)	*	*	*
Southcentral	Sheep Creek [AK] near small lake at 2757 ft to Parks Highway	III	*	*	*
Southcentral	Ship Creek [AK] Artic Vally Rd. put-in to bridge	IV	*	*	*
Southcentral	Sixmile (& E. Fork Sixmile) [AK] Seward Hwy along E. Fork of Six Mile to Sunshine	V	SixMile near Hope	*	*
Southcentral	Skwentna [AK] Twin Glaciers to Skwentna	III+	*	*	*
SE	Stikine [AK] Cassiar Hwy. Bridge to Telegraph Creek (Grand Canyon)	V+	*	*	*
Southcentral	Susitna [AK] Denali Hwy Bridge to Gold-Creek Alaska RR Bridge or Talkeetn...	III-V+	*	*	*
Southcentral	Talkeetna [AK] Stephan Lake to Susitna River at Talkeetna Village	III-IV	*	*	*
Copper/Wrangells	Tana [AK] Gravel Bar to Chitina River	IV	*	*	*
Copper/Wrangells	Tasnuna [AK] Upper gravel bar to Copper river	II+	*	*	*
SE	Tatshenshini [AK] 2. Dalton Post to Alsek (Dry Bay)	III	*	*	*
Copper/Wrangells	Tazlina [AK] Tazlina Lake to Copper River	II+(III)	*	*	*
Alaska Range	Teklanika [AK] Teklanika Campground to Stampede Rd. (Savage River)	V	*	*	*
Southcentral	Tiekel [AK] 1. Richardson Highway to just above the Canyon	II	*	*	*
Copper/Wrangells	Tiekel [AK] 2. Stuart Creek at Richardson Highway to Copper River or Cor...	V+	*	*	*
Copper/Wrangells	Tonsina [AK] 1. Tonsina Glacier to Tonsina Lake	V+	*	*	*
Copper/Wrangells	Tonsina [AK] 2. Richardson Highway Xing to Lower Tonsina on Edgerton cut-...	III-IV	*	*	*
Copper/Wrangells	Tsaina [AK] 1. Tsina Glacier to Tsina Lodge on Richardson Highway	III+	*	*	*
Copper/Wrangells	Tsaina [AK] 2. Tsina Roadhouse on Richardson Hwy to Richardson Hwy below...	V	*	*	*
Copper/Wrangells	Tsaina [AK] 3. Richardson Highway to just above Stuart Creek	III+	*	*	*
Southcentral	Twentymile [AK] Carmen Lake to Turnagain Arm	I	*	*	*
Southcentral	Valdez Glacier Stream [AK] Valdez Glacier to Richardson Highway	II	*	*	*
Southcentral	Willow Creek [AK] 1. near Hatcher Pass to lower Willow Creek put-in	V+	*	*	*
Southcentral	Willow Creek [AK] 2. Guardrail to Shirleytown	III-IV	*	*	*
SE	Windy / Rocky [AK] 3 miles above Windy/Rocky confluence to tidewater	IV	*	*	*
Southcentral	Wolverine Creek [AK] Upper River to Matanuska River	V	*	*	*
Southcentral	Wortmann's Creek [AK] Upper River to Lowe River	II-III	*	*	*

Popular Interior Flatwater Trips:

• Birch Creek (Note brief class III rapids at Wolf Creek!)
• Chatanika River
• Chena River
• Delta Clearwater
• Delta – Tangle Lakes to Richardson (Note portage around waterfall, adjacent Class II-III)
• Koyukuk River
• Nenana – Reindeer Hills Section
• Tanana
• Yukon

Popular Fly-In Trips

• Charley River (Class II, III, and IV)
• Colville (Class I)
• Fortymile (Middle Fork)
• Happy River (Class III)
• Hulahula River (Class III)
• John River (Class I, II, III)
• Kobuk (Class III and IV canyons near Walker Lake,Class I and II,)
• Lake Creek (Class II, III)
• Noatak(Class I and II)
• Nowitna River (Class I and II)
• Porcupine River (Class I)
• Sheenjek River (Class I and II)
• Talkeetna (Class IV)
• Newhalen (Class III, IV)

Fairbanks Paddlers Trip Reports and Stories

• Chulitna – To Boat or Not to Boat
• Nenana River