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Floating a river in a raft oder paddling your own kayak on one of the many remote Alaska rivers, coastline or lake systems. Itis possibly the best way to experience the remote wilderness and National Parks of Alaska.
We custom design all of our trips to suit the clients interest, fitness and work with their time schedule.
Our rivers have long been used as highways to remote parts of Alaska. In the summertime they are a low impact way to see a great deal of country and wildlife without the crowds. These floats can include day hikes along the rivers along the higher ridges or gravel bars or as some prefer just sitting in camp sipping wine and absorbing the "bigness" of the country around them. Some rivers are glacierfed and are higher during hot weather others get more snowmelt. River levels vary throughout the summer. Rivers in the arctic stay frozen longer in the year. Also rivers tend to change their course over time. We choose our location by time of the year, river flows and interests of the guests. Remote river floats in Alaska require a bushflights to get to access many of these remote areas. If you are looking for a true wilderness adventure away from the crowds and you don't mind camping in a tent for several days you definitely want to join us on a remote river float or paddling trip. Alaska is a place that is wild and huge and offers an incredible variety and terrain for true wilderness river expeditions. Choose one of the following river floats or contact us about any river in Alaska and we can arrange a custom trip for you on your family or friends on your time schedule and the location desired.
2 person minimum. All of our trips are guided by Bill & Kathi Merchant
Call us (907) 745 6680 or e-mail to find out more.
- Copper River
- Yukon & Charley River
- Alatna River
- North Fork of the Koyukuk River
- Kongakut River
- Hulahula River
- Noatak River
- Chilikadrotna River
- Wood Tikchik State Park Lakes System
- Aniakchak River
The powerful Copper River originates in the glaciated Wrangell Mountains and flows into the Gulf of Alaska. It is Alaska's fifth largest river and flows at speeds averaging 7-9 miles per hour. This float offers outstanding scenery, wildlife and a true wilderness experience even though it is road accessable. After getting on the river we won't see too many people until we get to our take out point at Child's Glacier near the small fishing community of Cordova only reached by airplane or ferry where we will be treated with the sight of Child's Glacier and a scenic drive in the Copper River Delta and across the famous Million Dollar Bridge that was damaged by the 1964 Good Friday Earth quake.This trip starts and finishes in Anchorage. The first day we will drive the national scenic Glenn Highway to Chitna or to the community McCarthy along the old Railroad Grade for the longer version of the trip that includes floating the Kennicott River that takes us to the Nizina River and on down the Chitna River and finally to the Copper River getting more powerful along the way. Covering 13 million acres, Wrangell St. Elias is the largest park int the U.S. National Park System and part of the largest protected ecosystem in the world.
Your guide on this trip does all the rowing and navigating on the river. Guests enjoy the scenery along the way and kick back. In the evening we set up camp with tents and a pagoda for dinners. We will cook delicious meals for you before setting out every day to venture further down the river and explore along the way. There are several clear tributaries where we might see brown bears feeding on salmon. There are three species of salmon that travel up the Copper ( Red, Silver and King).
We will have plenty of opportunity to see wildlife and do day hikes along the way.
Our finishing point is Miles Lake where we will see the mighty Child’s Glacier with a 300 feet wall of blue ice. We will follow the biggest ice bergs to our final destination. In the heat of summer there are pieces of ice as large as houses breaking off the glacier that sound like thunder and shake the ground. We will be picked up by our shuttle to cover the 48 mile long gravel Copper Highway to Cordova and explore this quaint town. We will spend the night at a cozy B&B before we take the ferry the next day across Prince William Sound past Columbia Glacier back to Whittier once a WW II military base and from there we go through the railroad tunnel which opened a few years ago to vehicle traffic and head back to Anchorage along the beautiful Turnagain Arm.
season: June-September
duration: 7 days
Chilikadrotna River Float, Lake Clark National Park
This trips starts from Anchorage with a scenic flight to Port Alsworth into Lake Clark National Park. A floatplane will take us from Port Alsworth and drop us off at the scenic Twin Lakes area where Dick Preonnecke spent 30 years alone in the wilderness. Spectacular jagged peaks cradle Twin Lakes. This trip offers a true wilderness experience in wild unspoiled land with galciers,volcanoes, waterfalls and wildlife like moose, bear, caribou and an incredible veriety of waterfowl.We will hike and explore alpine meadows in the high country surrounding the lake before descending the clear swift waters of the Chilikadrotna River.
After joining the Mulchatna River for another 12 miles we arrive at our final destination where the bush pilot will us up.
season: June-August
duration: 7 days
Twin Lakes Hiking and Kayaking Trip, Lake Clark National Park
Pristine wilderness and the legacy of Dick Proeneke who spent 30 years alone in this wilderness,awaits us underneath jagged peaks and crystal clear waters of Twin Lakes. This area is only accessable by bushplane and is one of Alaska's vast and untouched National Parks. With folding kayaks we will explore this area that is home to bears, moose, caribou and more. We will enjoy the solitude in this magnificent land a hike and explore hidden valleys, tundra, waterfalls and enjoy nature in the spirit of Dick Proenneke. From Anchorage we will take a scenic bush flight to the small community of Port Alsworth and from there a short bushflight to the Twin Lakes area.
season: June-August
duration: 7 days
guided kayaking trip on the Yukon river from Eagle to Circle
Yukon River Tour from Whitehorse to Dawson (10 days) upon request
Tour begins and ends in Fairbanks
duration : 8 days
Tour price: $2900.00 per person
We offer this guided kayaking trip from Eagle to Circle, about 150 river miles on a scenic section of the Yukon river which is historically very interesting as well with old trapper cabins on the river banks.The Yukon river is Alaska's lifeline, used by Alaska natives for a long time and by gold seekers and adventurers during the gold rush as well. Dog teams used to travel the Yukon River in the wintertime, today this section is used by the Yukon Quest Sled Dog race in February, a 1000 mile dog race between the two communities of Whitehorse, Canada and Fairbanks, Alaska. Join us on this unique adventure into a beautiful part of Interior Alaska and into Alaska's history. Along the journey learn about Alaska lifestyles, fish wheels and salmon and visit th colorful communities of Eagle and Circle.
Yukon & Charley Rivers Rafting trip
Tour price: $ 3900.00 per person
duration: 10 days
The Yukon Charley National Preserve encompasses 2.5 mio acres.The river cuts through high plateau tundra and valleys untouched by glaciation during the ice age.This is also the home of the Fortymile caribou herd and we have plenty of opportunity to watch wildlife.The area is wilder and less populated than it was 80 years ago during the Kondike gold rush. Our trip starts after a landing in a small wheelplane on the primitive upper Charley landing strip.There is good hiking opportunities in the upper stretches .After the first three days on the clear and swift Charley River we join the mighty Yukon River where we get to see historic old camps and cabin sites of trappers and prospectors. We also get to see modern subsistence lifestyle with fish camps and fishwheels on the Yukon before we reach the small town of Circle.
From here we have the possibility of stopping along the way back for more sights along the route before Anchorage.
Day 1: Drive from Anchorage to the small community of Circle
bushplane ride to the put- in on the Charley River
Day 2: We explore the the area around the upper river corridor.Old historic mining and trapping camps are found in this area.
Day 3: the next two days we spend floating down the clear Charley River.
Day4-9: We are on a leasurely pace exploring and floating this unique area. We will float down the Yukon River to the small community of Circle.
Day 10: Time to enjoy the town of Circle after a hearty breakfast and drive back to Anchorage.
season: June-August
Noatak River Kayaking Trip ( for experienced paddlers only)
The Noatak River drains the largest river basin in North America. It flows from the flanks of Mt. Igikpak at 8.510 feet the highest peak of the western Brooks Range and lies entirely above the arctic circle. As one of Alaska's least traveled areas, the Noatak offers pure wilderness and remoteness.The Noatak is a national wild and scenic river. It is virtually unaffected by human activity. We will start this trip with a scheduled flight to Kotzebue. From here floatplane will drop us off at one of the upper lakes.This trip will lead us through the 65 miles of the Grand Canyon of the Noatak to Noatak village.This trip can be done as a shorter version of 10 days and a takeout at Cutler River without the Noatak canyon.
season: June-August
duration: 10 days-21 days
Visit the last great wilderness on earth. ANWR with over 19 million acres has been much debated over, especially area 1002 which are the calving grounds of the porcupine caribou herd 130,000 animals strong. They migrate to the coastal plains and back to their wintering grounds in the Yukon every year. Join us on this 10 day trip in the spectacular Brooks Range, with some exciting whitewater, exeptional fishing, spectacular scenery and the possibility of seeing caribou. We have plenty of time to hike on ridges and into lonely valleys and watch wildlife such as dall sheep, moose, bear and wolves. From the heart of the Brooks Range we make our way towards the coast where we will be picked up by a small bush plane at Caribou Pass. The section we float is entirely in the mountains and offers some of the best trailless hiking Alaska has to offer.
More information and schedule upon request. Trips start and finish in Fairbanks.
season: June- August
duration: 10 days
The Hulahula flows north glacial valleys, rugged mountains, rolling tundra and finally through a breathtaking canyon before reaching the coastal plains and the Arctic Ocean. This is an opportinity to see ANWR, battleground between oil lobbyists and environmental groups, an area that has been much debated about in the last 20 years about drilling for oil. The coastal plains are the calving grounds of the 130.000 strong porcupine caribou herd.Development would destroy one of the most pristine and vast pieces of arctic tundra left in the US. Class III rapids.
No prior paddling experience is necessary since you will be with an experienced river guide. On this 10 day trip you will have time to watch wildlife, take pictures, hike on arctic tundra and enjoy incredible scenery.The trip starts in Fairbanks with a scenic flight to the small Native community of Arctic Village.From here we will take a small bush plane to our put in on the upper Hulahula River on a gravel bar.Our schedule for the next 9 days is going to be very flexible and on a relaxed schedule.
dates: June- August
North Fork of the Koyukuk River, Gates of the Arctic National Park
This is one of the rivers with offer as a rafting trip as well and with double folding kayaks for paddlers with experience on moving water. The North Fork of the Koyukuk flows south through a broad, glacially carved valley beside the Endicott Mountains in the Central Brooks Range. It is a clearwater river designated as " National Wild and Scenic River" and flows through dramatic peaks and through the "Gates of the Arctic" between Boreal Mountain and Frigid Crags named by Rob Marshall in 1929.We will start this trip from Coldfoot with a bush plane flight to the put-in on the upper North Fork of the Koyukukt. We will have several days to float and explore this beautiful area on a leisurely schedule.
season: June-August
duration: 7-10 days
Alatna River trip & Arrigetch Peaks Backpackng Trip, Gates of the Arctic National Park
This trip leads us into the remote Gates of the Arctic National Park and into the famous Arrigetch Peaks.It offers an outstanding wilderness experience with hiking opportunities, especially in the upper half of the river. We will hike into the Arrigetch Peaks region where we will set up a basecamp to explore different valleys and visit some beautiful lakes. After 6 days of exploring unspoiled wilderness we will return to the Alatna River, where we will assemble our boats. A float down the clear and beautiful Alatna River will give our legs time to rest and take in the beauty around us. This trip starts and finishes in Coldfoot. A bush flight will bring us to the Arrigetch region. We will take 12 days to enjoy this remote and beautiful part of the Brooks Range.
Contact us for more detailed information and trip schedule.
season: June- September
duration: 10 days
Alaska Ultra Sport PO BOX 1125 Chickaloon Alaska 99674 ( 907) 745 6680
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