Rafting rivers in the Lake Clark area is a great way to experience wilderness, and there are numerous float trip possibilities. Looking for miles of continuous whitewater? Not likely to be found here. Most rivers in the park are swiftly paced waters requiring oarmanship with occasional whitewater segments.
Safety is a top priority. Alaskan waters are extremely cold, even when air temperatures are warm. The state has the highest rate of recreational boating fatalities in the nation. ALWAYS wear a Personal Flotation Device (PFD). More information on staying safe in Alaskan waters is available from the State of Alaska Office of Boating Safety.
Logistics can be planned with the lodge, air taxi, or guide service you're using. Contact the park field headquarters (907-781-2218) for more information.
The park contains three National Wild Rivers, popular for float trips:
Mulchatna National Wild River
Beginning in Turquoise Lake at the base of Telaquana Mountain, the Mulchatna flows through the rolling Bonanza Hills in a challenging, shallow, rocky channel, more suitable for small rafts and kayaks than canoes.
Expect a stretch of fast WW II-III above Bonanza Creek; a portage is possible. West of the Bonanza Hills the valley broadens; here the river trip is a gentle float through forests of spruce, birch and aspen. Farther downstream after picking up the waters of the Chilikadrotna River, the floodplain widens to wetlands and joins the lowlands of the Nushagak River.
River rating: WW III - FW
Best time of year: June - September
Popular trip lengths: 100 to 230 miles
Chilikadrotna National Wild River
Flowing down the west side of the Alaska Range out of Twin Lakes, through gentle upland forests of spruce, birch, and aspen, the Chilikadrotna is a swift, twisting, narrow river, most suitable for rafts or kayaks; canoeists attempting it should be very experienced. Limited whitewater opportunities: sweepers and strainers are the biggest hazard. Good fishing and a fast pace are pluses for this river.
River rating: WW III - FW
Best time of year: June - September
Popular trip lengths: 70 to 200 miles when combined with Mulchatna on its lower end (only the first 11 miles are listed as Wild and Scenic)
Tlikakila National Wild River
Located about 110 air miles west of Anchorage, the Tlikakila River is found entirely within park boundaries. Flowing through Lake Clark Pass, this small but fast glacier-fed river follows the deep narrow valley of a major earth fault, surrounded by rugged snow-capped peaks, glaciers, waterfalls, and sheer rock cliffs.
From its headwaters at Summit Lake, the river drops through a densely forested valley with thick underbrush. Just below the confluence with the North Fork, a short section of WW III-IV rapids can be portaged on the left bank. At high water, other WW III-IV rapids appear in the next 3 miles after this confluence. Small plane traffic will be present daily along the Tlikakila (Lake Clark Pass is the airway route between Anchorage and southwest Alaska). Anticipate moderate to heavy traffic especially during weekends and the fall.
River rating: WW IV - WW I
Best time of year: July - September
Popular trip lengths: 70 miles
