American Creek

American Creek is a remote river renowned for its fishing opportunities.

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Location:

Katmai National Park

Significance:

Salmon spawning stream

MANAGED BY:

Katmai National Park

American Creek is a remote, 40 mile long river with excellent fishing and beautiful scenery. Given the remote nature of the area, visitors need to plan in advance and come prepared. Those who do are rewarded with dish and scenery that have earned the creek a place in the pantheon of Alaskan trophy fishing waters.

What to Do and When to Come

The best fishing is dependent on the timing of the salmon run. A knowledge of the salmon's life cycle can be beneficial to success. Arctic char tend to follow salmon into American Creek when the salmon spawn. A greater proportion of trophy-sized rainbow trout are caught early in the season before the adult salmon arrive. At this time rainbow trout are feeding heavily on salmon fry. Both arctic char and rainbow trout feed heavily on salmon eggs when salmon are spawning. 

But the river is not just about fishing. The scenery is also spectacular and hiking can be especially fruitful on the tundra and mountain near Hammersly Lake. Hikers may want to arrive earlier in the season as it is easier to travel through the occasional patch of alder or willow before the leaves appear. 

No roads or trails provide access so most people arrive via float plane. Day fishing trips access the first 5-7 miles of river by place. The final 6 miles of river are usually accessed via plane and then by jet boat. The middle 25-30 miles of river is only easily accessible on a raft.

Floating the River

Float trips typically begin at Hammersly Lake and take 7 to 10 days. The river changes significantly from beginning to end, providing a wonderful variety of water. The bottom of the river is braided and exploring different channels can yield large rainbow trout and abundant arctic char. 

Like many rivers, the technical difficulty of the trip is dependent on the water levels. Higher water levels or a flooded river can create a more challenging trip. Some sections of American Creek are technical regardless of water conditions. 

There are two places of concern. A rapid in the upper canyon of the river can be rated anywhere from a class II to a class III+ depending on water conditions. A social trail exists on river right to portage and line rafts through this section. The lower canyon also has rapids that can have large standing waves, but there are usually less technical.

Safety, Permits, and Regulations

Given the remote nature of the river, self reliance is necessary. See our safety page for information on how to have a safe trip to American Creek. An Alaska state license is required for fishing. Backcountry permits are not required. However, it is highly recommended that each group file an optional backcountry planner. Visit our fishing page for more information on permits.