3-Day Talkeetna River Rafting Trip from Talkeetna Alaska

3-Day Talkeetna River Rafting Trip from Talkeetna Alaska -- We highly recommend this superb Alaska river rafting trip! The Talkeetna River is so special in so many ways that it is considered the premier wilderness whitewater raft trip in Alaska, and it is our most popular multi-day river trip.

We have the most experience and run more trips than any company on this river.

Our fly-out, float-back format starts with an exciting bush flight, giving you an excellent overview of this wilderness area before we start our journey down the river. Strong salmon runs are found along this river but so are the bears! Caribou frequently wander in from the nearby Nelchina herd, and we often see moose and eagles by the river.

One of the highlights of this trip is the class IV whitewater through the heavily forested Talkeetna Canyon. Ten to 14 miles of nonstop whitewater, one of the longest rapids in North America, is sure to please the first-timer and the experienced.

On our final day we float into the wide Susitna Valley, where we can catch a view of Mt. McKinley on a clear day and get some last-minute fishing in before reaching Talkeetna. If you like, you'll still have time that day for an optional flightsee of McKinley.

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This is truly the premier wilderness whitewater river trip in Alaska. Suitable for the first-timer and the experienced white-water enthusiast. The whitewater segment is famous for its beautiful canyon, but what makes it special, relative to rivers worldwide, is the 10+ mile class IV rapid.

This enjoyable run is in the wilds and should be treated with respect. That's why on remote whitewater trips, we always include at least two rafts, not kayak backup! (A kayak cannot carry additional provisions or provide sufficient transport if you have accidentally scattered people and gear on a 10 mile rapid, 75 miles from civilization). We are best known for our safety, and since atarting these Talkeetna trips 27 years ago, we have operated without incident. New in 2000, satellite telephones were added as an additional emergency item to the ELT and aviation radio for emergencies.

The food is always fresh, not freeze-dried, and the guides have perfected their own gourmet river specialties, which may include your catch of the day.

Talkeetna offers good fishing, with strong salmon runs at several stops on the trip. Typical runs include Kings from mid-June to mid-July, Reds during July, and Silvers from late July to the end of August. Dolly Varden and Rainbows can also be fished from the clear side streams. Because of the salmon, bears are common along the river and are usually seen on the trip, as are caribou, moose, and eagles.

The fly-in and float-out format makes access to the Alaskan wilderness affordable. Flights are staged from the community of Talkeetna, home to several famous bush-plane services who not only fly climber drop-off and support, but offer premier flightseeing of Mt. McKinley as well. The vistas seen on our flight shuttles are magnificent. Yet, we highly recommend that you take advantage of further flight-seeing while in Talkeetna! This colorful community has been regarded as the true model of the TV show "Northern Exposure."

Besides the flightseeing, there is sufficient time before or after the trip to explore the establishment and talk to some of the famous and not so famous characters who live here. We recommend the Fairview Inn! The town is a popular staging area for salmon fishing, being at the intersection of three major rivers, the Chulitna, Susitna, and Talkeetna. We will provide fishing gear if requested, but you will still need a fishing license, available here in town.

Provided
-All air transportation from Talkeetna to the river.
-Dry bags for personal gear.
-Type 5 life jackets.
-All meals from lunch on Day 1 to lunch on Day 3. Inform us of special dietary needs.
-Dry suits with latex socks.
-Neoprene mittens, socks, and shoes.
-Dry storage for cameras and related equipment.
-Tents, sleeping bags, and ground pads (unless you prefer to use your own)
-Fishing gear (unless you prefer to use your own)

Notes
-We carry comprehensive medical kits, emergency location transmitter, aviation radio, and a satellite phone on all wilderness trips.
-Please notify us of height, weight, and shoe size so we may provide properly sized neoprene boots and dry-suits.
-Transportation to and from Anchorage can be provided for an additional fee.
-Arrangement for accomodations before and/or after the trip can be provided.

Itinerary
-Day 1
We meet in Talkeetna at 8:00 am. Last minute items can be purchased while the one hour roundtrip shuttle flights are being made. Most of the rafting gear is already at the river. Our morning views of the Alaska Range, dominated by Mt. Denali, are impressive. This early start helps us miss the inevitable, midday cloud buildup here in the mountains. The planes are tail dragger Cessna 185s, which are the standard workhorse of Alaska's bush-pilots. These enable us to land directly on a gravel bar approximately 75 miles up river. Rafts are ready to go, and lunch is waiting for all.

After lunch, we watch for bears, caribou, and eagles as we float to Prairie Creek. Fishing here is good, but an eye for bears must be kept open. Proper bear etiquette will be taught by your guides. This evening, we will camp just down river from Cache Creek. After appetizers, wine, dinner, and a just cooked dessert...the long twilight hours of an Alaskan summer seem to linger around the campfire.

-Day 2
After breakfast, we float just a few miles to the entrance of the Talkeetna Canyon. Here, after a short hike to a scenic overlook we will scout the first rapids, 'Entrance Exam' and the dog-leg of the 'Toilet Bowl'. This is an exciting start to our day of whitewater! Several miles downriver the pace picks up as we enter the 'Sluice Box' and ride its 10 miles of uninterrupted fun!

The adrenaline brings on a healthy appetite, and a lunch stop is usually made in the canyon. The rapid and canyon end at a dramatic natural canyon gate that opens up to a wide valley. We have several more miles of floating before we reach our camp at Disappointment Creek. Gold mining was popular on many of these creeks, and we suspect this one was aptly named for its poor yield. Hiking can be done here with a guide, fishing is good, and yes, we do carry a goldpan, just in case you're feeling lucky.

-Day 3
The final segment of our trip is a mello float with numerous river braids. There's good wildlife viewing in this area of salmon spawning. Our destination is Clear Creek. Although we are not alone at this popular fishing spot, the fishing is generally excellent. We'll depart after lunch, and conditions permitting, enjoy views of Mt. McKinley as we reach our takeout in Talkeetna around 5:00 pm. Earlier takeouts can be made to fit your schedule.

River Classification
So you can better understand the classification of rivers and decide whether it will be suitable for you, we have listed the classes as provided by the American Whitewater Affiliation, along with our professional opinion and policy for suitability. (Please note: these descriptions, and all ratings listed for the individual rivers, can vary considerably with differing water levels. Please use the ratings as a general guideline only).

-Class I: Easy. Fast-moving water with riffles and small waves. Suitable for anyone age 5 and older, including the physically challenged.

-Class II: Straightforward rapids with wide, clear channels. Occasional maneuvering may be required, but rocks and medium sized waves are easily avoided. Suitable for same as class I.

-Class III: Rapids with moderate, irregular waves which may be difficult to avoid. Large waves and strainers may be present but are easily avoided. Injuries while swimming are rare. Suitable for those who don't mind getting a little wet, otherwise same as class I and II.

-Class IV: Intense, powerful but predictable rapids requiring precise boat handling in turbulent water. Depending on the character of the river, it may feature large, unavoidable waves and holes or constricted passages demanding fast maneuvers under pressure. Risk of injury to swimmers is moderate to high, and water conditions may make self rescue difficult. Suitable for those 12 and older, in good physical condition, and comfortable with swimming. With our experienced guides, this level is recommended for first-timers as well as those with prior experience.

Does NOT include hotel pick-up. Price is per person. There is no child discount for this tour. No children under 12 are allowed on this trip. Please reserve online, or call us toll-free at 888-848-0737.