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Want
a true wilderness experience
with an outfitter you can trust?
Raft down the Matanuska River
with NOVA,
the company that pioneered the
first river trips in Alaska on
this very waterway. Most of their
guides are in their 30's, with
years of experience, and NOVA's
been around since 1975-the state's
oldest rafting outfitter. Let
them guide you down a mellow
fork or through rollercoaster
hydraulics. Either option makes
for a great day's outing from
Anchorage, especially combined
with the scenic drive up. Yet
unlike other rafting hotspots,
the Matanuska isn't crowded with
busloads of other rafters.
The Glacier
Run offers
a family-oriented 1.5-hour float
with just a dash of whitewater.
The trip begins on the Matanuska's
glacial fork, which runs right
out from under Matanuska Glacier,
and it drops into the main river
past all the big rapids. Your
guide will navigate the oarboat
down splashy Class II and III
rapids as you enjoy the spectacular
views. Before you even get on
the river, you'll find great
photo opportunities of the glacier
right in the parking lot. If
there's time, you can walk out
on the ice.
The Lion
Head Run tackles
a short, fast stretch of whitewater
where the Matanuska gets squeezed
between rock and ice. During your
3.5 hours on the water, you'll get
a great view of the 27-mile-long
Matanuska Glacier, which presses
the river up against the massive
rock wall called Lion Head. Even
the white of the whitewater is gray
from glacial silt, and boulders deposited
in the river by the glacier make
the ride that much wilder. This is
NOVA's most popular rafting trip,
with a few miles of Class IV rapids
and 14 miles of Class III over three
hours. Choose between an oarboat,
steering provided by your guide,
or a passenger-piloted paddleboat.
The 2:00pm departure is typically
the high-water run of the day, as
glacial rivers crest at night. Relax
around the campfire while guides
grill up a riverside dinner.
During the
weeks before and after the Summer
Solstice, NOVA offers a Midnight
Sun Run (7:00pm-midnight)
down Lion Head. Mid-summer glacial
melt and the higher water of evening
combine to offer maximum whitewater
thrills-all bathed in the soft
hues of the midnight sun. Hike
on the glacier moraine while your
guides prepare the barbecue dinner.
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