National Wild and Scenic Rivers System Alaska

Natural and free-flowing rivers born in cold mountain lakes or nurtured by runoff from remote highlands provide travel corridors through some of Alaska's most spectacular geography. Crags and peaks, narrow canyons, rolling tundra-cloaked hills, or forested slopes present constantly changing panoramas on a float trip.

Congress established the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System to preserve in a free-flowing condition rivers of remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural, or other similar value. All or part of the 25 rivers in the system in Alaska are designated as wild, scenic, or recreational. The National Park Service administers 13 of these, all designated "wild." Because of their classifications, only minimal development wiIl be allowed along the banks of these rivers. Included are the Alagnak, Alatna, Aniakchak, Charley, Chitikadrotna, John, Kobuk, Mulchatna. Noatak, Koyukuk (North Fork), Salmon, Tinayguk, and Tlikakila Rivers.

Access: See access and other information under the areas in which these rivers occur Alagnak (Katmai); Alatna, John, Kobuk, Koyukuk (North Fork), and Tinaygok (Gates of the Arctic); Aniakchak; Charley (Yukon-Charley Rivers); Chilikadrotna, Mulchatna, and Tlikakila (Lake Clark); Noatak (Gates of the Arctic and Noatak); and Salmon (Kobuk Valley). For more information, download this PDF on the National Wild and Scenic Rivers program.