Alaska Packrafting Trips
Packrafting combines backpacking and rafting, allowing you to traverse both land and water. As the name suggests, the lightweight and inflatable boats used in this sport are designed to be carried in your backpack. It’s a great choice for anyone seeking an immersive and thrilling outdoor experience. Also, you can cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time!
Alaska offers a range of opportunities for packrafting—from a quick afternoon excursion or overnight trip to longer, more challenging expeditions for expert packrafters.
Not ready to go it alone? For guided packrafting adventures, connect with Traverse Alaska, based in the Denali area, or Moose Pass Adventures, in Moose Pass near Seward.
Packrafting Trips
Feel the thrill of crushing through whitewater on the Nenana River just outside the iconic Denali National Park. Do it with New Wave Adventures and you’ll have your choice of rafting trips — you can even decide whether to paddle or just take in the beautiful scenery — as well as other exciting options like hiking and packrafting, all great options for family fun.
Experience the backcountry of Denali National Park in a way few others do. You’ll board a bus from the Visitor Center and disembark just before Sable Pass and then immerse yourself in the wild Alaska landscape. Recommended for intermediate backpackers and beginner packrafters.
The Winner Creek to 20 Mile River loop is a great first packrafting trip. For those with packrafting skills, this route offers a quick, easy-to-access, multi-sport adventure. The hike up to Berry Pass is seriously underrated, and the views of the 20 Mile watershed are absolutely stunning.
A combination of classic Alaskana: float planes, big mountains, crystal blue lakes, and homesteading history. This “route” is uniquely freeform. You’ll be able to choose from hundreds of available hiking options. With the vast majority of the paddling being on flat water this is a great option for a novice packrafter.
Aniakchak River, a remote 35-mile Class IV run, flows from Surprise Lake through a volcanic caldera and dense brown bear habitat to the Pacific. The trip takes 3 – 4 days, ending in Aniakchak Bay. Weather can be severe, with July as the best rafting month. The route features rugged terrain, fast waters, and stunning scenery. Inflatable 14-foot rafts are ideal for navigating this wild and scenic river.
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