Southeast & Eastern Alaska Float Trips
Its Boundaries
This is that region east of a line from Icy Bay to Mount St Elias. It includes the area around Yakutat, the Lost Coast, Glacier Bay, Lynn Canal and the islands to the south of Juneau, including the Taku and Stikine watersheds.
What It’s Like
These are typically remote rivers, running along the edge of huge icefields and through huge spruce forests. One exception: The Mendenhall, which offers a fun day trip close to the state capital, Juneau. Indeed, there are countless miles of paddling that you can do in a sea kayak in this region, with Glacier Bay National Park as a major destination; the waters around Sitka are a favorite as well.
Some other highlights:
- The Tatshenshini and Alsek rivers offer some of the greatest wilderness trips in the world
- The Taku River flows out of a lovely aspen parklands in dry interior Canada
- The Stikine River empties straight into the salt waters near Wrangell
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Float Trips
Southeast Alaska Float Trips
Overview The Tana River is a short, challenging Class IV+ stretch of river that leads to the Chitina River. It flows out of the Chugach Mountains directly towards the Wrangell Mountains and has a reputation that deserves skill and experience paddling along fast, cold glacier water. It starts as a medium size river flowing out of the Tana Glacier that is an ice tributary of the giant Bagley Ice Field. The Tana River alone is only 36 miles… ...more
Overview The Nizina River flows out of the Nizina Glacier and into the heart of the Wrangell Mountains from a point not far from the divide with the St Elias Mountains to the east. This area is a part of the largest protected parklands in the world and from near its source, it offers a 45-mile or 90-mile trip with moderate Class III difficulties. It is a tributary of the Chitina River that flows into the even larger Copper River. The… ...more
Overview The Nabesna River is a glacially fed Class I and II river that flows north out of the heart of the Wrangell-St Elias Mountains and cuts through a shallow canyon between the Mentasta Mountains and the Nutzotin Mountains of south central Alaska. It joins the Chisana River and, together, they form the mighty Tanana River, which flows through interior Alaska to its confluence with the Yukon. The river has 80 miles to float through, in an… ...more
The Copper River drains a vast North American region of mountains, ice, and forests. Its lower reaches flow over 200,000 cubic feet per second, while headwaters carve steep gorges and glacial valleys. Spanning subarctic to temperate zones, it borders the world’s largest nonpolar ice field. The most common trip, from Chitina to Cordova, covers 80 miles in 5 – 7 days. Rafts work well; canoes can be tippy.
The Chitina River flows through a vast Alaskan valley, dividing the Wrangell and St. Elias Mountains. Fed by Logan and Chitina Glaciers, it shaped a mineral-rich region where native populations and miners have long explored. Peaks rise to 16,000 feet as it joins the Copper River. A remote, moderate-difficulty rafting trip, it spans 60 – 112 miles, taking 4 – 10 days through rugged wilderness.
The Alsek River is a powerful, glacial-fed waterway flowing from Canada to Alaska through vast protected wilderness. It features massive glaciers, swift whitewater, and the highest concentration of grizzlies in North America. The journey includes a mandatory helicopter portage at Turnback Canyon and takes 13 – 16 days. Harsh weather and complex logistics make it a true expedition, best suited for expert paddlers.
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