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Nizina River Points
1
Charter a bush plane from McCarthy, Valdez, or Gulkana to land on one of the gravel strips below the Nizina Glacier Lake. There is a strip just below the glacier toe, which involves carrying your gear a half-mile to the river or there is a strip at Glacier Creek on the Chitistone River where a short 8‑mile stretch of Class I and II will take you to the Nizina. There may be a strip at Dan Creek as well. Either way the logistics are many as you… ...more
2
Quite suddenly, after the last sweeping turn to the south, where big views of the Chugach Mountains loom, the Nizina merges with the much larger Chitina River. If your plans are to take out here you will want to get along the right shoreline to get stopped. Stop early to locate the gravel airstrip and then move your boats as close as the current will allow to facilitate the take out. There is an old cabin here and remnants of cable crossings… ...more
3
Continue down the Chitina to its confluence with the Copper River, where there is road access, and is a great wilderness trip that combines the thrill and adrenaline rush of big white water and remote wilderness. The common take out is O’Brien Creek and is described in detail for the Copper and Chitina Rivers.
4
If you didn’t get across the river in time or if the line of combat fishing dipnetters has every square inch of shore taken up as they try to catch red salmon by dipnet. It often means piling into an angry line of fisherman and occupying their site for the time required to get all you gear out of the way.
5
This is the last road access available to the Chitina River. If you didn’t get across the river in time or if the line of combat fishing dipnetters has every square inch of shore taken up as they try to catch red salmon by dipnet. It often means piling into an angry line of fisherman and occupying their site for the time required to get all you gear out of the way.
6
Most groups will start their trip from the town of McCarthy. This involves driving the McCarthy Road to its end at the Kennicott River where you must shuttle your gear another few miles to the McCarthy airstrip. When you use a local flight operator they will likely be able to do this for you. From here, if you are lucky, you can get a bush plane fitted with wheel/floats so you can land on the lake at the toe of the Nizina Glacier. If no… ...more