Basics
- Class:
- Class IV-V
- River Length
- 9.3 miles
- Time:
- 1/2 day
- Season:
- June to September
Description
A half-day river trip down the turbulent whitewater of Six Mile Creek is thrilling addition to any Alaskan vacation. Six Mile Creek is one of the most challenging whitewater runs commercially rafted in Alaska. Short and formidable, Six Mile Creek is fed by glacial runoff and snowmelt of the Chugach Range.
Six Mile Creek plunges a stout 50 feet per mile through chaotic boulder strewn rapids, large crashing holes, big swirling hydraulics and haystack sized waves. The creek is squeezed through a series of three canyons of increasing difficulty before spilling into the seawater of Turnagain Arm.
Six Mile Creek scrapes through the lush, old growth rainforest of the Kenai Peninsula. Canyon walls stretch up to five hundred feet high from the surface of Six Mile Creek, accented by cascading waterfalls fed by hanging snowfields. Wildlife is plentiful along the banks of Six Mile Creek, with opportunity to see Moose, Brown and Black Bear, through visitors are often too busy paddling to look at anything but the whitewater!
Half-day trips down Six Mile Creek incorporate either two or three of its river canyons. Canyons I and 2 of Six Mile Creek are intermediate-advanced, with plenty of action and excitement. Canyon 3 of Six Mile Creek is a solid expert level run, a serious whitewater section for advanced paddlers in good physical fitness. Outfitters on Six Mile Creek require a swim test and previous whitewater experience prior to a trip on the waterway.
Six Mile Creek is located just off the Seward Highway on the Kenai Peninsula and is accessed via vehicle at both put-in and take-out, a rarity in Alaska. Six Mile Creek is close to the small town of Hope, from which most trips originate, and is a 1½-hour drive from Anchorage.
River Details
Class:
River Length
Shorter runs possible
