Basics
- Class:
- Class II-III
- River Length
- 60 miles
- Time:
- 7 days
- Season:
- June to August
Description
Visitors to the Chilikadrotna River can break away from civilization and enter a pristine natural environment allowing for a memorable Alaskan wilderness experience that will not soon to be forgotten.
The Chilikadrotna River, or the "Chili” as it is affectionately nicknamed, is federally designated as Wild & Scenic and begins deep within 2.6 million acre Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. The Chilikadrotna River’s headwaters are located along the border of the Aleutian and Alaska Ranges in the Neacola and Chigmit Mountains. Lake Clark National Park and Preserve is one of the least visited National Parks in the nation, a roadless wilderness park with one maintained hiking trail and no manmade improvements of any kind.
The Chilikadrotna River flows over 60 miles from its put-in at Twin Lakes to its confluence with the Mulcahtna River. Along its length the Chilikadrotna River features primarily beginner level whitewater with two slightly more advanced rapid sections. Splashy riffles, smaller holes and wave trains are the norm on the Chilikadrotna, with larger wave trains and more severe hydraulics within the two more technical sections.
The clear waters of the Chilikadrotna River flow through a mixture of Boreal Forest and Tundra, allowing for open vistas of the surrounding mountain peaks. Wildlife is prolific along the Chilikadrotna River, with frequent sightings of Bear, Moose, Barren Ground Caribou, Wolves, Eagles and Waterfowl. Fishing is also spectacular on the Chilikadrotna, with good opportunity to hook into Arctic Grayling, Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden, King and Silver Salmon and Northern Pike.
The Chilikadrotna River is usually floated in a week or more and is very remote, involving flights to both put-in and takeout. Lake Clark National Park and Preserve is located 100 air miles from Anchorage and flights service the small bush strip of Port Alsworth. An additional floatplane flight accesses the put-in at Twin Lakes and a bush-plane shuttles visitors homeward from a gravel bar just downstream from the Chilikadrotna’s confluence with the Mulcahtna River.
