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Maps by
www.expediamaps.com
The Gulkana River really isn't that great of a 'whitewater' river, but the fishing can be great. This river is designated a "National Wild and Scenic River." The Gulkana River is a very popular river to float, especially in late June and early July. This is because of the King and Red Salmon fishing. The put in for this float begins at Paxson Lake (60 miles north of Glennallen, mile post 175 of the Richardson Highway), and the take out is at Sourdough Campground (mile post 147 of the Richardson Highway) or the Gulkana bridge (mile post 127 of the Richardson Highway).
The Gulkana has easy in and out access (this also accounts for some of its popularity), but it also requires a three mile paddle across Paxson Lake to the river. At this point begins three miles of class II rapids. Rafts have no problems with this section, but I've helped canoes that have swamped in this section. After the rapids, the North Fork joins and the river gets bigger and slower. It continues this way for seventeen miles until Canyon Rapids. Although it is not a true canyon, rocks have fallen from the nearby mountains creating a quarter mile section of class III+ rapids. These are the best rapids on the river. The approach to the rapids are marked by warning signs. There is also a portage trail to avoid the rapids or available to scout.
After the Canyon Rapids there are seven miles of class II rapids. This is quite a rocky section of the river. If the water level is low, it is easy to get caught up on the rocks. Be sure to have a patch kit. After this section, the rest of the river is class I with an occasional class II rapid thrown in. This is where the King Salmon fishing really begins.
Gulkana River Water Levels:
6.0 Low (III), 7.0 Medium
(III), 8.0 High (III+)
Ted launching at Paxson
Lake
Rich and Dave floating the Gulkana
Bureau of Land Management's Gulkana River Page
BLM's Gulkana River Safety Page
Current Weather in Gulkana, Alaska
Back to TC's Alaska Whitewater Rafting Page
Updated February 20, 1999