Tana River Rafting Adventure

The Tana River in Alaska's Wrangell - St. Elias National Park, is a big, fast, powerful river characterized by large "pool drop" type rapids, drops are generally followed by gentler sections. Flowing north off the Bagley Icefield the Tana River valley occurs at the intersection of two great mountain ranges: The Chugach and The St. Elias. The Bagley Icefield, Bering Glacier and Malaspina glaciers form the largest assemblage of glaciers in North America. Flowing 40 miles from its source glaciers to it's confluence point with the Chitina River, the Tana River Valley has remained untouched by the hand of man.Populated by Grizzly bear, Moose, Dall Sheep, Mountain Goats, and even Buffalo, the Tana and Chitina valleys abound with wildlife. Vast fields of wild flowers bloom throughout the summer. Once in the Chitina drainage, we'll be vastly outnumbererd by thousands of salmon headed upstream to spawn in the numerous clearwater tributaries which we'll encounter as we make our way downstream. Glacial sand dunes, abundant wildlife, towering mountain peaks and high Volume Class IV rapids combine to make this Alaska's finest multi-day whitewater expedition.

Tana River Rafting Tour - Itinerary

Anchorage to McCarthy
Meet your group in the morning and depart Anchorage for McCarthy. On our way we stop for a short break at our camp overlooking the Matanuska Glacier. We'll continue on to McCarthy arriving that evening. Our first night will be spent in McCarthy.

McCarthy to Tana River
While you're exploring the ghost towns of Kennicott and McCarthy, we'll begin flying the rafts and associated gear into a gravel bar landing zone in the headwaters area of the Tana River. You'll fly out to the river for dinner that evening. Our second night will be spent camping on the river.

Tana River to O'Brien Creek
Whiterwater Day! After we explore the glacial sand dunes just downstream from our landing zone, we'll run the rapids of Tana Canyon. After Tana's confluence with the Chitina we'll float the last few miles of the Tana, entering the Chitina drainage, stopping for lunch and a little fossil hunting just downstream from the confluence. We'll continue down the Chitina, watching for wildlife and enjoying the scenery. Watch for bears as we pass the Tebay River.

Chitina to Anchorage
On our last day we get up early, for a leisurely float into Chitina, taking out at O'Brien Creek. From there we'll do lunch in Chitina and then pack the vans for the drive back to Anchorage.