Beaver Creek National Wild and Scenic River

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Quick Facts

Beaver Creek National Wild and Scenic River

Alaska

(907) 474-2378

Map Directions

Things To Do

Overview

Beaver Creek National Wild River has its headwaters in the White Mountains, approximately 50 miles north of Fairbanks, Alaska. The river flows west past the jagged limestone ridges of the White Mountains before flowing to the north and east, where it enters the Yukon Flats and joins the Yukon River. The first 127 miles of Beaver Creek, most of it within the White Mountains National Recreation Area, were designated a national wild river by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act in 1980. The last 16 miles of designated wild river lie within the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge.

Beaver Creek has long been a popular destination for river adventurers. The river's clear water, modest Class I rapids, and unparalleled scenery make for a relaxing trip. Floating Beaver Creek can take from seven days to three weeks to complete. For shorter trips, arrangements can be made with an air taxi for a gravel bar pick-up near Victoria Creek. Others continue for several more weeks onto the Yukon River and take out at the bridge on the Dalton Highway. This 360-mile trip has been called the longest road-to-road float in North America.

Map of Beaver Creek

Latitude, Longitude: 65.293671, -146.718669

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Activities

  • Boating

    Boating is the only option for exploring Beaver Creek. The put-in for floaters is in the Nome Creek valley. Before you start, there is a small parking area where one can organize equipment and prepare for your float trip. A long-term parking area is located just inside the Ophir Creek Campground entrance. A short trail leads to a gravel bar for launching your boat; no boat ramp is provided. There are 3 river miles of floating on Nome Creek before joining Beaver Creek. If launching in the Nome Creek Valley, boat motors are limited to 15 horsepower. Arrangements for the end of your float must be arranged prior to departure, and depends on length of trip. Plan accordingly. You can choose to either disembark near Victoria Creek, a seven days to three week trip, or continue on for several more weeks to the Yukon River, disembarking on the Dalton Highway.

  • Bird Watching

    Wind, rain, and freezing temperatures have weathered away the surrounding rock to expose the jagged cliffs and peaks seen along Beaver Creek. These high ridges are home to Dall sheep and peregrine falcons. Along the creeks, the gravel soils support tall white spruce trees and dense brush that line the banks. Eagles, peregrine falcon, and owls hunt the river corridor. Migratory waterfowl, such as mergansers, shovelheads, goldeneyes, and harlequins spend the summers along Beaver Creek.

  • Camping

    There are campsites along the river to accommodate floaters but is best on the many gravel bars along Beaver Creek. BLM's Borealis-LeFevre Cabin at river mile 32 is also available by reservation. Use dead and down wood for campfires and pack out any nonburnable trash. The BLM supports Leave No Trace camping techniques. Remove any trace of your camp, such as fire rings, and scatter any firewood piles.

  • Fishing

    Known for its large dorsal fin, the Arctic grayling is the predominant fish species in the White Mountains. Other types of fish include northern pike, sheefish, burbot, and salmon.

  • Hiking

    There are many hiking opportunities throughout the river area.

  • Hunting

    Hunting is allowed according to Alaska regulations.

  • Picnicking

    Picnicking is allowed, but there are no established areas.

  • Water Sports

    Floating: Beaver Creek National Wild River runs through a remote area of interior Alaska. Once you put in at Nome Creek, there are no roads or services until you reach the bridge on the Dalton Highway. It usually takes six days to reach the mouth of Victoria Creek at river mile 111. Many floaters arrange for a Fairbanks air-taxi service to pick them up from a gravel bar a few miles past Victoria Creek. If you continue down Beaver Creek and the Yukon River to the Dalton Highway bridge, you should plan for up to two additional weeks of travel.

  • Wildlife Watching

    The valley bottoms usually consist of permafrost (permanently frozen soil) about a foot beneath the surface. This results in forests of short, stunted black spruce, deep sedge tussocks, and thick stands of willows. Moose, caribou, and both grizzly and black bears live throughout the area.

Seasonality/Weather

Winter visitors should plan for extreme cold, high winds, snow, and unexpected weather changes. Temperatures may be as much as 25 degrees F colder than in Fairbanks! Watch out for thin ice or open water on streams, overflow ice, and avalanches.

Summer visitors should be prepared for diverse weather, including rain or snow, lightning, and wildfires. Water levels of streams and rivers may rise rapidly without warning. Maintain a clean camp and be alert for bears.

Directions

Driving

The starting point for floating Beaver Creek is located in the Nome Creek valley. Directions to Nome Creek valley: take the Steese Highway to mile 57, then follow US Creek Road for 7 miles. It's 12 miles on the lower Nome Creek Road, past the entrance to the Ophir Creek Campground, to the put-in for floating Beaver Creek.

Flying

At the end of your float, an air taxi lands at Victoria Creek and will be able to transport you back to your car. You must make arrangements to be picked up off a gravel bar, unless time is committed to float down to the Dalton Highway Bridge on the Yukon River.

There are several air taxi operators in Fairbanks that will make gravel bar landings to pick up floaters. Prior arrangements must be made for pickup dates and locations. Bad weather can cause delays so be prepared to spend an extra night or two. Using an inflatable raft or folding canoe is suggested if getting picked up by small plane.

Phone Numbers

Primary

(907) 474-2378

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