Alagnak Wild River
Overview
With headwaters located within the rugged Aleutian Range of neighboring Katmai National Park & Preserve, the Alagnak Wild River is an exciting place to experience southwest Alaska. Meandering west towards Bristol Bay and the Bering Sea, the Alagnak meets the beautiful Alaska Peninsula, allowing visitors to experience unique wilderness, wildlife, and the rich cultural heritage of the area. The Alagnak Wild River has increased in notoriety among anglers around the world to become one of the most popular fishing destinations in all of southwest Alaska. For centuries, people have lived along the Alagnak and depended on its rich natural resources for survival. Given the lack of services along the corridor, visitors to the Alagnak today should also plan on being self-sufficient. For the prepared visitor, it is these very characteristics that can make for the adventure of a lifetime. Visitors are encouraged to (and should expect to) invest a significant amount of time and energy in planning their visit.
Activities
Boating
Rafting trips generally begin at Nonvianuk Lake or Kukaklek Lake, both of which are easily accessible via float plane. Rafters should coordinate their pick-up location and date with their transporter and should plan a fly-over of the river to scout for potential hazards and river conditions. There are many river sections suitable for take-out along the lower 30 miles of river. Parties being picked up near the Cutbank (Estrada's camp) should be aware that this is private property; therefore, rafters should take out downstream or on the opposite side of the river.
Camping
The National Park Service maintains no campgrounds in the Alagnak Wild River; all camping is primitive. Permits are not required for public access to or overnight stays within the Alagnak Wild River corridor. However, campers are encouraged to make their itinerary information known.
Fishing
The Alagnak's extraordinary rainbow trout, char, grayling, and abundant salmon are some of the most attractive sportfish in the world, and the river has become the most popular fly-in fishing location in all of southwest Alaska. Although the fishing is exceptional, these prized sportfish are still vulnerable to overfishing. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) carefully monitors the populations to ensure that the present regulations maintain the long-term stability of the Alagnak sport fishery. Visitors intending to fish should become familiar with these regulations specific to the Bristol Bay area.
Hiking
Hiking is allowed.
Hunting
Hunting in the Alagnak Wild River is allowed in accordance with Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) regulations. All hunters must carry any required harvest tickets, permits, and/or tags while hunting.
Water Sports
Rafting and sport fishing are popular water sports.
Seasonality/Weather
The Alagnak Wild River is a truly primitive environment with no federally-maintained public facilities. The National Park Service imposes no operating hours or seasonal restrictions. Access to and movement within the Alagnak Wild River corridor, however, may be limited or restricted at any time depending upon prevailing weather conditions.
Generally water levels will be lowest in the spring and will increase as spring rains begin and snowmelt occurs in the high country. Water levels usually peak in July and will normally begin to recede in the fall. The surface of the Alagnak freezes in the winter, but water continues to flow. Frozen overflow creates thin layers of dangerous ice which pose a hazard for those who attempt winter river travel.
Directions
Driving
Located on the Alaska Peninsula, 290 miles southwest of Anchorage, the Alagnak Wild River cannot be reached by road.
Flying
The Alagnak may be directly accessed via air taxi flights chartered from Anchorage, King Salmon, Iliamna, Kodiak, Soldotna, Homer, or other nearby Alaska towns and villages. Regularly scheduled commercial flights to King Salmon (AKN), the location of National Park Service administrative headquarters and the starting point for most Alagnak adventures, are available from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) via PenAir and Alaska Airlines.
Phone Numbers
Primary
(907) 246-3305Links
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