Adventure 16: Outdoor and Travel Outfitters - Since 1963

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Chilikadrotna River - Lake Clark National Park

Canoeing in Alaska with Alaska Alpine Adventures

Highlights

  • Breathtaking hiking and rafting in Lake Clark National Park
  • Class II & III whitewater, logjams and sweepers
  • An incredible variety of waterfowl: trumpeter swans, harlequin ducks, mergansers, goldeneyes, scaups, mallards, arctic loons and many more

Full Description

Join us for an amazing Alaska rafting and hiking trip along one of Alaska's most famed rivers. Flowing west from the Alaska Range is a river so beautiful and classic that it has been federally designated and protected as a Wild and Scenic River. The Chilikadrotna, locally referred to as the 'Chili', offers the river rafter and fisherman a wonderful trip descending one of Alaska's most remote and spectacular waterways. Photos courtesy of Corey Rich.

We will begin this rafting and hiking adventure in the heart, and what many have called the soul, of Lake Clark National Park-the astoundingly beautiful Twin Lakes. Float-planes will place us on the shore of Lower Twin, where we'll spend the first day exploring this wonderful wilderness nirvana. Nestled near timberline, Twin Lakes offers incredible tundra hiking second to none in Alaska. The mountains that surround this alpine lake beckon to be explored, and as we let our feet carry us up ridges and over tundra, we'll keep our eyes out for Dall sheep, caribou, moose and bear. After a full-day exploring Twin Lakes on foot, we'll then launch our inflatable canoes and begin our rafting adventure down the Chilikadrotna River. As we move down the river, our camps will be situated on riverside gravel bars and close to great fishing.

Includes:

  • All group gear (tents, stoves, fuel, kayaks, dry bags, etc.), satellite phone,  and safety equipment
  • Trekking poles
  • Ground transportation to Merrill Field on Day 1
  • Bush flight transportation from Anchorage to Port Alsworth
  • All internal bush flights necessary for the trip
  • Lodging on night one at a lodge on Lake Clark
  • Professional guide service at a maximum 4:1 client to guide ratio
  • All meals from lunch on day one through lunch on the final day of the itinerary
  • Storage for your extra travel items while in the field

Excludes:

  • Lodging in Anchorage prior to and after your adventure
  • Personal gear (sleeping bags, packs, rain gear, etc.)
  • Trip cancellation insurance
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Guide gratuities

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1

Today you’ll fly from Anchorage to Port Alsworth – one of the most stunning bush flights in Alaska. After meeting your guide, you’ll check into our lakeside lodge on Lake Clark, spend the afternoon hiking to Tanalian Falls, and finish the evening with an orientation/welcome dinner at the lodge. Lunch & Dinner included

Day 2

With a delicious breakfast energizing us for the day ahead, we’ll load our float-plane and launch for the shores of Lower Twin. As the drone of the engine leaves us, we will surely revel in the silence and solitude of this amazing place. We’ll establish camp and stretch our legs with an incredible hike into the tundra covered mountains overlooking the lake. All meals included.

Day 3

As we begin our float, the excitement will build when we enter the swift water at the mouth of the lake. On the first day, we are likely to see an incredible variety of waterfowl – species including trumpeter swans, harlequin ducks, mergansers, goldeneyes, scaups, mallards, arctic loons and many more. Songbirds and raptors are also in abundance on the river so you'll need to keep the cameras and binoculars handy as we cruise in near silence through the Alaskan wilderness. All meals included.

Day 4-6

Over the next three days we will negotiate class II & III whitewater, logjams and sweepers. When we reach the confluence of the Chili and the Mulchatna Rivers, we'll be close to our last camp. Our final day floating will be spent leisurely on the Mulchatna, and as some of us cast spinners for rainbow trout and arctic char, others will scan the banks for moose and the treetops for majestic bald eagles and great horned owls. All meals included.

Day 7

Our pick-up at Maribou Landing is an exciting finale to grand adventure as our skilled bush pilot negotiates a take-off in the swift current of the river or on an adjacent gravel airstrip. This rafting trip is a wonderful and comprehensive introduction to magical and wild Alaska. We’ll return to Port Alsworth on Lake Clark by early afternoon. After showers and a celebratory lunch, we’ll tally up our wildlife sightings, and revel in the adventure that we will never forget. We’ll then pay an afternoon visit to the Lake Clark National Park visitor’s center where you’ll have a chance to purchase maps and postcards. You’ll then board an afternoon charter flight to Anchorage. If you are departing Alaska on this day, please schedule all homebound flights for after 9 pm. Breakfast & Lunch Included.

About The Operator:

Alaska Alpine Adventures

Headquarters:

Anchorage, Alaska

Established:

January 1998

Alaska Alpine Adventures was conceptualized during many seasons of exploration throughout Lake Clark National Park by founders Dan Oberlatz and Derek Nelson. During this time, we held odd jobs and lived a life focused on climbing, skiing, and hiking as much of Lake Clark as we could possibly afford. Work simply meant the means to pay for our next flight into the wilderness, and time spent in the wild was the currency we preferred to earn. From first ascents and descents of remote peaks of the Alaska and Aleutian mountain ranges, to extended backpacking trips and speed hikes, our lives were rich with Alaska experience and the lifestyle was wealthy. Our explorations fostered a profound appreciation and respect for the Alaska wilderness, a remarkable skill-set, and a passion for pure wilderness travel. Furthermore, our collection of experiences became the seed for Alaska Alpine Adventures, which became a reality in 1998.

Since our early days on Lake Clark, it is the blend of "what we do" and "who we are" that has made AAA. We are quite simply a group of explorers and naturalists sharing with our guests the incredible beauty of Alaska—The Great Land. Our goal and passion is to give participants the opportunity to experience, through pure adventure travel, the exhilaration, the wonder, the grandeur, and the solitude of Alaska's magnificent national parks and wildlife refuges.

As guides, however, we are more than simply leaders into the areas we venture. Throughout the Alaska Alpine Adventures' experience, we endeavor not only to share these amazing landscapes on foot, raft, skis, or kayak, but also to help our clients develop a sense of commitment to and appreciation for the vast public lands we visit. We strive to be good stewards of the truly wild and intact ecosystems we explore, and are committed to educating ourselves and others to respect and protect the wilderness areas that make these wonderful experiences possible.

Because we promote the educational component of our expeditions, we tend to attract visitors bent on exploring and experiencing "real" Alaska - rather than simply "peak bagging" or "thrill seeking." We believe that this is also due in large part to the fact that we project conservation ethics, cultural awarness, and environmental commitment throughout all aspects of our enterprise.

Our impressive collection of experiences represents not only our history, but also the blueprint for the future of Alaska Alpine Adventures. When you choose to travel with us, you can rest assured that your trip has been meticulously planned and executed by real Alaskans with authentic Alaska know-how, skill, and ability.