Alaska Day Trips: Fishing & Rafting

Our day trips include Alaska salmon and trout fishing and Kenai River rafting trips. Both popular as a weekend getaway and as a feature of many of our All-Inclusive Alaska trips and Adventure Packages. We also encourage you to add a two-hour or full day scenic Kenai River rafting trip, or a full day of Alaska fishing to any independent itinerary.

Discover for yourself why the Kenai River is famous the world over: join Alaska Wildland Adventures for Kenai River rafting and fishing trips based from our Kenai Riverside Lodge in Cooper Landing, Alaska. Our rafting trips include the Two Hour Kenai River Scenic Float Trip and the Full-Day Kenai Canyon Raft Trip ~ featuring sections of Class II+ whitewater!

Do you want to add a day of fishing to your Alaska vacation? Fish for salmon or rainbow trout on our premium guided Kenai River fishing trips. For rafting and fishing trips visit or call: Alaska Day Trips 800.334.8730 and www.alaskarivertrips.com. 800.478.4100

Looking to extend your Alaska Vacation? Alaska Wildland Adventures also offers small group, fully guided All-Inclusive Alaska Vacations. Experience the authentic character of wild Alaska: active adventuring in national parks and wilderness refuges with expert guides, complemented by comfortable evening lodging in Alaska’s pristine backcountry. To find out more, call 800.334.8730 or visit www.alaskawildland.com.

For the avid angler: Alaska Wildland Adventures’ own Kenai River Sportfishing Lodge specializes in premium multi-day guided sportfishing packages ~ enjoy a relaxing vacation of world-class fishing just steps away from your private cabin! Includes best of guides, gear and equipment, delicious meals and more. For more information, call 800.478.4100 or visit www.alaskasportfish.com.

An Alaska Eco Lodge Surrounded by Wilderness

Welcome to the only lodge within the 700,000 acre Kenai Fjords National Park.

Alaska Wildland Adventures’ new wilderness eco lodge, Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge, is completely surrounded by Kenai Fjords National Park. Situated on the shores of a protected lagoon in full view of Pedersen Glacier, Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge offers an unprecedented way for Alaska travelers to experience Kenai Fjords National Park. Featuring an elegantly rustic main lodge and sixteen nicely appointed cabins, the Glacier Lodge pairs modern comfort with the wilds of remote Alaska.

Activities include: Kayaking – Canoeing – Exploring by Foot
Kenai Fjords Cruise – Sightseeing & Relaxing

The Cabins at Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge

With only 16 cabins surrounded by a 1,700 acre wildlife sanctuary,
it’s safe to assume you’ll find plenty of “me-time.”

To contact Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge please call us.

Toll-Free: 800.334.8730 Phone: 907.783.2928
Email: info@kenaifjordsglacierlodge.com Website: http://www.kenaifjordsglacierlodge.com

The last glacial episode between 20,000 and 10,000 years ago marks the transition between the end of the Pleistocene epoch, about 10,000 years ago and the beginning of the Holocene, the epoch in which we live.

A wide land bridge, called the Bering Land Bridge, that linked present-day Alaska with present-day northeastern Siberia was exposed and provided a corridor between Eurasia and North America.  The Land Bridge and lands immediately to the east and west of it have acquired the name Beringia and is an extremely important geographical entity in the ecological history of North America.  At the height of the last glacial maximum so much of the world’s water was locked up in continental ice sheets that the sea level was several hundred feet below its present level.

Information about Beringia and the plants and animals that existed there.

American Mastadon
Bluefish Caves – Old Crow, Yukon
Flora of Beringia
Giant Beaver
Ice Age Horse
Jefferson’s Ground Sloth
Prehistoric Horse Discovered in the Klondike
Saiga Antelope
Short-Faced Bear
Steppe Bison
Western Camel
Woolly Mammoth

Welcome to Alaska’s only year round 100+ year old hot springs resort! Chena Hot Springs Resort is the most accessible and developed hot spring resort in Alaska’s Interior. Chena Hot Springs was discovered in August 1905 and became famous for curing crippled prospectors of their aches and pains.

Today, many local, state, national and international visitors enjoy Chena’s natural outdoor hot springs, adult rock lake (ages 18+) or indoor family pool.

Lodging, Dinning, Bar, and Gift Shop are available.

Summer activities include: dog cart rides, dog kennel tours, ATV tours,  bike rentals, horseback tours, guided rafting, and hiking.

Winter activities include: Aurora viewing, dogsled rides, dog kennel tours, Chena dog mushing school, snow coach tours, snow machine tours, ski, snowshoe, and skate rentals

Year-around activities include: hot springs, swimming, flightseeing, therapeutical massage, and Ice Museum.

Chena Hot Springs Resort is home to the world’s largest year-round ice museum in the world, the Aurora Ice Museum! It was completed in January 2005 and stays a cool 20 degrees Fahrenheit inside year round. Keeping the museum icy cold in the heat of summer comes from the patented absorption chiller, the first of its kind in the world used for this purpose!

Chena Hot Springs Resort
P.O.Box 58740
Fairbanks, AK 99711

Phone: (907) 451-8104
Fax: (907) 451-8151
frontdesk@chenahotsprings.com
http://www.chenahotsprings.com

1975 Discovery Drive – Fairbanks, AK 99709  – Telephone: 907-479-6673 – Toll Free: 1-866-479-6673
Fax: 907-479-4613  – www.riverboatdiscovery.com – info@riverboatdiscovery.com

Welcome aboard! Your three hour cruise will take you into the heart of Alaska and the heart of a family who has made the rivers of Alaska a way of life for four generations. You will see a bush floatplane taking off alongside a “bush” style runway, see Alaska Dog Mushing, and gain insight into the ancient Athabascan Indian culture. Alaskan Native guides who have worked and lived in Alaska will take you on a personalized tour of the Chena Indian Village.

Nenana Raft Adventures
Mile 238 Parks Hwy. – PO Box 500 – Healy AK 99743

1-800-789-RAFT – In Denali: 683-RAFT
raftak@mtaonline.net – http://www.alaskaraft.com

Choose from two different raft configurations. We have several rafting options available for visitors to the Denali Park area. With over 60 miles of river to choose from, the Nenana has peacefully calm, non-whitewater sections as well as large volume Class IV whitewater.

Paddle Rafting

The guide is located in the stern of the raft and calls out paddle commands like “forward,” “back-paddle,” left-turn,” “right-turn,” etc.in order to maneuver the raft. Passengers participate in a co-ordinated team effort as they travel downstream.

Oar Rafting

The guide is located in the center of the raft, seated within a rowing frame. The rowing frame is secured to the raft and has oarlocks. The raft is controlled solely by the guide who rows a set of oars to maneuver the raft.

Trips can vary in length from 1 1/2 hour whitewater thrillers through the Nenana Gorge to multi-day helicopter supported trips which launch within sight of the Nenana’s source glaciers.

Nenana Raft Adventures offers rafting adventures in other locations in Alaska with some that include fly-in and camping. For more information about these trips visit: http://www. alaskaraft.com

Six Mile Creek Trips

Tana River Trips

Talkeena River Trips

River Rafting, Kayaks & Canoes, Mountain Bikes

PO Box 170   Denali National Park, AK 99755
1-800-303-1925 in USA     1(907)683-1925 Local
info@denalioutdoorcenter.com   http://www.denalioutdoorcenter.com

Two Locations:
Mile 1/2 Otto Lake Road, Healy, Alaska 99743
Mile 238,9 Parks Hwy Denali Park, Alaska 99755

Raft Trips – Choose Your Adventure! Denali Outdoor Center offers over 9 river trip launches daily. Raft on the boundary of Denali National Park and experience the splendor and excitement of the Nenana River. The possibilities to create lifetime memories are endless with over 40 miles of mild to wild whitewater adventure. Hands-on paddle rafting or just enjoy the ride while the guide oar rafts are both available. Free shuttle service is available from all local accommodations.

Inflatable Kayaks – Follow Your Leader! First-time kayakers will receive thorough instruction from a professional guide on this exciting and fun-filled adventure. Learn to kayak and paddle class I, II and easy class III rapids on the boundary of Denali National Park, Alaska. No prior experience is required but you must be at least 14 years old to paddle! Also, Kayak and Canoe rentals are available on the tranquil waters of Lake Otto.

Get Off The Bus – Take A Ride!
Explore the outskirts of Denali National Park with a mountain bike ride. There are a number of good riding options located right out the door of our Otto Lake headquarters. Or, try a “pedal into paradise” on the national park road with half-day, full-day and multi-day rentals available. Guided tours are also available twice daily from Otto Lake.

This post is part of a series on the Traveling the Denali Park Road – to read the series from the beginning, click here.

The next section we move through is to some people the most peaceful in the park. Most of the busses don’t go out to the Kantishna district. We also pass the west end caribou calving grounds called Turtle Hill. Caribou are a great migrating animal, always on the move. In a 3 to 5 day period in early June as many as 80% of the calves are dropped. This strategy once very effective is now showing signs  of being counter productive as predators have made strong advances and take large numbers of calves. The surviving  calves, once they grow strong enough to follow their mothers, begin dispersing sometimes moving toward the east end of the park. The mixed groups, some mature males, females and calves are still harassed, by predators mostly wolves, increasing valley temperatures and parasites such as mosquitoes . This causes them to take evasive action. From the valley floors they move to higher elevations. Between 5’000 and 7’000 feet is not uncommon. They pay a price though. The forage is not as nutritious. There is also the possibility of over grazing an area and severe weather will drive them to lower elevations. All of these and other factors play a part in our ability to locate larger groups of caribou. 

The lone caribou walking along the road is also a delight though. Most surprising is their keen awareness and intelligence. It is not uncommon for a caribou to walk straight down the center of the road to the bus, stop turn it’s head to the left for a photo op, turn it’s head to the right for a photo op, then walk right passed the bus, looking everyone over in the process. If I’ve seen that  happen once I’ve seen it happen or something similar to it 50 times!

The rolling hills of the next section also give us opportunity for moose. In many ways moose are the most temperamental creatures we encounter. Almost always solitary except mothers with calves and during the fall mating season. Of course in the natural world there is always the exception. In the spring of 2009 we were rolling along quietly toward Kantishna. Adolph Murie once said, The wilderness is sometimes best observed and absorbed in silence.” (So I do leave stretches where we have that opportunity.)      “MOOSE!!!” is shouted from the back of the bus. “Left or right side?” “Left side.” All eyes searching intently and indeed a moose is finally found, a young bull moose with tiny nubs of antler budding out. But wait a minute something else is going on. Just alittle ahead are a small heard of caribou. A large old bull with some females and calves. As we watch it becomes apparent that the young moose wants to join the herd! He keeps moving in closer and closer. By now the bull caribou has had enough. He comes over to run the young moose off. The young moose circles around and tries to come from another side. What could this moose be thinking about? Do moose get lonely? I suspect they do. But this guy wasn’t going to get his wish. In the way caribou do, they turned in unison, lifted their tails and in a surprisingly swift gate were gone through the heavy brush. After a few minutes of contemplation the young moose headed for a pond and a meal of pond grass. Maybe some greens to lift his spirits?. Moose are a mainstay for us and it’s a rare day that we don’t see at least one.

It’s at this juncture of the trip that I tell a story about the naming and climbing of Mnt. McKinley. I’m going to save that story so it will be fresh to your ears. Anyway it’s about time for lunch. Yes lunch is included in the excursion along with a couple of activities(2 hours at the road house).

We at the Kantishna Roadhouse believe we offer one of the finest excursion values in Alaska. A 13 hour bus tour through one of the most beautiful national parks in the world, a hot lunch in the dinning room of a world class road house. Commentary provided, all questions attempted to be answered. Off the bus about every hour or so, photo stops, animal sightings, amazing scenery, and of course the Kantishna Roadhouse. Everyone loves the Kantishna Roadhouse. Come join us.

This post is part of a series on the Traveling the Denali Park Road – to read the series from the beginning, click here. 

The broad valley we now enter through Thoroughfare Pass was, like the others we have come through created by glaciation. The classic example of a glacially carved valley is U or bowl shaped. On the grand scale of things here in the park it becomes easy to discern. Gently sloping hillsides with broad valley floors. The valley floor of Thoroughfare is particularly good grizzly habitat because of the fresh green grass shoots in the spring. There are some older mother bears who know this and dominate the valley. Surprising to many people Denali’s bears eat mostly vegetation. For most bears about 85 percent, roots, grass, and berries make up the majority of the diet. Another big surprise is the color of their coats. Blonde. I call the lightest Marilyn Monroe bears. Actually it’s probably an adaptation most likely developed to allow extended feeding in warm weather. The light color reflecting more sun, the bear feeds more rather than sleeps during the heat of the day, grows fatter and has a better chance of surviving the long winter.

At certain times during our trips we sometimes have to ask, “Are we all beared out yet?” Time to stretch our legs.

At just the right time we pull into the new Eielson Visitor Center. The National Park Service has spared no expense in creating this state of the art building. Several years in construction, the building is set into the side of the mountain. Using all of the latest solar, and hydro technologies suitable to the sub-artic environment, the building demonstrates how careful planning and detailed execution can create a model structure, functional  on the mass level, yet artistic and appealing. Everybody likes it.

It’s time to get out and look around. Inside, a small art galley, artwork created through the Artist in Residence  program. Many interacting displays, knowledgeable park naturalists to answer those stumping questions, a large topographical map of  the region, an incredible hand sown quilt, make sure you find the mosquitoes. Outside, 2 trails to hike and if that’s not enough, hoist those caribou antlers on your head to see if you would like to carry 25 pounds of  solid bone around on top of your neck all summer!  The Alaska Range is our backdrop here with a broad glacial valley and Denali out, on a clear sunny day, there is not a more glories place on earth.

Time flies by at the visitor center, we don’t want to overstay, anyway, we still have a lot on our plate.

This post is part of a series on the Traveling the Denali Park Road – to read the series from the beginning, click here.

By 11:15am we are ready to be out of the bus again. The National Park Service has graciously given us the opportunity to step out on the lower road edge below Stony Hill lookout.  When the big mountain is out you can practically feel the power and energy coming off of it even though it’s still 33 miles away! Back in 1906 on an clear early spring day Charles Sheldon probably saw very nearly the exact same view. He was so inspired that he spent 9 years of his life and part of his personal fortune to have the region protected.

Denali was formed beginning 60 million years ago as a volcano. Unlike the Polychrome mountains it erupted and hardened underground. It is technically a granite pluton. Over the 60 million year period, because of pressure from the tectonic activity of the pacific plate sub ducting under the continental shelf, it has been forced skyward. One theory put forward is that the pacific plate, called the Kula plate, abruptly turned 90 degrees and butted up against the continental shelf, accelerating the rise of the McKinley massif. That’s how some geologists explain the fact that the mountain rises 17’000 feet higher than the surrounding foothills. That’s one of the highest rises of any mountain in the world, not the highest though. On a clear day it can be seen from Fairbanks, almost like it’s floating above the surrounding plane.

By now everybody knows how to play the game. “So what are those green buses looking at?” someone shouts. Could it be? More bears. Indeed, momma and cubs holding court, and off we go.