Trip Photos
Trip Description
From the big drop at "Lava North" rapid to the Class V helicopter portage at Turnback Canyon, this river expedition leaves a lasting impression of the rugged beauty of the north. Experience the largest contiguous protected wilderness area in the world: Kluane National Park, Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Park, and Glacier Bay National Park. Based in Haines, Alaska, Chilkat Guides is one of the only local expedition guide service on the Tatshenshini and Alsek Rivers. With our extensive local expertise and the vast international experience and safety record of our guides, we are the premier guide service on Tatshenshini and Alsek River expeditions.
The Alsek and Tatshenshini Rivers pour out of the Canadian interior towards the Gulf of Alaska, flowing through two of the world’s most spectacular wilderness parks: Kluane National Park in Canada and the Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska. Following the paths of ancient glaciers, the river carries us into the heart of the world’s largest non-polar ice fields. This beautiful alpine region is still caught in the clutches of our last ice age, a place where the awesome forces of glaciation are still at work.
Today, most of the glaciers in the Alsek Valley are retreating; in their wake has sprung a wide variety of glorious flora. Wild flowers bloom all summer, berries carpet the hillsides, and mushrooms abound in the forests of alder, birch, evergreens, and cottonwood. On the steep hillsides, mountain goat and Dall sheep feed on lush grass. Brown bear, wolves, lynx, wolverine, and black bear flourish in the pristine valley. Moose, ducks, geese, and swans, share marshes and ponds. Eagles, falcons, and a variety of hawks soar in search of small prey. Kingfishers, jeagers, and arctic terns hover and dive for fingerlings in the river. Salmon battle the swift current of the river to return to the same spawning grounds in which they were born.
The trips reach their full crescendo at Alsek Lake, where the Grand Plateau and Alsek Glaciers create a face of ice nearly 8 miles wide, encircling a deep lake filled with huge icebergs. To see a massive piece of the glacier break off and thunder into the lake is a sight you will never forget. Towering 15,000 feet above our camp is the ice-capped summit of Mt. Fairweather, the crown jewel of the Alaskan coast.
Whitewater Rapids: The Alsek is called the "Grand Canyon of the North" for a reason. We will navigate through beautiful, wild rapids as we arc our way across this incredible landscape, churning through hundreds of thousands of gallons of water. Our experienced guides will swiftly and safely through these exciting whitewater rapids.
Turnback Canyon Helicopter Portage: We combine the once-in-a-lifetime-experience of rafting through such a glacial wonderland with the ultimate portage. See the beauty of Turnback Canyon from the air as we fly over ten miles of unpassable, rugged rapids to continue our journey down the Alsek.
Protected Wilderness Parks: We begin our expedition by travelling through Haines' Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve and British Columbia's Kluane National Park. We will raft through the Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Park, and end our journey in the awe-inspiring Glacier Bay National Park.
Wildlife: On the steep hillsides, mountain goat and dall sheep feed on lush grass. Brown bear, wolves, lynx, wolverine, and black bear flourish in the pristine valley. Moose, ducks, geese, and swans, share marshes and ponds. Eagles, falcons, and a variety of hawks soar in search of small prey. Kingfishers, jeagers, and arctic terns hover and dive for fingerlings in the river. Salmon battle the swift current of the river to return to the same spawning grounds in which they were born.
Glaciers: We will see and explore the Grand Plateau, Alsek, Lowell, Tweedsmuir, Vern Ritchie, Battle, and Walker Glaciers. As the trip ends in Glacier Bay National Park, there are opportunities to view glaciers several miles wide and hundreds of feet tall come thundering into the water as they calve house-sized chunks of glacial blue ice.
Bush Plane Flights: Flying over glacial peaks, tundra, sweeping plains, coastline, and spruce forest is awe inspiring. Flying via bush plane is the greatest way to exit into this dramatic landscape.
Duration: 13 days
Start Location: Haines
End Location: Yakutat
Day 0 You are required to be in Haines, AK the day before your trip start date. We will have a trip orientation at your hotel where you will meet your guides and receive included and/ or rental river gear. After the meeting there is time allotted to pack your dry bags and purchase any last minute items. The hotel for this evening is included in trip cost. If you would like a single occupancy room, there will be an additional charge.
Day 1 The first day of our Alsek trip is a travel day. On the afternoon of Day 1 we begin the 3-hour drive to the put- in camp near Haines Junction, Yukon Territory, Canada (don't forget your passport). We'll plan on camping at the put in for an early start the following morning.
Days 2-3 After a riverside breakfast and breaking camp, we launch rafts on the calm waters of the Dezadeash River, setting a mellow pace for the first few days of the trip. We gain some down- river momentum at the convergence of the swift-moving Kuskowalsh River. This confluence is the beginning of the Alsek River. From here we meander our way into an ice age wilderness, a sparse environment ripe with the scars of recent glacial activity.
Days 4-5 Now we begin nearing the glaciers. Along shore the exposed lava rocks become less common and are replaced by stratified sedimentary rocks. We also get our first taste of rapid waters here as the river drops into an iceberg-studded lake formed by the retreating Lowell Glacier. In the summer of 1997 this glacier surged forward at the amazing rate of one-quarter mile per week almost closing off the outflow of the river. We plan to have a layover day here for soaking up the scenery and hiking up Goatherd Mountain. The summit awards an incredible view of the Lowell Glacier as it reaches 40 miles into the mountains, its blue surface striped with curving lines of rock moraine.
Days 6-9 As we leave the Lowell Glacier behind, the river flows rapidly amongst ever-narrowing valley walls which display signs of powerful geologic forces at work. We will encounter the largest rapids of the trip here. The river continues at a swift pace, winding its way toward the Tweedsmuir Glacier. Here the glacier pushes the river against the adjacent mountain and creates the infamous Turnback Canyon, non- navigable to rafts. A helicopter will shuttle us and our gear over the turbulent waters, providing a spectacular aerial view of the glacier country and a peek at the seldom seen rapids of the canyon. After re-inflating the rafts we will continue down the river, passing the Vern Ritchie and Battle Glaciers. Not far downstream is the expansive confluence area of the Tatshenshini and Alsek Rivers.
Days 10-13 The total volume of water is now in the range of 50,000 to over 100,000 cubic feet per second (cfs), five times more water than the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. The remote border cut between Canada and the U.S. will be briefly visible just upstream from the fabulous Walker Glacier. This glacier was named when it stretched further down and closer to the river allowing visitors the ability to walk on the glacier when conditions were right, today the glacier has recced so much that is has formed an iceberg filled lake. Today and for the remainder of the trip we will be in a remote region of Glacier Bay National Park. Alsek Lake, the largest lake in the park, and some of the tallest mountains of the Coast Range provide a dramatic backdrop as we make camp and enjoy our final days. Our trip officially concludes in Dry Bay, a small but important seasonal fishing area on the Pacific coast. Here we will say goodbye to the guides and fly by small bush planes to Yakutat to meet up with scheduled jet service.
To Book Your Adventure, Follow These Steps:
- Contact us for additional information and availability.
- Reserve your space with a $500 deposit (per person).
- Complete Trip Paperwork is due no later than 45 days prior to your trip.
Included With Your Trip:
- 13 Days on the River
- 12 Nights Camping
- 1 Night of Hotel Accommodations
- Charter flight out of Dry Bay to Yakutat
- All Meals While On River
- Sleeping Pad
- Life Jacket
- Rubber boots & gloves
- Dry Bags
- Tents - Standard Shared Option
- Dry Suit for whitewater days
- Rubber Rain Gear - top & bottom
**(Limited Availability of Single Tents Available for Additional Cost)**
2025 Dates: July 21
2026 Dates: July 21
DEPOSITS: A deposit will reserve your space on any expedition. Full payment is due 90 days prior to departure.
PAYMENTS: We accept personal checks, cashiers checks, money orders, Paypal, Mastercard & Visa.
REFUNDS: In the event that you are unable to join us the following guidelines will apply. All deposits include a $500 non-refundable registration free. Full Refunds, less registration fee, will be provided 90 days prior to the trip date. 25% refunds will be provided 30 to 89 days prior to trip date. Any amount retained by Chilkat Guides can be credited towards another trip if used within 12 months. No refunds will be provided within 29 days of the trip date. This policy has been established to meet the demands of planning well-organized trips. If for any reason a trip ends early there will be no refund. If you have not paid in full 30 days prior to your trips departure, and you have not contacted us regarding other payment options, we reserve the right to schedule another individual in your place. In this event, you are responsible for any associated costs.
IF YOUR TRIP IS CANCELLED: If, for any reason, Chilkat Guides has to cancel your trip, all deposits and trip payments will be refunded in full, or, are fully transferable to another course. Chilkat Guides will not be responsible for any costs associated with cancellations including, but not limited to: flight cancelation fees, flight change fees, and/or associated lodging and meal fees.
WEATHER: DELAYS AND ASSOCIATED CONSIDERATIONS: In the event that your trip is unable to depart at the scheduled time, individuals are responsible for any associated costs including food and lodging.
RELEASE, ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RISK AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT: All participants are required to sign our Release, Acknowledgment of Risk and Indemnity Agreement. Please take time to read this form and make yourself familiar with it before signing. If the form is signed electronically, participants may be required to sign the form in person upon arrival for the activity, but nothing shall be deemed to affect the efficacy of the electronically completed and signed form.