Alagnak Wild and Scenic River
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Alagnak Wild and Scenic River starts inside Katmai National Park and Preserve and ambles its way across Southwestern Alaska's tundra to Bristol Bay. This river has provided resources to the area residents for more than 2,300 years. It's a fantastic place to go on a paddling adventure, and you may see Yupik, Sugpiaq, and Denaina people picking berries, cutting wood, fishing, and hunting along its banks. In 1980, Congress designated the first 69 miles of the river starting at Kukaklek Lake as a wild and scenic river to protect its natural beauty and important ecosystems. The river is also important because it is feeding and watering grounds for brown bears, caribou, moose, beavers, foxes, and birds. It is vital when you visit the river that you help keep it clean, or it can lose its protected status.
Things To Do Near Alagnak Wild and Scenic River
Begin a rafting trip by taking a floatplane to Nonvianuk Lake or Kukaklek Lake. You can float the river in one to two days during the summer when the water levels are at their highest. Seasonally, this is a fantastic location to go hunting for moose and brown bears. While you will need to follow state regulations, this river is also a fantastic spot to go fishing for rainbow trout, char, grayling, and salmon. The Alagnak Wild River Corridor is also a great place to go primitive camping. There are nearby hiking trails.
Hiking Trails
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Brooks Falls Trail
The trailhead for this hike in Katmai National Park is a short distance from the Lower River Platform. From that platform, follow the trail to the other viewing platform. This hike is especially great in July, when you usually see brown bears fishing in the Brooks River for salmon. This trail is relatively flat.
Location
Brooks Falls, Katmai National Park, King Salmon, Alaska 99613
Length
1.2 Miles
Intensity
Easy
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Dumpling Mountain Trail
This trail gains 2,400 feet to the summit of Dumpling Mountain. There is a rest area about 1.5 miles along the route, which offers stunning Naknek Lake, Brooks River, and Lake Brooks views. Continue to the top of the mountain to enjoy amazing views of Katmai National Park.
Location
West-central Katmai National Park, King Salmon, Alaska 99613
Length
8.3 Miles
Intensity
Difficult
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Kanatak Trail
For almost 2,000 years, hikers have been using the Kanatak Trail to cross from the Pacific Ocean to Bristol Bay along Becharof Lake's shores. Follow this trail through the Alaska Peninsula Mountains pass at Becharof National Wildlife Refuge. This trail allows you to enjoy mountain and ocean scenery.
Location
Near Becharof Lake, Becharof National Wildlife Refuge, Lake and Peninsula, King Salmon, Alaska 99613
Length
5 Miles
Intensity
Moderate
Sightseeing
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Togiak National Wildlife Refuge
Togiak National Wildlife refuge covers 4,102,537 acres and is home to more than 150,000 caribou. You will also want to go fishing as this is one of the few places on earth where five species of salmon live. Over 200 species of birds have been spotted at this refuge, including the threatened Steller's jay and spectacled eiders. This refuge has more than 600 miles of shoreline.
Location
Dillingham, Alaska 99576
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Walrus Islands State Game Sanctuary
During the summer, you can see about 14,000 walruses on Round Island at Walrus Islands State Game Sanctuary. Seven islands make up this sanctuary. You can also often see Steller sea lions, foxes, and orcas. This location is a popular area for spotting gray, humpback, and minke whales.
Location
Dillingham, Alaska 99576
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Wood-Tikchik State Park
Wood-Tikchik is the largest state park in the United States, and its 1.6 million acres offer many activities. The 12 lakes covering more than 1,000 acres are excellent places to go fishing. This park also has fantastic hiking, and several hills provide stunning views. You may also want to go on a rafting adventure as the lakes connect with streams, and you can paddle from this location to Bristol Bay.
Location
Dillingham, Alaska 99576
Museums
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Clausen Memorial Museum
See the 127-pound mounted king salmon at Clausen Memorial Museum; it is believed to be the largest in the world. View the historic fishing traps used for hundreds of years during the king salmon run, along with many other artifacts. View photographs taken over the last hundred years of the nearby land and people.
Location
203 Fram St, Petersburg, Alaska 99833
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Bristol Bay Historical Society Museum
See early photographs from across Bristol Bay at the Bristol Bay Historical Society Museum. The museum is in a historic building, which once served as the commercial fisherman's union hall. Then, head to a nearby building to see many wooden boats, including a wooden sailboat.
Location
Alaska Peninsula Highway, Mile 1, Naknek, AK 99633
Nearby Shops and Restaurants
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Naknek Trading
Stock up on groceries at Naknek Trading. They often have great produce, like apples and berries. Watch for their special sales and contests throughout the store.
Location
Alaska Peninsula Highway, Mile 1.5, Naknek, Alaska 99633
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L & M Supplies
Find electrical and plumbing supplies at L & M Supplies. They also carry a wide range of home décor items. You can get cleaning supplies and food storage solutions at this store as well.
Location
429 2nd Ave W Suite 550, Dillingham, Alaska 99576
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Twin Dragon
Get your favorite Chinese entrees at Twin Dragon. This restaurant is only open in the summer. The owners are usually on hand, and the service is fast and friendly.
Location
732 Airport Rd, Dillingham, Alaska 99576
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Joan Mei Restaurant
Find outstanding Chinese cuisine at Joan Mei Restaurant. Most of the entrees are prepared from traditional Chinese recipes that have been passed down for generations. This restaurant has been delighting customers for over 30 years.
Location
1103 South Nordic Drive, Petersburg, Alaska 99833
How To Get To Alagnak Wild and Scenic River
While many choose to take a floatplane to the Alagnak Wild and Scenic River's headwaters, you can also take the water taxi from the King Solomon, Alaska, airport. The water taxi shuttles you from the airport to the National Park Service dock, where you board the ferry.
Address
King Solomon Airport, 1 King Salmon Airport Road, King Salmon, Alaska 99613
Fee: Entry Fee (per person)
There is no entry fee to see the river.
If you want a remote floating vacation, then Alagnak Wild and Scenic River may be the perfect place for you. This river's headwaters are in Katmai National Park, which is usually accessed by plane or boat. The river meanders its way to Bristol Bay. The best time to have this adventure is in the summer, but you can enjoy it in the spring or fall. Winter travel is not recommended because of ice. Exploring southwest Alaska in an RV is the perfect chance to see remote land where very few have gone, so pack up your RV and go on this adventure soon. If you do not have an RV, then it is easy to rent one on RVshare.com. You will find that the owners are extremely accommodating in helping you choose the travel trailer or RV option that is right for your Alaska explorations.
