paddling.Jimstrutz.com © 2008
passengers can get splashed, so be sure to tell them the rough stuff is over before they get there.
After a few miles the river finally slows and Sheep River merges on river left. The last twenty miles are on very silt laden water. About the only interesting item left is passing Clear Creek on river right. If the salmon are running there may be hundreds of people lining the banks trying to get their share before the other guy does. It’s actually a fairly good place to fish, and isn’t as crowded as Russian River on the Kenai, but it’s close.
The take out is about eight miles down stream. After you cross under the railroad bridge keep left. There are several separated chanels as the river forms a small delta before running into the Big Susitna River just as you come into town. There are several places to take out, from the small boat launch to the gravel bar at the end of Main Street, and even beyond, so don’t panic if you can’t get over fast enough to land where you want.
From here, walk back to the airport, retrieve your car, and load up. Have an ice cream cone and look around before driving back to the city. Talkeetna is an interesting place.
Trip Report & Schedule
Day 1 - Drive to Talkeetna early and catch your flight up river.
Assemble boats & stow gear.
Camping at Yellow Jacket Airstrip is fine, but if landing at Buck’s you will want to float a few miles down.
Camping at Murder Lake doesn't work as the area is somewhat swampy.
Set up camp anywhere you see a spot. There are plenty.
Day 2 - Camp once more above the rapids.
Check out Prairie Creek. There is a small cabin just upstream.
If floating Prairie from Murder Lake, this can be your first campsite of a three day trip.
You can often see fish in the stream where it merges with the Talkeetna.
Salmon fishing is usually closed above Talkeetna Canyon. Check the regs for details.
There are also good tent sites in the woods here.
Day 3 - Run the rapids of Talkeetna Canyon.
Don’t do it all in one stretch. Take out a few times & enjoy it while it lasts. It ends all too soon.
I didn’t find any good camping areas with more than one, or at most, two poor tent sites in the canyon.
Camp on the island at the end of the Canyon, or just across from Iron Creek.
Dry out the wet gear.
Day 4 - Float to Talkeetna.
The River is wide, deep & fast so rafting up a small group is possible for short stretches.
Take out & fetch the car for the drive home.
The river can be paddled from top to bottom in two very long days, but it wouldn’t be as much fun. If you are really in a bind for time, you can land at Buck’s or Murder Lake and float to the bottom of the canyon where you can have a previously arranged river taxi pick you up for a quick ride back to Talkeetna. No camping required, but I still don’t think it would be as much fun.
More days can be added for hiking/exploring in the upper sections.
After a few miles the river finally slows and Sheep River merges on river left. The last twenty miles are on very silt laden water. About the only interesting item left is passing Clear Creek on river right. If the salmon are running there may be hundreds of people lining the banks trying to get their share before the other guy does. It’s actually a fairly good place to fish, and isn’t as crowded as Russian River on the Kenai, but it’s close.
The take out is about eight miles down stream. After you cross under the railroad bridge keep left. There are several separated chanels as the river forms a small delta before running into the Big Susitna River just as you come into town. There are several places to take out, from the small boat launch to the gravel bar at the end of Main Street, and even beyond, so don’t panic if you can’t get over fast enough to land where you want.
From here, walk back to the airport, retrieve your car, and load up. Have an ice cream cone and look around before driving back to the city. Talkeetna is an interesting place.
Trip Report & Schedule
Day 1 -
Camping at Yellow Jacket Airstrip is fine, but if landing at Buck’s you will want to float a few miles down.
Camping at Murder Lake doesn't work as the area is somewhat swampy.
Set up camp anywhere you see a spot. There are plenty.
Day 2 -
If floating Prairie from Murder Lake, this can be your first campsite of a three day trip.
You can often see fish in the stream where it merges with the Talkeetna.
Salmon fishing is usually closed above Talkeetna Canyon. Check the regs for details.
There are also good tent sites in the woods here.
Day 3 -
I didn’t find any good camping areas with more than one, or at most, two poor tent sites in the canyon.
Camp on the island at the end of the Canyon, or just across from Iron Creek.
Dry out the wet gear.
Day 4 -
Take out & fetch the car for the drive home.
The river can be paddled from top to bottom in two very long days, but it wouldn’t be as much fun. If you are really in a bind for time, you can land at Buck’s or Murder Lake and float to the bottom of the canyon where you can have a previously arranged river taxi pick you up for a quick ride back to Talkeetna. No camping required, but I still don’t think it would be as much fun.
More days can be added for hiking/exploring in the upper sections.
