Moody Creek
Moody Creek is a stellar alpine hike plus world class packraft in the Alaska Range between Denali National Park and Healy. It is also a challenging trip, first because it's hard to anticipate what water level might be, and because the Moody Creek gorge is tight, steep, and unforgiving at higher water. If you want to paddle Moody, you should feel confident on Class IV water, and I'd recommend checking out the river in late June or early July in an average snow year, after tracking weather in the Denali Park/Healy area to make sure you're not putting in during a period of rain-driven high water. Moody Creek has a spectacularly beautiful approach, though one with plenty of elevation gain. Park in the pullout just south of the Dragonfly Creek bridge on the Parks Highway north of Glitter Gulch, then walk north across the bridge. Look for the social trail that starts through young aspens approximately 50 feet north of Dragonfly Creek. Follow this social trail uphill, sticking t...
