Matanuska River (Raft, Packraft, Canoe)

After emerging from beneath a massive glacier, the Matanuska River slices between the Chugach and Talkeetna mountains on its way to Knik Arm. Over its length and across the paddling season, the Matanuska offers a variety of whitewater and float trips for Anchorage paddlers.

In the early summer and late fall, low water makes the Lions Head section of the upper Matanuska a fun Class III+ packraft, kayak, or whitewater canoe run. This section of river, which actually begins at the Glenn Highway bridge over Caribou Creek, becomes big and pushy Class IV during the summer. However, spring low water turns the rapids around Lions Head into a long, technical slalom. The Matanuska Glacier created these rapids when it pushed a several mile long pile of rocks toward the river, constricting it against the Lions Head rock massif and the bottom of the Talkeetna Mountains. The takeout for this seven mile, two hour or so paddle is at the Glacier Park bridge, which is at the bottom of the dirt road at mile 102 of the Glenn Highway.

From Glacier Park bridge, the Matanuska winds its way between cliffs and over gravel bars some fifty miles to Palmer. Though the rapids in this stretch are mild (Class III or lower, except at high water), the river moves quickly. It takes about 10-13 hours of floating time to get from Glacier Park to Palmer, which is perfect for an overnight float trip. The King Mountain Campground is almost exactly halfway down the river, and is a good base camp if you don’t want to pack camping gear in your raft.

Just a couple miles below the rickety Glacier Park bridge, the Matanuska’s west fork enters from the left side of the river, and upstream you can see the Matanuska Glacier from which it emanates. For the next hour or so down to Hicks Creek (which is where NOVA river runners has its takeout), the river swings between high walls and offers close views of the towering, icy Chugach to the south and the dry Talkeetnas to the north. During summer, this section of river has Class II and a couple Class III rapids, mainly due to the river’s high volume and velocity. During lower early summer flows, the river is Class II.

Stunning views of the Chugach, including a couple valleys with glaciers clinging to lofty peaks, continue below Hicks Creek. The river gets a little less rambunctious, but continues to flow quickly as it alternates between braided and channelized sections. There are countless good campsites, including a few that have shelter from frequent winds. A couple hours below Hicks Creek, the peaks of the Chugach seem to get a little less rugged on river left. Then King Mountain appears after a gradual left hand bend in the river, a towering pyramid that seems to stand nearly separate from other Chugach peaks.

The Chickaloon River, which enters on the right side of the river where the Matanuska is constricted into a narrow channel, should be an obvious landmark. This confluence can be very turbulent during medium and high flows. Just a few miles downstream, there is a cable crossing next to a derelict cache. This landmark means you’re about to float by the King Mountain Campground, which is on the right and without the cable would be easy to miss. There is a gravel beach by the campground that can be used as a takeout or put in.

King Mountain is a small, pleasant campground located about five to six hours downstream of the Glacier Park bridge. It is a good takeout for a day trip on the Matanuska, or a good midpoint for a float trip to Palmer. Alternatively, paddlers who want to camp out elsewhere along the river will have more options a few miles downstream. However, the road comes close to the river frequently below King Mountain so it may take 45 minutes to an hour of floating to find a good campsite.

There’s a Class III rapid called Nova Bend a couple miles downstream of the campground, so don’t plan on all flat water after the campground. In fact, the Matanuska has strong whirlpools and waves throughout its course. It is only suitable for highly skilled canoeists who enjoy paddling into relentless headwinds. For everyone else, long trips are best made on rafts.

Most people float the upper Matanuska, but there continues to be good scenery below King Mountain. Although the road and a few impressively ugly houses can be a temporary distraction, the river offers a unique perspective of Pioneer Peak and Twin Peaks as they rise above the water and gravel bar horizon of the river. The Matanuska also flows through a pretty canyon below Sutton, which seems far more remote than the outskirts of Palmer.  

Whether you’re planning on challenging or moderate whitewater day trips, or an overnighter, the Matanuska offers mile after mile of mountain views. If you get tired of looking at the Chugach, you can always wait a couple minutes for the river to bend and contemplate the Talkeetnas for a while. The Matanuska Valley also has great camping, from remote river bars to the shady King Mountain campground. The snow has melted in the valley, so this is a good time to start paddling.