Packrafting
Note: This is a Dangerous Sport (of sorts). Proceed, as they say, at Your Own Risk.
What is it?
Pack Rafting. Pack rafts are these heavy duty pool rafts that people use around here. They're super light and you hike upriver with them and float down. This is kind of new thing - they are made by a woman in her garage, but they're light weight and strength give you access to a lot of places you wouldn't otherwise have. The downside is that they’re small - so not good for overnight trips. They’re spendy, unfortunately: $600-$800 and pretty dinky looking but after floating many, many miles, we’ve never punctured one. So how to do it? No one rents them but if you’re so inclined, email us and we can point you to some friends who might rent theirs out.
What to wear: A life jacket (there are some strainer trees that you might get tangled up in) and clothes that can get wet.
*** Beginner ***
Campbell Creek: Very twisty and turny creek that flows through downtown Anchorage. We especially like its clear water, occasionally filled with salmon, and its greenbelt route that seems far removed from the urban sprawl that it flows through. We occasionally see moose and beaver and though we’ve haven’t seen a brown bear, tracking studies show they do occasionally pass through, especially the closer to the moutains you go. There is only one stretch with super mild rapids but don’t be fooled – the twists and turns our tricky – about half our visitors fall in.
After having experimented with ever permutation, we like putting in at Arctic Roadrunner and taking out at the corner of Pearl Dr. and Fischer Ave (45 minutes) or taking out at Gallo’s Mexican Restaurant on the corner of Arctic and Dimond (for an hour and half float.)
Portage River: This wide and very cold glacier-fed river is quite scenic and probably the easiest packrafting in the area. But definatley wear a life jacket because the water is so cold. Put in at the end of turnagain sound, near the Portage Glacier Visitor Center and take out at the Seward Highway.
*** Intermediate ***
Chester Creek: A very shallow downtown creek, this isn’t quite as scenic as the Campbell but does go through two culverts which is kind of fun. As for put ins and take outs, anywhere is probably fine as there are a lot of places with road/trail access.
Ship Creek: A fast, straight stream near downtown. Almost all new packrafters who go down creek fall in, but its urban location and the dense population of salmon make us like this creek a lot. Put in just below the salmon hachery and take out at the dam (about 45 minutes.)
*** Advanced ***
Granite Creek (on the Kenai Peninsula) and Eagle River north of Anchorage. These are Class 2 to 4 rivers – both are very cold and very fast. We start worrying about liability here so buy this book [link] if you want more information.
