paddling.Jimstrutz.com © 2008
Klutina - Tonsina - Lowe Rivers
Based on one, 2009
My Klutina - Tonsina - Lowe pictures are here:
These three rivers are all short day trip, and all within a couple hours driving range of each other, so I’ve put them together in this one section.
Klutina: Class II-III
The Klutina is a beautiful blue green stream that is remarkably swift from it’s start at the east end of Klutina Lake to it’s end, some 20 miles later at the Copper River. There is an access road that loosely follows the river all the way to the lake, but this road deteriorates rapidly after about mile 17, so most boaters and float fishermen put in at mile 15.5. There is a wide spot in the road here with plenty of parking and direct access to the river.
The road to the lake is labeled Brenwick-Craig Road on the sign on the Richardson highway about 1/4 mile north of Klutina Bridge. The road starts off paved, but as soon as you drive past the Princess Lodge it becomes a one lane dirt drive. Also, just past the lodge, turn left to follow the main road. After you get to the other end of the lodge property the road will turn right and follow the ridge line above the river. You need to plan on a good hour each way for the shuttle, as the road is rough and slow. It also looks like it gets very muddy in wet weather. A four wheel drive rig is probably necessary in some conditions.
Since this is Ahtna Regional Corp land, you will need a usage permit if you don’t stay on the road’s right a way. This might be possible if all you do is drive to the wide area at mile 15.5, and put the bot in right there. However, to be safe, you can also pick up the $10 per day/car permit about a mile in on the road at a self serve, campground type pay station.
The river itself is 15 miles of very fast class II+ to III- river, and take about 2 hours to run. You can avoid nearly all the whitewater if you paddle fast to avoid all the holes & rocks. There are a few large holes and semi-exposed rocks that you really should avoid, but the rest are all runnable. This is not a difficult river to run, but it is very fast, so you do have to keep paying attention.
The best take out is river right just past the Richardson Highway’s Klutina Bridge, but some travel farther into the community of Copper Center and take out at a private campground. Or you could continue all the way into the Copper River if desired.
Salmon fishing can be excellent, and the Klutina has a good reputation for it’s King Salmon, but the Red/Sockeye run is larger. You do need to use very stout gear, as these fish head directly down stream as soon as they are aware of being hooked. You have to overcome the power of the fish and the very swift current.
We enjoyed this river enough to do it twice on our trip to the area in 2009. The shuttle is a pain, but the float is a blast.
Tonsina: Class III-IV
The Tonsina is larger than the Klutina, and caries far more silt, so it is less scenic. It is also full of drift wood.
The put in is at mile 79 of the Richardson Highway. You can put in on either side of the bridge. The Tonsina Lodge is on river right, but they seemed to be very accommodating to boaters. They also sell fuel and other necessities. On river left you can also access the river from a large gravel pull out. There is a poorly maintained driveway leading from the south end of this that leads directly to the river. You can even use trailers, as this is a circular drive that leads back to the pull out.
My Klutina -
These three rivers are all short day trip, and all within a couple hours driving range of each other, so I’ve put them together in this one section.
Klutina: Class II-
The road to the lake is labeled Brenwick-
Since this is Ahtna Regional Corp land, you will need a usage permit if you don’t stay on the road’s right a way. This might be possible if all you do is drive to the wide area at mile 15.5, and put the bot in right there. However, to be safe, you can also pick up the $10 per day/car permit about a mile in on the road at a self serve, campground type pay station.
The river itself is 15 miles of very fast class II+ to III-
The best take out is river right just past the Richardson Highway’s Klutina Bridge, but some travel farther into the community of Copper Center and take out at a private campground. Or you could continue all the way into the Copper River if desired.
Salmon fishing can be excellent, and the Klutina has a good reputation for it’s King Salmon, but the Red/Sockeye run is larger. You do need to use very stout gear, as these fish head directly down stream as soon as they are aware of being hooked. You have to overcome the power of the fish and the very swift current.
We enjoyed this river enough to do it twice on our trip to the area in 2009. The shuttle is a pain, but the float is a blast.
Tonsina: Class III-
The Tonsina is larger than the Klutina, and caries far more silt, so it is less scenic. It is also full of drift wood.
The put in is at mile 79 of the Richardson Highway. You can put in on either side of the bridge. The Tonsina Lodge is on river right, but they seemed to be very accommodating to boaters. They also sell fuel and other necessities. On river left you can also access the river from a large gravel pull out. There is a poorly maintained driveway leading from the south end of this that leads directly to the river. You can even use trailers, as this is a circular drive that leads back to the pull out.
Beautiful Klutina
Klutina Put in
Tonsina Put in - River left