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outsides of turns, so keep your bow pointed at the wall, and be ready to pull away from it. Hurricane Creek, and several other clear water streams enter in this section, and they are reported to be decent fishing spots. You can see the railroad bridge crossing several hundred feet above Hurricane Gulch from the Chulitna as well.
Once the river opens back up Fountain River enters and the Chulitna becomes considerably larger and siltier and for several miles braids out through flat sections. There are good camping sites on both sides of the river in this area. There are several more areas where all the braids of the Chulitna get together and run into another narrow canyon for a few miles and then wash out into more braids. An ACS cell phone works in most of the sections where the river opens up. Not sure of other networks.
From the beginning of East Fork to the Parks Highway bridge near Denali Princes Lodge (mile 132) is an easy three day trip. The takeout is on river left just before the bridge. This is private land, but in recent years the owner has allowed the use of the beach and private road to access the highway. If for some reason the private road is closed, and I have heard recently that it might be, you have to pack your boats & gear up the steep bank just past the bridge. Using a pulley system and a lot of hands can make life a lot easier here. Or you can continue downstream for another day to the highway bridge (mile 102) near Sunshine Creek. Here the takeout is on river right, just after the bridge. I believe this is public land, and there is a road to access the beach from the highway, although there might be some water to cross to get there.
I have also heard that you can take out at Troublesome Creek. There is a ½ mile walk to the highway, but there is good parking when you get there.
Alternately, you can begin your float by putting in where the highway crosses the Middle Fork, This adds about 4 hours to the first section, but this can be too shallow if the water is low.
You can also avoid the difficulties and braids of the upper section by just doing the lower part of the river. To do this put in at the usual take near Denali Princess Lodge. It's only a half-day trip from here to Talkeetna, or a short two day trip from here to where the Parks Highway crosses the Susitna River near Sunshine Creek. This section is all flat water, but the river is quite large & moves fast. We generally camp the last night just below Talkeetna on an island when we do this section.
If you intend on getting out at Talkeetna, or just stopping in for some mid-trip ice cream, you will need to take all the left channels as you approach the Big Susitna River. Talkeetna is an Athabaskan word for Three Rivers, and is the place where the Chulitna, Susitna, and Talkeetna Rivers join together. To get to town, you will have to move to the left side of the Chulitna as you approach the area, and then cross the Susitna, and Talkeetna Rivers. Forget about making the Talkeetna boat launch, just get to the end of Main Street. You can walk the two blocks to the middle of town from there. Even if you are not stopping at Talkeetna, you are best served by staying towards the left bank of the Chulitna as you approach the Big Susitna. Too many obstacles and shallow water anywhere else.
“Erik in AK” (Don’t know his real name) posted in the AK Outdoors Forums (http://forums.outdoorsdirectory.com/index.php) some good advice for running the Chulitna. Start early the first day and fish all the pools of the East Fork for Trout, Dollies, Grayling, and even Kings (late July). Make you first camp on the spit at the East Fork/West Fork confluence (if the water is not too high) or go through the first canyon section and camp among the big spruces on river left. This is just before the first braided section. The Chulitna has two major braided sections that
Once the river opens back up Fountain River enters and the Chulitna becomes considerably larger and siltier and for several miles braids out through flat sections. There are good camping sites on both sides of the river in this area. There are several more areas where all the braids of the Chulitna get together and run into another narrow canyon for a few miles and then wash out into more braids. An ACS cell phone works in most of the sections where the river opens up. Not sure of other networks.
From the beginning of East Fork to the Parks Highway bridge near Denali Princes Lodge (mile 132) is an easy three day trip. The takeout is on river left just before the bridge. This is private land, but in recent years the owner has allowed the use of the beach and private road to access the highway. If for some reason the private road is closed, and I have heard recently that it might be, you have to pack your boats & gear up the steep bank just past the bridge. Using a pulley system and a lot of hands can make life a lot easier here. Or you can continue downstream for another day to the highway bridge (mile 102) near Sunshine Creek. Here the takeout is on river right, just after the bridge. I believe this is public land, and there is a road to access the beach from the highway, although there might be some water to cross to get there.
I have also heard that you can take out at Troublesome Creek. There is a ½ mile walk to the highway, but there is good parking when you get there.
Alternately, you can begin your float by putting in where the highway crosses the Middle Fork, This adds about 4 hours to the first section, but this can be too shallow if the water is low.
You can also avoid the difficulties and braids of the upper section by just doing the lower part of the river. To do this put in at the usual take near Denali Princess Lodge. It's only a half-
If you intend on getting out at Talkeetna, or just stopping in for some mid-
“Erik in AK” (Don’t know his real name) posted in the AK Outdoors Forums (http://forums.outdoorsdirectory.com/index.php) some good advice for running the Chulitna. Start early the first day and fish all the pools of the East Fork for Trout, Dollies, Grayling, and even Kings (late July). Make you first camp on the spit at the East Fork/West Fork confluence (if the water is not too high) or go through the first canyon section and camp among the big spruces on river left. This is just before the first braided section. The Chulitna has two major braided sections that
Chulitna Sunset
Packing out near the lodge
