paddling.Jimstrutz.com © 2008
The trip starts with the roughest whitewater of the trip. The Kennecott is glacial, swift, and bouncy, but the waves are not that big, and the channel easy to see. There are also a few medium sized holes to avoid, but the most dangerous obstacle is the bridge pilings of the foot bridge (if you put in above it), and the vehicle bridge below. They are really quite easy to avoid, but don't get stupid. Stay sideways so you can move the boat left or right to get between them. The Kennecott ends in about 5 miles when it runs into the larger Nizina.
The Nizina is also fast, but larger and smoother. There are several good places to camp in the first few miles. After that the river will enter a canyon section and get a little squirly as it twists & turns. There are some large whirlpools that develop at some water levels, but they are not so much dangerous as they are time wasting. There are places where you will need to put in a little effort to keep off the canyon walls, but this is really easy water even if fast. There are also places to camp in the canyon if you so choose. After 11 miles on the Nizina, the canyon opens up and the river runs directly into the Chitina. Note the cable crossing right near the end.
The Chitina is much larger than the Nizina and even easier to run. However it is still fast. No where on this trip does the water slow down. Most of the time you will be doing 7 mph at low water levels, and often exceeding 12 mph at high water levels. At normal water levels there are some moderate wave trains in places that are caused from the current speeding up, and these are fun to charge down. They are also fast. Camping on gravel bars is available just about everywhere except at very high flows.
The Chitina is a braided river until the end, but determining the main channel is easy and appearant most of the time. However, if you don't maintain constant attention it is very easy to get sucked down the wrong channel, so pay attention and keep looking downstream. Side channels are rarely a big problem though. They are generally large and deep enough to float your boat, but they can be a lot slower. When traveling in groups, the followers tend to rely on the navigation skills of the lead boat, so put a good leader in front. One that pays attention. Still, the followers will drift off and not see when the leader starts moving to one side or the other, and they will occasionally get sucked down that wrong channel.
I recommend using small FRS radios on each boat in a group. They are like the walkie talkies of the old days, but better. On an open river they have a range of over a mile, and can help keep groups together. They are also good for reuniting groups that get separated. The problem with being separated is when you want to pull over for lunch or to refill your water jugs, or look for a good camp site. I recommend that people have all their gear in the boat they are riding in just in case they have to camp separated from the other boats.
Much of the land along the lower end of the Chitina belongs to the Ahtna Native Corporation, and they have fees for camping on their land. Their fees are listed here: http://ahtna.lands.googlepages.com/permits Also, you can get a good look at where their land boundaries here: http://ahtna.lands.googlepages.com/googleearth And here: http://www.ahtna-inc.com/ldm.html You are permitted to camp for free any place below the normal high water mark, so gravel bars are open to all.
There are clear water several side streams that come into the Chitina, that you can use to filter or purify for drinking. However, most of the side streams support salmon spawning, and therefore have a lot of bears that roam about during the summer. Consequently, it is not advisable to camp anywhere near these streams. Get your fresh water during the day and find a nice gravel bar without the fresh water supply for the night.
One good plan for ending the trip is to schedule your last day of camping 5-10 miles from the take out. This makes for a shorter float day, earlier take out, and provides time to tear everything down, load the vehicles, and get back to town before it gets too late. Fortunately, there are several good choices for this, depending on how close you want to get to the end of the trip.
The Nizina is also fast, but larger and smoother. There are several good places to camp in the first few miles. After that the river will enter a canyon section and get a little squirly as it twists & turns. There are some large whirlpools that develop at some water levels, but they are not so much dangerous as they are time wasting. There are places where you will need to put in a little effort to keep off the canyon walls, but this is really easy water even if fast. There are also places to camp in the canyon if you so choose. After 11 miles on the Nizina, the canyon opens up and the river runs directly into the Chitina. Note the cable crossing right near the end.
The Chitina is much larger than the Nizina and even easier to run. However it is still fast. No where on this trip does the water slow down. Most of the time you will be doing 7 mph at low water levels, and often exceeding 12 mph at high water levels. At normal water levels there are some moderate wave trains in places that are caused from the current speeding up, and these are fun to charge down. They are also fast. Camping on gravel bars is available just about everywhere except at very high flows.
The Chitina is a braided river until the end, but determining the main channel is easy and appearant most of the time. However, if you don't maintain constant attention it is very easy to get sucked down the wrong channel, so pay attention and keep looking downstream. Side channels are rarely a big problem though. They are generally large and deep enough to float your boat, but they can be a lot slower. When traveling in groups, the followers tend to rely on the navigation skills of the lead boat, so put a good leader in front. One that pays attention. Still, the followers will drift off and not see when the leader starts moving to one side or the other, and they will occasionally get sucked down that wrong channel.
I recommend using small FRS radios on each boat in a group. They are like the walkie talkies of the old days, but better. On an open river they have a range of over a mile, and can help keep groups together. They are also good for reuniting groups that get separated. The problem with being separated is when you want to pull over for lunch or to refill your water jugs, or look for a good camp site. I recommend that people have all their gear in the boat they are riding in just in case they have to camp separated from the other boats.
Much of the land along the lower end of the Chitina belongs to the Ahtna Native Corporation, and they have fees for camping on their land. Their fees are listed here: http://ahtna.lands.googlepages.com/permits Also, you can get a good look at where their land boundaries here: http://ahtna.lands.googlepages.com/googleearth And here: http://www.ahtna-
There are clear water several side streams that come into the Chitina, that you can use to filter or purify for drinking. However, most of the side streams support salmon spawning, and therefore have a lot of bears that roam about during the summer. Consequently, it is not advisable to camp anywhere near these streams. Get your fresh water during the day and find a nice gravel bar without the fresh water supply for the night.
One good plan for ending the trip is to schedule your last day of camping 5-
Kennecott River
Chitina River braids
Steam bath at last camp
