Tatshenshini River Rafting
$4995
Deposit: $800
Additional Costs: 5% GST
River Rating  | Minimum Age |
|---|---|
| Class II - III | 13 Yrs |
- Legend
- Directions
Enter your starting city
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Overview
Deep in the Alaskan wilderness, the Tatshenshini River lays at the heart of the Tatshenshini-Alsek Wilderness Park, encompassing over 27 million acres and five U.S. and Canadian parks and preserves. Bound by two towering mountain ranges — the Alsek and St. Elias — the Tatshenshini is a river forgotten by time. The rafting trip begins in a lake of ice flows, and then runs toward the ocean, merging with the Alsek River. This one-of-a-kind adventure then leads onto a glacier of moraines and frozen falls and finally into the shadows of ship-sized icebergs and the terminus of Alsek Bay.
Itinerary at a Glance
- Following a 2.5-hour shuttle up the Alaska Highway, our Tatshenshini River adventure begins with a number of lively Class III rapids through the Tatshenshini Gorge and a spectacular view of quintessential Alaskan wilderness that few have seen
- Each day the scenery gets increasingly spectacular as mountains rise to 8000 feet and glaciers hang from every slope
- See bear, moose, goats and perhaps wolves in the Alaska wilderness
- Campsite vistas span the broad expanse of the Tatshenshini and Alsek river valleys, flanked by more than 50 different glaciers
- Visit Walker Glacier, so named by rafters because of the ease of walking onto this glacier close to the river shore
- Pass through several different mountain ranges and enter Alsek Lake. The unforgettable sights and sounds of the seven-mile-wide Alsek and Grand Plateau Glaciers with their mammoth icebergs inspire an instant appreciation of this ruggedly magnificent country
- View the St. Elias Mountains, the largest concentration of high peaks in North America, including snow-capped 15,300-foot-high Mount Fairweather
- Float through the iceberg-laden waters of Alsek Bay while exploring the mysterious shapes and patterns cut from the fallen ice
- Enter Dry Bay and enjoy a final lunch before boarding the plane for the scenically spectacular flight back to Whitehorse and the conclusion of our Tatshenshini River trip
- Testimonials
- Reviews
- Write a Review
“[Our guides] did everything possible to make our trip enjoyable and safe. Hikes were geared to the level of our small group. Mark was very knowledgeable about the geological history of the Tatshenshini-Alsek watershed. We had unusually good weather, which further enhanced our experience. And the meals were exceptional!”
Susan B Wood ~ Cambridge, MA
- Weather
- Packing List
- Trip Planner
- Recommended Reads
| Average Temperatures | ||
| High | Low | |
| August | 64°/18° | 43°/6° |
| Water Temperatures | ||
| Average: 35°/2° | ||
Current Conditions
What to bring on the Tatshenshini River Rafting trip
This is a sample list. Please refer to your trip planner for a detailed list for your particular trip. If you do not already own any of the items on the suggested packing list feel free to call our office for suggestions. However, many of the items listed are available for purchase online in the OARStore. Please be mindful of the natural environment when purchasing items for your trip. Whenever possible, consider recyclable containers, rechargeable batteries, natural (non-toxic) sunscreens, lotions, biodegradable soaps, and so on.
Equipment:
- Duffel bag
- Backpack/Daypack for day hikes. It should be large enough to carry raingear, camera and, water bottle.
- Water bottles: 1 heavy-duty and minimum 1-liter capacity. For day hikes, hydration systems like a CamelBak® are great, but you will still want 1 water bottle while participating in activities
- Headlamp or flashlight, extra batteries and bulb
- Plastic bags: large trash bags and zip-loc bags to separate clean and dry clothes from wet and dirty
- Camera and accessories
Personal Items:
- Sunglasses with securing strap and a spare
- Towel: small, quick drying, and washcloth
- Toiletries including biodegradable soap and shampoo with moisturizer (Nature's Gate is recommended by our guides)
- Sunscreen: waterproof and SPF 30 or higher
- Lip protection: SPF 30 or higher
- Moisturizing lotion or cream: 1 bottle (Skin tends to get REALLY DRY – this is a VERY important item!)
- Insect repellent (with DEET)
- Personal first aid kit (Band-aids, antibiotic ointment, ibuprofen, moleskin, eye drops, etc.)
- Spare pair of glasses and/or contacts (Blowing sand can cause problems for contact wearers)
- Cash for gratuities and goodies
Clothing:
- Long-sleeved shirt: 2-3 lightweight and light color for sun protection (UPF rated shirts are great)
- Long pants: 3-4 lightweight and quick-drying
- Shade hat or visor with securing strap and a spare
- Bandana
- Rain jacket & pants: waterproof (not water resistant) to protect you from the wind and splash from rapids, as well as rain. A hooded jacket is recommended as well as good secure closures around your head, neck, wrists and ankles to prevent water from seeping in
- Swimsuits: 2 (two piece suits recommended for women). Tankinis are a great option
- Long underwear tops and bottom: 2 (synthetic or wool)
- Shorts: 2 pair lightweight, and quick-drying
- Hiking shorts: 2 pair
- T-shirts or lightweight quick-drying tops: 3-4
- River sandals: 1 pair to wear in the boat (such as Teva)
- Athletic shoes or lightweight hiking boots: 1 pair, comfortable and with good tread
- Hiking socks: 3 pair mid-weight and 3 pairs warm wool or fleece socks
- Synthetic long underwear top & bottom: 1 set light to mid-weight
- Fleece top & bottom: 1 set light to mid-weight (100-200 weight Polar Plus)
- Fleece hat and gloves
Optional Items:
- Bathing towels/wipes: pre-moistened disposable wipes such as Coleman Swash Cloths
- Binoculars: small
- Compass: For the avid map-reader. We carry a full set of topographical maps on the trip
- Pedometer: check out Highgear’s new wrist-top
- Paddling gloves
- Splash jacket and pants
- Notebook and pen
Download our travel planner here:
Tatshenshini_River_Trip_Planner.pdf
Trip planner is in PDF format and requires Acrobat Reader.
