Katmai
Park
7-Day Bear Viewing
Adventure Having appeared in magazines and films around the
world, Katmai's brown bears are renowned Alaskan icons. The world's largest
run of sockeye salmon up the Naknek River creates an ideal feast for brown
bears - attracting more than 2,000 of the bruins to the lands of Katmai
National Park and Preserve. This is one of the world's premier brown bear
viewing trips.
Inflatable kayaking, whitewater kayaking and canoeing option are available.
An excellent family Denali rafting adventure and sampling of Alaska's best wilderness and geography at a casual pace and an affordable price. The trip starts at the head of the Susitna Valley in the Alaska Range and runs down a swift clearwater stream holding king salmon and grayling. Then the Chulitna meets with glacial streams and swells down steep-walled canyons over 100 feet high. Then the river opens up into the grand Susitna Valley with incredible views of Mt. McKinley, Mt. Hunter and other peaks of the Alaska Range. We travel through Denali State Park, upper Susitna Valley and take out near Trapper Creek a historic town, where gold was discovered on Cache Creek in 1906. We often see grizzly and black bears, bald eagles and fur-bearers. View some of Alaska's most beautiful scenery.
ITINERARY Day 1— We'll pick you up at your hotel around 6:30 AM and depart for our 186 mile scenic drive to our put-in on the East Fork of the Chulitna River. We'll make a number of stops along the way to view the scenery and take photos of Mt. McKinley and other peaks of the Alaska Range. We'll meet our river guides at the Middle Fork of the Chulitna River and get ready for a speedy descent down this clearwater, boulder-strewn stream. This is a fun, splashy and busy section of the river, with boulders requiring almost constant maneuvering. You can see spawning King salmon beneath you as you float downstream. Keep your eyes open on the banks, because bears come down to the river to feed on the salmon. We often see bears in the upper part of this trip. The Alaska Railroad travels next to the river for a short way. You can almost see the river gaining water and strength as it flows down the foothills.
Day 2— After the river meets with the East Fork, the Chulitna gains strength and enters a series of sedimentary canyons reaching 100 feet high. You can see fossils and seams of coal as you travel quickly by. Kayakers and inflatable boaters will enjoy the hydraulics, boils and eddies made as the river flows down the canyons. Then the river opens into the broad Susitna Valley where you are treated to sweeping views of a classic Alaska glacial valley. The river braids continuously, and river channel selection becomes an art. In the valley we are treated to wonderful views of Mt. McKinley and the rolling foothills of the Alaska Range. Bald Eagles often perch on the cottonwood trees or the driftwood in search of King salmon.
Day 3— On the third day, we continue through the wide, flat, sandy Chulitna River valley in the larger Susitna Valley. The mood of this stretch of the river is calming and reflective. You are truly in Alaska wilderness and the sweeping expanses will give you a new perspective on man's role in the world. After lunch we will travel under the Parks Highway bridge and through some lower canyons looking for the perfect camp site.
Day 4— We break camp early this morning and head for our takeout near Trapper Creek, a historic gold mining town. If wish to continue your vacation with an added visit to Denali National Park, our takeout is timed so that you can catch a ride on our Denali Bus to Denali National Park. If you're not continuing on to Denali Park we will shuttle you back to Anchorage and your hotel. Click here for Denali Park Adventures.
2007 Tour Dates And Rates
Form your own group. Requires a group of 3 or more
Chulitna River 4-day Denali rafting adventure – Cost $595 Prices are subject to change without notice.
WHEN YOU'RE READY TO GO!Fill out the secure on-line reservation form or call our office at (907) 222-1632 or toll-free (877) 812-2159. Reservation requires a 50% deposit. We accept payment by VISA/MasterCard. You will receive a pre-trip packet detailing the itinerary of the tour you have chosen and an equipment list. (Reservation and Payment Terms)
Last minute reservations may be available so don't hesitate to contact us. If a trip has space, we can get you on it.
Limitations of liability:
Although every precaution is taken to safeguard you and your belongings, our adventure trips involve inherent risks and dangers which are beyond our control and Backcountry Safaris shall assume no responsibility for personal injuries or deaths and loss of personal property. We highly recommend that you consider purchasing travel insurance. Travel insurance coverage can help with expenses for the unforeseeable such as lost baggage trip delays, emergency evacuation, and cancellation due to illness.
We use independent contractors to supply Backcountry Safaris with various services on many of our adventures. Some trips require us to use independent tour guides, drivers, lodges and hotels, air and water taxis, and other suppliers. Because we do not own, operate, manage, control, or supervise these suppliers, we cannot be liable for any acts or omissions on their part, including any negligence, gross negligence, or reckless or willful acts. Backcountry Safaris assumes no responsibility for any injury, loss, damage, delay, or death to person or property arising from the negligent or willful act or failure to act of any person who is to or does provide goods or services for this trip or for the action or inaction of any other third party. Without limitation, Backcountry Safaris is not responsible for acts of God, equipment failures, vehicle or vessel accidents, illness from food or otherwise, annoyance, delays, failure of any means of conveyance to arrive or depart as scheduled, and changes in transit or hotel and lodge services over which it has no control. We make occasional changes in trip itineraries for the comfort and well being of our guests. We will keep you informed of any necessary changes in a timely fashion.
On payment of your deposit to Backcountry Safaris, you agree to be bound by the above terms and conditions.
Alaska Adventure Travel Specialist Backcountry Safaris P.O. Box 231121 • Anchorage, Alaska USA 99523 1-907-222-1632 or toll-free 1-877-812-2159
Why You Should Choose Backcountry Safaris For Your Alaska Rafting
Adventure
•
Experience: Locally owned and operated since 1986.
•
Custom Rafting Adventures: If you can imagine it, we can make it happen. We offer personalized custom trips that cater to the special interests, dates, and desires of your group or family, as well as discounts for groups joining a scheduled tour. Please contact us.
•
Drysuits: We supply drysuits for your safety and comfort. Drysuits will protect you from hypothermia in Alaska's cold waters. Your comfort and safety is high on our list. Another advantage to drysuits is that if the weather turns wet, they add warmth and a comfort level you would not think possible.
•
Gear We Save You Money: We supply the specialized outdoor gear needed. You will save money since you don't have to buy gear that you may only use one time. We supply high quality rain gear, rubber boots, tents, sleeping pads, and dry bags to pack your gear in.
•
Insurance and Permits: We are fully insured and have special use permits from the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service and Alaska State Parks
•
Guides: Our Alaska guides have the right mix of camaraderie, experience and leadership to make your trip memorable. All are professionally trained experts and have current advanced first aid certification.
•
Safety: Your welfare is our highest priority and is reflected in everything we do. We are vigilant about your safety. We exercise judgment to prevent accidents, are trained to respond to situations, and carry a satellite phone, marine or VHF radio or other communication equipment that allow us to make emergency contact should any needs arise.
•
Environmental Commitment: All of our Alaska adventure tours are run in matter to minimize environmental impact. We also support the voluntary dollar a day for conservation program and the National River Cleanup Week just to mention a few.
