Tatshenshini-Alsek Rafting Expedition

This world-class rafting trip begins in the alder and aspen forests of the Yukon, threads its way through the steep mountain valleys of Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Park in British Columbia, and ends among the spectacular ice-age landscapes of Alaska's Glacier Bay National Park. Throughout the expedition, you will camp on gravel beaches decorated by clusters of flaming fireweed, hike along rushing streams teaming with salmon, explore mountain valleys with magnificient views, and walk upon the surface of a glacier for an up-close look at giant seracs, deep crvasses, and sparkling basins of melted ice. The area is rich in wildlife, including moose, beaver, foxes, bears, mountain goats, wolverines, eagles, and many other small birds and mammals. A highlight of the trip is a day spent at Alsek Lake, where house-sized ice bergs calve off the faces of the Grand Plateau and Alsek glaciers. From a mile away, the cannon-blast retort of the breaking ice reverberates across the landscape. The lake is filled with blue and white bergs of all shapes and sizes that eventually melt enough to float into the river and on to the sea. Rowing through this wonderland of sculpted ice affords some amazing photographic opportunities. The Tatshenshini-Alsek rafting expedition originates in Haines, Alaska, and concludes at Dry Bay. Participants fly from Dry Bay to Yakutat, Alaska, via bush plane, and from Yakutat to Juneau on a commercial airliner.

Alsek River Rafting Expedition

The Alsek River expedition embodies all of the elements of a genuine "far north" adventure as it flows through a huge pristine wilderness of stark, but exquisite beauty. From seemingly endless vistas, to narrow canyon views, visitors experience a landscape created by advancing and receding glaciers and continual scouring by the silt-laden river. Wildlife is abundant, including bears, wolves, foxes, wolverines, moose, mountain goats, tundra swans, and eagles. Wildflowers grow profusely along the river banks, adding color and softness to the glaciated terrain. The expedition starts in Kluane National Park, Yukon Territory, flows through the Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Park in British Columbia, and concludes at Dry Bay in Alaska's Glacier Bay National Park. The first part of the trip occurs in open country that invites hiking and exploration. The river then picks up speed and empties into Lowell Lake where we raft among floating icebergs before running the river's biggest rapid, Lava North. Below Lava North, the Alsek winds its way to the surging Tweedsmuir Glacier, where the huge river is constricted into a narrow canyon with rapids too big for our rafts. After a helicopter portage of people and equipment, the journey continues to the confluence with the Tatshenshini River. At this point, the Alsek is more than a mile wide with several braided channels. Continuing on from the confluence, we stop to hike on Walker Glacier and spend a day rowing among the icebergs on Alsek Lake before arriving at our Dry Bay take-out. The expedition originates in Haines, Alaska, and ends at Dry Bay with a bush flight to Yakutat, Alaska, followed by a commercial airline flight to Juneau.