Canning River | Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) | Alaska Rafting
Fall in the Arctic Refuge - Marsh Fork Canning River Raft
PDF of Rafting and Wildlife Adventure
• Dates: August 22nd through September 1st, 2010. Includes one day of Polar Bear viewing in the Inupiat Eskimo village of Kaktovik.
• Region: Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Mountains, foothillsand coastal plain, and Arctic coast.
• Cost: $4,400 includes everything north of Fairbanks (subject to fuel surcharge if neccesary). Affordable rental camping gear available.
Sketch of the trip…
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The Canning River is the largest river in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. It forms the western boundary of the Refuge as it flows for over 130 miles through mountains, to foothills, to the coastal plain, and finally to the arctic coast.
The Marsh Fork of the Canning is a main tributary to the Canning River. Its clear flow runs amid some of the Brooks Range’s most jagged limestone mountains. The upper river is exceptionally rugged, and severely beautiful. The landscape doesn’t change dramatically when the Marsh Fork joins the main Canning, but the sky does open up. The river continues to be lovely. As the Canning flows seaward, it bounds the west end of three sub-ranges of the Brooks Range, the prosaically named “Third Range,” the Shublik Mountains, and the Sadlerochit Mountains. And the scenery is varied and enchanting.
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Late August is fall in the Arctic. The tundra will be bright with red and yellow leaves, Berries will be ripe, Mosquitos should be long gone. Caribou will be in their prime with dark coats and antlers in velvet. It is a beautiful if brisk time to be in the wilderness. We should see grizzly bears, wolves, fox, Dall sheep, moose, caribou, musk oxen, passerines, golden eagles, and ptarmigan. Fishing for grayling and arctic char can be good if the water levels are not too high.
We’ll paddle about 100 miles of the Canning. This is a moderately difficult trip, not a “float”: we may have to drag the boats over shallow spots; we will have to paddle to get where we’re going, even though the current is always swift. There is upper Class II whitewater at several points along the river. However, no experience is required for paddle rafting, as instruction is provided. Everyone joins in the fun of paddling the boats under the guidance of a raft captain. Participants should be in good condition to join the trip. As we approach the coast the weather will cool significantly and we may have windy days. To compensate for the autumn weather we may be treated to a showing of the Aurora. The coastal plain is also likely to be full of migrating waterfowl.
What follows is a general sketch of the trip. Expect the unexpected and prepare to be flexible.
Day 1: Fly from Fairbanks to the tiny village of Coldfoot and then, north from Coldfoot, over the spectacular Philip Smith Moutains, to our put-in on on the Marsh Fork. We will set-up camp and inflate our rafts in preperation for the next days float.
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Days 2-9: We will spend the next 10 days floating from the tiny headwaters of the Marsh Fork to the Coastal plain. Along the way we will have 3 or 4 layover days to enjoy day hiking, fishing or just hanging around. The hiking is fantastic the entire length of the river. Expect cold windy conditions toward the end of the trip.
Day 10: Await the arrival of our bush pilot, who will land on a long gravel bar. We will fly west to the Eskimo village of Kaktovik, perched on the edge of the Arctic Ocean. En route, we cross the width of the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. In Kaktovik we can walk the beach, talk with locals, enjoy the hospitality of Waldo Arms, or go birding on the coastal tundra. As dusk falls we will head out in search of Polar Bears which we almost always see scavenging near the waters edge.
Day 11: Spend the moring watching bears. Weather permitting, we catch our return flight to Fairbanks around 4pm.
Included in the price of the trip: Transportation beyond Fairbanks, food while in the wilderness, stoves, cooking & eating utensils, boats, paddles, life jackets, safety & repair gear and trip leaders. Also includes one night lodging and meals at the Waldo Arms in Kaktovik.
Not included in the price of the trip: Lodging, non-camp meals, personal clothing and gear, waterproof river bag, waterproof camera bag, fishing gear, and fishing license. An equipment list is provided upon registration. Rental equipment is available through Arctic Wild.
Weather & Bugs: Expect a variety of weather. August can be mild or stormy. Expect temperatures to range from in the 60's down to freezing. Snow is always possible. Bugs should be gone but bring some DEET just in case. Bring an extra warm layer for the coast.
Suggested Reading: Seasons of Life and Land, Shubanker Banjeeri; The Brooks Range: The Ultimate Mountains, John Kauffmann; North Alaska Chronicle: Notes from the End of Time, John Martin Campbell; Brooks Range Passage, Dave Cooper; Koviashuvik, Sam Wright; Alaska Wilderness, Robert Marshall; We Live in the Arctic, Constance Helmericks; Arctic Wild, Lois Crisler; Making Prayers to the Raven, Richard Nelson; Two Old Women, Velma Wallace; Mind of the Raven, Bernd Heinrich.