Alaska Whitewater Rafting and Hiking Multi-Sport Adventure, Nizina River Rafting and Hiking Fly-In Wilderness Expedition

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Alaska Rafting and Hiking Multi-Sport: Nizina River Fly-In

A Spectacular Wilderness Adventure in Alaska's Largest National Park!

Copper Oar's Nizina River Rafting and Hiking Fly-In is a truly unique Alaskan Adventure that features bush plane flights into the park, glacial lake exploration, the mile-high cliffs, waterfalls, hiking in the vast Chitistone Valley and the fun Class III rapids of the Nizina Canyon.

Less than a dozen people float this stretch of river each season.

This is a unique and remote wilderness adventure, as we will be dropped off and picked up by a bush plane that lands on the river bar. Our flight in takes us to the lake at the toe of the Nizina Glacier, surrounded by ice-capped peaks and rocky crags. The lake itself is full of icebergs, some as large as a house. We will spend the first day hiking and rowing around the lake and exploring the wonders of ice and rock. From here we head downriver for four more days of hiking and rafting. After floating the spectacular Nizina Canyon on the last day, we pull out, pack up, and a bush plane carries us back to McCarthy.

The towering Chugach, Wrangell, and St. Elias mountain ranges are all found in this largest national park and they serve as the backdrop to this classic Alaska expedition. In addition, sparkling side rivers, rare and fascinating geology, good wildlife viewing opportunities, idyllic riverside camp sites and classic natural history will fill your senses. Those seeking a medium length Alaska white water rafting trip into a place less traveled should consider this trip!

For one-day river trips, please click here.

“My favorite part of the trip was taking a hike up to what we named “The Temptress” waterfall. Having degenerative Osteoarthritis I was worried that I would not be able to make it but Kate and Kevin made the hike so much fun I did not realize how far we had gone then – WOW – we were there. I was overcome with emotion when we got back to camp that I cried when I looked up to where we had been. I amazed myself. Even though we saw obvious signs that there were bear and moose in the area, Kevin and Kate made sure we knew exactly what to do and that we felt safe.”
S. Hawley, Nizina River Rafting and Hiking Fly-In Guest, August, 2006

Nizina River Rafting and Hiking Fly-In Overview
Our Nizina River Rafting and Hiking Adventure begins and ends in McCarthy, Alaska. It is five days long and includes white water rafting, hiking, and camping. The white water rapids on this trips is moderately challenging and playful, not fierce. The water is cold.

The Nizina River Raft and Hike does not require strenuous hiking. Guests that wish to wander slowly and take in the beauty of the landscape will find many opportunities to do so, while serious hikers will have the chance to roam far and wide.

Less than a dozen people float this stretch of river each season. You will truly be among a lucky few and your guides will be thrilled to share the joy of discovery as you wander in places where no person has walked before!

All specialty river gear is included in the trip. We can help arrange transportation for you to McCarthy from anywhere in the state.

Daily Itinerary

Day One: This first morning you will meet one of your guides at our base, the historic Motherlode Powerhouse. You will pack your clothing and other gear into waterproof dry-bags and store your luggage and any other items you will not need for the next five days. Then we will board a bushplane and fly up the Nizina Valley, getting a birds-eye view of the river we will float in the days to come. We pass under the Mile-High cliffs and circle over the moraine striped Nizina Glacier before landing at its terminus. Our lakeside camp will be waiting for us, along with a delicious lunch. This afternoon we will explore the iceberg filled lake by raft, stopping once or twice to lake short hikes along the gravel-bar or up the rocky drainage of Amphitheater Creek. We will spend our first night beside the lake, enjoying a fine dinner and alpine glow on the mountains all around.

Day Two: This morning we eat breakfast, load the rafts, and, after a thorough safety presentation, row across the lake to where the current slowly increases and then pulls us into the splashy rapids of the newly formed Nizina River. We will float its entire forty miles over the next four days. This second day we will likely stop for lunch near one of several waterfalls that pour off the cliffs on the east side of the river. We will camp tonight at the base of the Mile-High Cliffs, where the rock has been folded over billions of years to form remarkable patterns. The sun sets early behind the cliffs, but we will stay warm by the fire and get a good night of sleep in preparation for a day of hiking tomorrow.

Day Three: This morning will eat a hearty breakfast and don our daypacks for a trek up the mighty Chitistone Valley. We will cut through the open woods for half an hour and emerge on a vast floodplain. We can hike up this valley as far as we like, stop for lunch alongside the muddy Chitistone River and scramble up the steep valley wall for a look down at where we have been or a close-up view of a hidden waterfall. We will return to camp in time for another great meal (this one well earned) and a second evening beneath the towering cliffs.

Day Four: Today we will continue down stream as the Nizina river becomes braided, forming dozens of channels across a mile-wide floodplain as it sweeps around Sourdough Mountain and heads west. We will negotiate the channels and try to avoid getting the rafts lodge on gravel bars. Trees and other debris are thick along the river in this section because the fast-moving water is eating away at the northern bank. We will pass by a historic bridge that has been mostly washed into the river and, if the weather cooperates, get a view of the peak of Mt. Blackburn, at the head of the Kennicott Valley. As the day draws to a close, the river narrows into a canyon where we will spend our last night with the sound of flowing water.

Day Five: Although our trip is almost over, this last day contains the most exciting whitewater of the trip and some of the best scenery as well. Soon after leaving camp in the morning, the small canyon opens into a wider area as the Kennicott River adds its flow to the Nizina. An hour later, the walls close in again, this time forming tight turns where the water boils and surges as it is forced around the corners. The limestone cliffs are spectacular and you will watch for peregrine falcons that sometimes make this their home. As we emerge from the canyon the wide Chitina Valley opens before us and here we will end our journey. We will arrive in time to unload the rafts, deflate them and be ready when the bush plane lands to fly us back to McCarthy.

We suggest that you spend some time in the Kennicott Valley either before or after this trip. We are happy to arrange a glacier hike or ice-climbing trip on the Root Glacier, a tour of the historic buildings in Kennecott and/or a day hike to one of the mine entrances as well as a night or more in local accommodations. Please contact us for details!

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Rendezvous
Meeting Time
Our guide will meet you in at your accommodations in McCarthy the night before your trip to introduce themselves and help answer any last minute questions you may have.

Getting To McCarthy
By Air
Charter flights are available with Wrangell Mountain Air from Valdez, Chitina, and even Anchorage.

By Car
You can access McCarthy from the lower 48 and points in Alaska. Simply travel to the southernmost portion of the Richardson Highway (Alaska Highway 4), and turn off towards Chitina, about 30 miles south of Glennallen! You can also ferry to Valdez and then drive to Chitina. From Chitina it is a 60 miles gravel road to McCarthy.

By Van
There is daily van service into McCarthy from Glennallen or Chitina with Backcountry Connection.

Off-River Transportation
Copper Oar provides transportation in McCarthy and the Kennicott Valley to and from the meeting point and airstrip. We do not provide transportation to and from McCarthy, but we are happy to help arrange it for you.


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Additional Information
Experience Required
The Nizina River Rafting and Hiking Fly-In is an excellent wilderness white water rafting and hiking trip. This is an ideal trip for those seeking wilderness experiences, hiking exploration and mild whitewater. First time adventurers are welcome and thrive on this trip. While not strenuous or filled with difficult whitewater, this journey is in pure wilderness. Our minimum age is eight. Your guides will gladly help with any aspect of our trip that is new for you.

Weather
Wrangell St. Elias National Park is located in southcentral Alaska. It is subject to both coastal and interior weather patterns. Typically, July and August are the warmest and among the driest months. Often, days are filled with sun and temperatures range from the low 50's to the mid 80's. Nights are cooler, with lows typically in the high 40's and 50's. Rain and wind are always possible and you should prepare accordingly.

Equipment
On all Alaska white water rafting and multi-sport trips Copper Oar provides lifejackets, waterproof river suits, rubber boots, waterproof 'dry' bags, camp chairs and eating utensils, all the specialized river gear you need. A complete list of what you should bring will be included in your confirmation packet. We also include sleeping pads and tents, but ask that you bring your own sleeping bag.

Each person will have one waterproof ("dry") bag (about the size of a large Hefty trash bag) in which clothing, toiletries, sleeping bag, and other personal items will be kept. In addition, we have available additional dry bags for tents and sleeping pads, and special day bags and boxes for cameras, binoculars, etc. Do keep in mind that, although slight, there is always a chance that any of your gear could get wet.

Participant Fitness and Activity Levels
Copper Oar trips are created with active, curious, go-with-the-flow, and nature-loving adventurers in mind. Our Nizina River Rafting and Hiking Fly-In is designed for those with a zest for wilderness, moderate adventures and active participation. While you should be fit and in good health for this trip, you need not be a honed athlete. Participants on this trip should be fit, able to swim, and may need to play a part in self-rescue should you fall out of the raft.

Wildlife and Wild Plants
Among other animals, we may encounter bear, sheep, and moose. It is important to follow your guides instruction to prevent or reduce the likelihood of unwelcome wild animal encounters and to understand what to do in the case of an encounter. Also, while they are generally not a major problem on this trip, those sensitive to mosquitoes may want to bring along a mosquito net hat. There are, in places, thorny bushes (known as Devil's Club) or others that can cause skin rashes. Please listen closely to your guides' instructions on how to recognize these plants and what to do if you touch them.

Camps
We camp along the river in pristine wilderness, usually on a sandy beach. In the case of rain, tarps are set up over communal eating and sitting areas. We proudly practice minimum-impact camping and carry out all trash. We carry a portable metal box toilet (similar to motorhome toilets) that is set up each evening in a private and scenic spot away from the heart of the camping area. A system that will be explained by your guides allows for all campers to know when the toilet is in use.

Fishing
There is no fishing available on this trip, but we can make recommendtations for great fishing destatinations elsewhere in the state.

Meals and Beverages
We serve hearty Alaska style meals prepared with fresh ingredients. We also provide a variety of beverages with each meal. Each afternoon we set up happy hour snacks and beverages. Please let us know if you have special dietary needs or wants!

Charter Trips
We are able and happy to offer this adventure as a special private charter trip. We have custom pricing from groups not on our scheduled dates. Please contact our office for details.

Gratuities
It is common to tip wilderness guides on adventure trips. It is not expected, but always appreciated. If you are happy with your trip please let us and your guide(s) know. Thanks!

Itinerary Changes
While we do everything possible to follow the itineraries in this packet we may be forced to adjust trips due to reasons beyond our control. Therefore, these itineraries are subject to change.

References
Many of our past trip members have offered to speak with folks who are considering our trips. We know we could blow our own horn until we are blue in the face about the great time we feel you would have on our trips. So, we invite you to contact us for a list of clients who have participated on Copper Oar trips and we'll let them do the talking!

Copper Oar Guides
The pride of our outfit, our guides bring a wealth of talent and experience to each trip we run. Copper Oar guides (and they are our guides, not subcontracted outfitters) have years and years of experience leading trips in the U.S. and abroad. Each is licensed in wilderness first-aid and CPR. Furthermore, they create an environment that fosters camaraderie and positive experiences. Simply put, they care about what it is that YOU want from YOUR TRIP and do everything possible to make that happen! We are confident that you will find your guides to be one of the highlights of the river rafting adventure.

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2008 Trip Cost

Five days, four nights: $2350 per person plus a 6% government/land use fee.

2008 Start Dates
July 1st; August 9th

Please note: Other dates may be available. Please contact us for details.

For information and reservations please call 800-523-4453 or click here for reservation details.

Prices include guides, all rafting equipment, meals, river wear and rubber boots. Participants must bring adequate rain and thermal wear for on water and land, and must be able to fit all personal and camping gear in a waterproof bag the size of a large garbage bag. Copper Oar provides tents and sleeping pads but we ask you to bring your own sleeping bag if possible.

Click here to book this trip now!

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