Six Mile Creek

Six Mile Creek

Extreme Whitewater rafting

Price

$139 for 2 canyons

$215 for 3 canyons

+ 3% Kenai Borough Tax
Adventure Level
2-Canyons: Challenging, 3-Canyons: Extreme
River Category (2 canyons)
Class IV (CHALLENGING)

Intense, powerful but predictable rapids requiring precise boat handling in turbulent water. Depending on the character of the river, it may feature large, unavoidable waves and holes or constricted passages demanding fast maneuvers under pressure. Rapids may require “must” moves above dangerous hazards. Risk of injury to swimmers is moderate to high, and water conditions may make self-rescue difficult. Group assistance for rescue is often essential but requires practiced skills. Rapids that are at the lower or upper end of this difficulty range are designated “Class IV-” or “Class IV+” respectively. Suitable for those 12 years and older.

NOVA requires all participants to take a supervised practice self-rescue swim before the trip.

River Category (3 canyons)
Class IV (CHALLENGING)

Intense, powerful but predictable rapids requiring precise boat handling in turbulent water. Depending on the character of the river, it may feature large, unavoidable waves and holes or constricted passages demanding fast maneuvers under pressure. Rapids may require “must” moves above dangerous hazards. Risk of injury to swimmers is moderate to high, and water conditions may make self-rescue difficult. Group assistance for rescue is often essential but requires practiced skills. Rapids that are at the lower or upper end of this difficulty range are designated “Class IV-” or “Class IV+” respectively. Suitable for those 12 years and older, in good physical condition and comfortable with the prospect of swimming for self-rescue. This level is recommended for firsttimers, and those with prior experience.

NOVA requires all participants to take a supervised practice self-rescue swim before the trip.

Class V (Challenging / Extreme)

Extremely long, obstructed, or very violent rapids which expose a paddler to added risk. Drops may contain large, unavoidable waves and holes or steep, congested chutes with complex, demanding routes. Rapids may continue for long distances between pools, demanding a high level of fitness. What eddies exist may be small, turbulent, or difficult to reach. At the high end of the scale, several of these factors may be combined. Swims are dangerous, and rescue is often difficult even for experts. Because of the large range of difficulty that exists beyond Class IV, Class 5 is an open-ended, multiple-level scale designated by class 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, etc.… each of these levels is an order of magnitude more difficult than the last. Example: increasing difficulty from Class 5.0 to Class 5.1 is a similar order of magnitude as increasing from Class IV to Class 5.0. Suitable for adventurous individuals who can swim and comfortable with the prospect of self-rescue. NOVA requires all participants to take a supervised practice self-rescue swim before the trip to help demystify the self-rescue experience and test your swimming fitness. Minimum age 16.

Reservation Minimum
2 people
Trip Minimum
4 People

*(Groups less than 4 may join others with consent to build tour)

Dates
JUNE 1 – AUG 20
age Limit
12 YEARS (2 CANYONS)
16 YEARS (3 CANYONS)
max: 65 Years
Language Requirement
English
Min. Size/Weight/Height
100 Lbs and 5 Ft. 2 Inches
Max. Size/Weight/Height
250 Lbs and 6 Ft. 6 Inches, Girth 50 Inches.

*Must be physically fit

Check-in Time
9:00AM 0r 2:00pm
DURATION
2 canyons: ~2+ hours
3 canyons: ~3+ hours
Trip Highlights
  • Alaska’s most challenging whitewater trip which was pioneered by NOVA over 40 years ago!
  • Beautiful canyon section with heavy paddling and hands-on participation style whitewater.
  • Narrow routes, steep drops, beautiful pools.
  • Pool-drop style rapids and creek canyon character.
  • Great for team building and adrenaline rush seekers.
  • Travel through the pristine Chugach National Forest lands.
  • No experience necessary but strong swimming ability is recommended.
  • Supervised practice self-rescue swim test.
Trip Description

Alaska’s most exhilarating whitewater rafting trip

Six Mile Creek is Alaska’s premier whitewater raft trip, one of the wildest most exhilarating trips in North America, and a NOVA pioneered section that is well known around the world of whitewater. Prepare to get wet as this pristine wild creek runs through three consecutive canyons. Each canyon is more beautiful and more challenging than the last, with tight narrow routes, steep slot drops, crashing waves, and deep beautiful blue pools. It’s an awesome ride all surrounded by lush green rainforest walls. A truly world-class section of whitewater that happens to be half-day accessible and gives a one-of-a-kind Alaskan adventure in just a few hours. This creek cuts right through the gorgeous Chugach National Forest and then pours into the pacific ocean at Turnagain Arm just south of Anchorage. From the creek is a 16-mile drive to the mining town of Hope, AK from the highway junction meeting area. In the town of Hope there are great dining options along with quaint Alaskan charm to explore after your trip. This tour is located two hours south of Anchorage off the Seward Highway. With action-packed adrenaline-pumping rapids set in a serene semi-rain forest gorge, it’s a picture-perfect river trip. NOVA pioneered Six Mile Creek in the 1980s and has constantly led adventures on this famous section of whitewater.

These canyon rapids are defined as ‘pool-drop’ at most water levels. Allowing for the sudden gradient drop or rapid breaks into a calm smaller pool below. When water levels rise these pools become less tame and increase in current between rapids. The first and second canyons have multiple significant Class IV rapids with decent size pools and distance between rapids. Six Mile Creek’s third canyon is where the canyon really changes character. The third canyon is more committing and packed with Class V consecutive rapids. With even more gradient drop and more rapids back-to-back. The pools become smaller and the distance between rapids shortens. This constant and consistent gradient decreasing time between rapids is what elevates the intensity, difficulty and risk for the third canyon.

Both our 2 canyon and 3 canyon raft tours include a mandatory (yet fun) in-river swim test before the start of the tour. This also is to help demystify the experience of being in the moving water and currents, to practice self-rescue, and check everyone’s swimming abilities prior to the trip launch. Guides are able to deny anyone participation in the tour based on their judgment. NOVA was the first in Alaska to incorporate a pre-trip swim test as a safety standard for commercially run class V whitewater. For those adventurous 3rd canyon section rafters, you can choose to enjoy a popular post-rapid celebration swim session after successfully navigating all three of the Six Mile Creek canyons and float down to the take-out to meet the bus for pick up riverside. Six Mile Creek is one of the highest quality and highest adrenaline experiences you can have. NOVA takes pride in being the original rafting company on this legendary section of Alaskan whitewater!

Two Options
We have two different Six Mile Creek rafting options: Both start and end at the same check-in and pick up location.

  1. The two to three hour 2-canyon whitewater run with predominantly class IV rapids. We have a 12 year age minimum for 2 canyon tours. Tours that make a reservation for 2 canyons can drop off youth after 2 canyons and choose to continue on downstream into the 3rd canyon if they are of age and enjoying the creek wanting the challenge of the 3rd canyon. Any new 3rd canyon additions mid-trip may pay the new tour balance post trip.
  2. The three to four hour 3-canyon run which includes the only commercial class V rapids in the great state of Alaska. This is the most intense tour offered at NOVA. We have a 16 year age minimum for 3 canyon tours.
Water Description
Water levels can dramatically change or alter the characteristics and nature of rivers and creeks in Alaska. Natural free flowing waterways are unpredictable and have ever evolving variables compared to dam release controlled waterways. Higher water levels usually result in an increase in difficulty, intensity and risk. Nova has implemented cut-off levels for operating tours as a safety standard for this highly respected section of water. Levels also force tour adjustments like boat sizes, equipment changes, group/load sizes in each boat, and even canceling. Proper weight and power distribution in the rafts is a major key to successful safe navigation. Guides are authorized to make these decisions based on monitoring usgs water level gauges prior to trips launch along with denial of participants from engaging in the activity at any time. Water levels, weather and other variables can also affect the duration of a tour by changing the volume and speed of the current. Our office staff will inform all reservations in advance about any forecasted water level changes that may jeopardize or cancel the tour. Full refunds are issued if cancellations occur and/or rescheduling for runnable levels on another upcoming date is made.
What We Provide
  • *High water level trips have boat loads with groups of 5 people or less per boat
  • *Low water level trips have boat loads with groups of 4 people or less per boat
  • Groups of 4 to 5 people are ideal for this tour. Fill your own boat! Groups smaller may mix in boats with other groups with consent given.
  • Both tours offer hands-on heavy participation in full paddle-boats or paddle-assist with oars for increased maneuverability and power during higher water levels. 
Cancellation Policy

Please consider the fact that Nova Alaska Guides is a small company in remote Alaska with only 100 days in the year to make our living. It will simply be too late for us to fill the spaces that we have set aside for you. 

CANCELLATION POLICY: Day trip cancellations made at least 5 days in advance will receive a full deposit refund. Groups of 10+ need to provide a 14-day notice for a full deposit refund. Multi-Day trips require 30 days’ notice for a full deposit refund. In the event NOVA cancels, you will receive a full refund of your payments. Any absence of a booked tour that is operating or If cancellations are not made within the timeframes given Nova retains the deposit made. All Nova trips require a 50% deposit except for SIX MILE CREEK which due to high demand requires a 100% deposit. Unless Nova cancels your trip, for all cancellations by customers who booked using our online platform you will be required to cover the 1.9% booking fee cost.

Please arrive 15 minutes early to sign Nova's trip waiver. 

If you are late for your trip there is a chance we will have to leave without you. If so, we will do our best to reschedule your trip at no additional cost. If you are not interested in rescheduling then missing your trip is considered an absence, resulting in no refund.

This applies to but is not limited to unforeseen circumstances such as unexpected illness or emergencies. We pride ourselves on our professionalism, excellent customer service, and the best guided trips in Alaska. All we ask is that you show up on time for check-in.

Lastly, please make sure your party meets our trip limitations stated on our website. If anyone is outside these limitations, please email our office so we can evaluate the information provided since we know each person is their own unique individual. 

Thank you - Nova team

Inherent Risks

There are inherent risks associated with river travel and outdoor activities that everyone must accept and understand. Variable uneven terrain, sharp rocks, slippery rocks, and changing weather are common. Some safety hazards will always exist and are beyond human control such as water levels and erosion. Rivers and all moving waterways can be dangerous and deadly. Rescue in these environments and features is not only technical and difficult but in some cases not possible at all. Safety standards are in place for these reasons and must be followed. Guides manage risk by interpreting and recognizing hazards that average boaters and guests are unaware of. Many traveling on the mellow sections have a false sense of security because of the friendly inviting nature of the easy river. Whitewater with rapids on the Class system of III, IV or V sections deserve respect. Individuals traveling on rivers, creeks or streams without professional guides should possess the proper knowledge, experience, and equipment.

**All participants on all our tours must follow our guidelines, procedures and sign a waiver. Only parents or legal guardians may sign for youth minors. We do not allow infants on our tours. We do not allow pets on our tours.

Discounts

Local Alaskans with proof of State issued ID at tour check-in receive a 10% single discount off the individual tour price.

Make it a COMBO: Add a whitewater rafting trip and save 10% off the highest cost trip!. Add a Matanuska Glacier adventure and save 10% off the highest cost trip! **Glacier tours are in a different area of Alaska. Located 4 hours north of Six Mile Creek and 2 hours north of Anchorage at the Matanuska Glacier.

**Discounts only apply to clients participating on both trips

**Discounts applied at trip check-in with the balance due

Additional info
  • NOVA is an advocate and steward for keeping wild places in Alaska wild. Please follow responsible travel and ‘leave no trace’ ethics when visiting these amazing places.
  • NOVA tours operate regardless of most weather conditions, we go rain or shine in Alaska.
  • Waterways and weather can sometimes be cold in Alaska. Please, dress appropriately or bring along some warm synthetic layers and socks for your tour comfort. Cotton layers are not preferred in cold environments or when wet.
  • All standard river gear required for this tour is provided by NOVA including a pfd (personal floatation device), pair of water shoes, river helmet, and full dry-suit. The dry-suit is only a waterproof shell with no warm insulation, please bring your own warm comfortable layers for underneath the dry-suit.
  • Once you are in the dry-suit restroom breaks are difficult to accommodate, please consider facilities pre-trip.
  • All NOVA River Runners Inc., Six Mile Creek rafting tours are operated under a commercial use permit issued by the Chugach National Forest Service.
Location

The trip meeting and check-in location is at the public rest area parking lot 100 yards down the Hope Road from the junction of the Seward Highway and Hope Road intersection. The public rest parking lot is on the right side of the Hope Road just past the junction. PLEASE DO NOT DRIVE THE 16 MILES DOWN TO OUR INFORMATION OFFICE LOCATED IN HOPE, this is an end of the road town where you have to turn back. Stay at the highway junction at the public rest parking lot back where the two highways first merge. This public lot is the meeting area and mobile check-in location for the Six Mile Creek rafting tour. If you are already in the town of Hope, you would then drive the 16 miles back towards the highway junction for your tour check-in.

START LOCATION IS NEAR HOPE, ALASKA

Seward Highway and Hope Highway Intersection, Hope AK 99605

NOTE: Our Six Mile Creek whitewater trips meet at a public rest area, about 100 meters from the Seward & Hope Hwy intersection, on Hope Road. 1.5 hours south of Anchorage. See map for details.

DISCLAIMER: Extreme Whitewater

Six Mile Creek is serious fun whitewater but it’s not for everyone. 3rd canyon participants must possess a high level of physicality, athleticism, handle high levels of exertion, be a decent swimmer and comfortable with the prospect of self-rescue. People with underlying cardiac, respiratory or any other serious health conditions should avoid Class 4-5 whitewater. This is a technical and potentially dangerous section of river where participants can and often do end up out of the boat and in the water. Swimming whitewater is not always fun. Mother nature can provide a lot of thrills and spills, but should always be respected for its power.

SIX MILE CREEK

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