Chickaloon River
CHICKALOON River
Wilderness Rafting Trip
Price
$1850/person (4-5 People)
$1650/person (6+ People)
Adventure Level
Moderate
Trip Minimum
Group of 4 People
(Smaller groups may pay for 4 or build with others)
River Category
Class III (Moderate)
Rapids with moderate, irregular waves which may be difficult to avoid. Complex maneuvers in fast current and good boat control in tight passages or around ledges are often required; large waves or strainers may be present but are easily avoided. Strong eddies and powerful current effects can be found, particularly on large-volume rivers. Injuries while swimming are rare; self-rescue is usually easy but group assistance may be required to avoid long swims. Rapids that are at the lower or upper end of this difficulty range are designated “Class III-” or “Class III+” respectively. Suitable for those who don’t mind getting a little wet from splash, minimum age 10.
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 old 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.
Location
Hicks Creek Facility
8100 W Glenn Highway, Glacier View, AK 99674 *Mile 96
Dates
June 1 – AUG 31, 2021
*June & July 2021 are full
age Limit
Ages 12 – 65
Min Size/Weight/Height
100 Lbs, and 5 Ft. 2 Inches
Max Size/Weight/Height
265 Lbs, and 6 Ft. 6 Inches, Girth 50 Inches
Check-in Time
8:00am
Duration
2 DAYS or 3 DAYS.
Add a day of backcountry hiking to your Chickaloon River adventure and make it a 3-day tour for just $400/person more.
Discounts
Groups of 10 to 30 people receive (10+) Discount of 10% off. 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 Matanuska Glacier adventure and save 10% on your second tour! **Glacier tours are in a different area of Alaska. Located 4 hours north of Sixmile Creek and 2 hours north of Anchorage at the Matanuska Glacier.
**Discounts applied at trip check-in with the balance due
GET OFF THE BEATEN Path
Get off the beaten path with this action packed Alaskan epic adventure! As a fly-out / float-back format this rafting adventure is a one of a kind overnighter only found in Alaska! This bush plane access rafting tour offers amazing views on the way up above the clouds and then back down on the water. Pilots choose to fly over the mountain pass or if weather permits even fly directly up the river valley and get eyes on this beautiful section of water from the sky. The Chickaloon river is very diverse in character from high alpine channel braids of whitewater to boulder graden rapids, to tight canyon walls in the dense forest making for great hiking opportunities. The constant water gradient keeps things swift, interesting and fast paced on the river. Land on shore and enjoy lunch as guides prepare and rig the boats. Spend the evening in the presence of giants and castles. This river splits down the middle of an amazing alpine valley in the middle of the Talkeetna mountains. Offered as a 2 Day or 3 Day trip, NOVA is the only guide service that runs trips on this rarely-visited piece of the Alaska backcountry beauty.
This Alaska wilderness raft trip offers exciting small plane flight-seeing as you fly into the Chickaloon River put-in. Views abound of the river valley and the rugged Talkeetna Mountains. Once landed, lunch will be freshly prepared by your guides.
The rafting starts on a fun Class III segment with a couple of Class IV rapids followed by many miles of continuous fast water. At the end of day, your guide will set up camp and prepare dinner. You have time to relax or explore the area. Enjoy the evening as the night envelops with a cozy campfire and dinner. The next day starts with a leisurely breakfast before embarking on the busiest stretch of river.
This trip includes several mandatory stops to scout the most challenging sections such as “Hotel Rocks” and “Eight Mile Canyon”, then finishing with some lively Class III segments before hitting the confluence with the Matanuska River.
All whitewater and camping gear is provided for you. NOVA will also provide you a complete itinerary and Must-Pack item list prior to departure.
NOVA can accommodate most food requests or dietary preferences. Bring along personal beverages and snacks for the trip. Meal menus are flexible, open to suggestions and determined by budget levels and special requests. Contact our office for details.
Want to add additional days to your multi-day tour for a longer, more custom itinerary? NOVA may be able to accommodate extra days on the water. Contact the office for details.
We operate with two rafts minimum on this trip. This requires a party of four minimum to conduct a trip. Parties of less than four can submit dates of their choice for us to try and develop with others to join. We can create and build trips for small groups that stay in development, until additions book to fill the minimum or pay the entirety. Parties of less can submit dates of their choice for us to try and develop.
DEPARTS FROM: HICKS CREEK, MAT-SU VALLEY
38100 W Glenn Highway, Glacier View, AK 99674
Located 96.5 miles north of Anchorage, this is the staging area for all Matanuska glacier and river trips.
Cancellations
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 full deposit refund. Multi-Day trips require a 30-day notice for 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 SIX MILE CREEK which due to high demand requires a 100% deposit.
Tour Highlights
- Pristine wilderness.
- Small plane flight-seeing.
- Thrilling and fast moving whitewater through a section called ‘Hotel Rocks’.
- Add a day of backcountry hiking to your Chickaloon.
- River adventure and make it a 3-day tour for just $400/person.
CHICKALOON RIVER TRIP UPDATES
- Our July trips are currently fully booked.
- Please contact us to check specific dates of availability; midseason trips are pretty full, but we still have some early season and late season availability.
- 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.
Water levels
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.
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.
You may preview or pre-sign our waiver document, by clicking here.
COvid-19 Update
Parties less than 4 must agree to share a raft with other parties where distancing cannot be maintained feasibly at 6 foot under all possible circumstances during a whitewater raft trip by giving consent to mix non-household members. We recommend creating your own group of friends, family or household members who have had sufficient exposure time together to rule out infection to fill your own boat. 4-5 people is ideal per boat for this tour. Fill your own boat!
Please bring your personal face mask for the tour office check-in process and during vehicle transport. We do require social distancing to the best of your groups ability, whenever possible. Try to build reservations and bookings as one household to minimize exposure. Consent may be gained or required to mix with other non-household members during tours. For more Covid-19 questions or concerns, please contact our office.
You are not required to wear a face mask during the tour on the boat.
