Alaska River Logs

In the mid-1970's an effort was made by the federal government to study certain rivers in Alaska for inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers program. Teams were sent, often by helicopter, to rivers around the state, to study the recreational potential of these rivers. These teams kept detailed journals of their explorations, and they have been collected into a series of documents known as the Alaska River Logs. Though the information is somewhat dated, it still has great value to recreational users of these areas today. These reports are available here, and are listed by region.

 

Mulchatna River, Alaska as photographed by the Bureau of Outdoor RecreationCAUTION: Before embarking on an Alaska river trip, do your homework! Double-check the information in these reports against current information from your air charter, the Alaska-Pacific River Forecast Center (APRFC), and other floaters. Check our Alaska Boating Forums for reports from others who have been there.  Alaska rivers can be very dangerous because of their remoteness, the climate, their sources, and other factors.  Bring adequate and proper clothing, equipment, and food.  File a "float plan" with someone who can call for help if you do not return on time.  Take a satellite phone or other communications tool if at all possible (but not usually a cell phone because of their limited coverage in Alaska).  Plan carefully for a safe and pleasant trip.

Note also that land status information contained in these documents may no longer be accurate. These logs were compiled long before massive land transferrals of unreserved public land to restrictive public ownership or private ownership.  River users should be careful to follow federal or state regulations where appropriate, and to avoid trespassing on private land.  CLICK HERE for additional information on private lands, including maps and native landholders.

Be sure to also check current fishing or hunting regulations, as what was possible decades ago may not be legal  today.

Finally, the Alaska Outdoors Supersite has attempted to make as much of this material as possible searchable by adding a text layer to the original image-only PDF files.  Where possible, we have also converted these to HTML files.  Please note that while we have corrected obvious errors generated during these processes, errors may still remain.


Region 2 East (kenai peninsula, north gulf coast)Alaska Game Management Region 2 map

Bremner River

Region 2 West (kodiak island)

Karluk River

 


Region 3 East (eastern arctic)Alaska Game Management Region 3 map

Alatna River

Black River

Charley River

Delta River

Fortymile River

John River

Porcupine River

Sheenjek River

 


Region 3 West (central interior)Alaska Game Management Region 3 map

Beaver Creek

Chatanika River

Huslia River

Koyukuk River North Fork

Nowitna River

 


Region 4 East (anchorage, interior)Alaska Game Management Region 4 map

Chitna River

Copper River

Gulkana River

Little Susitna River

Talachulitna River

 


Region 4 West (bristol bay, aleutians)Alaska Game Management Region 4 map

Alagnak River

American Creek

Chilikadrotna River

Kakhonak River

Kanektok River

King Salmon River

Mulchatna River

Nuyakuk River

Tilkakila River

Togiak River

 


Region 5 North (western arctic)Alaska Game Management Region 5 map

Awuna River

Canning River

Colville River

Ivishak River

Kasegaluk Lagoon

Kobuk River

Nigu Etivluk rivers

Noatak River

Sagavanirktok River

Salmon River (Kobuk)

Selawik River

Squirrel River

Utukok River

 


Region 5 South (yukon delta)Alaska Game Management Region 5 map

Andreafsky River

Aniakchak River

Unalakleet River