Places to Paddle tm
Canoeing - Kayaking - Rafting
Stikine River from Great Glacier, BC Canada to Wrangell AK
By reading further, you agree to our Terms of Use

Copyright 2001 Alfonso Vazquez-Cuervo - See Terms of Use

Our Route Summary

  • Submitted by: Eric Yancey, Breakaway Adventures, Box 2107 Wrangell AK. 99929 (888-385-2488)
  • Date Submitted: 1/2001
  • Email: eric@breakawayadventures.com
  • Location: Wrangell, Alaska
  • Class: 1 typical
  • Distance Paddled: 45 miles (3 or 4 days)
  • Release, water level or gauge information: peak volume in June is150,000 cfs (cubic feet per second)
  • Water: fresh
  • Wildlife: Bear, Black and Brown, Moose, Eagles and other birds. Salmon and Trout

Entry and Exit

  • Directions: Wrangell can be reached via a 2 hour flight from Seattle Washington or the Alaska Marine Highway (ferry system) from Bellingham Washington. After arriving at Wrangell Alaska, boats and gear are loaded on a Breakaway Adventures Jet Boat See Photo for your transport up the Stikine River to Great Glacier BC, Canada (45 miles).
  • Fee: contact outfitter
  • Description: access via jet boat shuttle (see photo)
  • Parking: at outfitter
  • Facilities: at outfitter

What We Saw

Great Glacier BC is where your 3-4 day float trip begins (guided or unguided).

Spend the night in tents at undeveloped camp locations or in rented U.S. Forest Service Recreation Cabins, (prior reservations required).

After being dropped off at the Great Glacier campground, take a 1 mile walk to view Great Glacier lake, icebergs and the glacier itself. See Photos

Spend the night at the campground or take to the river and start paddling. You can either find a camping spot for tenting or paddle 15 miles to the Mount Flemmer U.S. Forest Service Recreation Cabin for the night.
The next day you can make a relaxing stop at the Chief Shakes Hot Springs (mineral not sulfur, so there is no "rotten egg smell") for a dip. See Photo

Again it is your choice of lodging for the night, either tents or the Shakes Slough Recreation Cabins.

The next day you can, if your want to do some ambitious paddling going up Shakes Slough to Shakes Lake/Glacier, a 3 mile upstream paddle with a current of about 2-3 mph, or paddle down the main river to the desert. Or maybe to the Rynda Forest Service Cabin for the night and Andrews Slough for a little fishing in the clear water.

The final day paddle on out to the Garnet Ledge Forest Service Cabin to look at the famous Garnets that have been sold in Wrangell to visitors since steamboats plied the inside passage. See Photos You can be either picked up there or paddle across the "flats" to Wrangell.

For a longer adventure, you may also paddle from Telegraph Creek British Columbia to Wrangell.