The Alsek and the "Tat" are two arms of the same river system. The Alsek flows from Haines Junction, in the Yukon, to Dry Bay on the gulf of Alaska. The "Tat" flows from Dalton Post, in British Columbia, to its' confluence with the Alsek just a few miles upstream of the U.S. Border.

Wild flowers bloom all summer, berries carpet the hillsides and mushrooms abound in the forests and alder, birch, evergreens, and cottonwood. On the steep hillsides, mountain goat and dall sheep feed on lush grass. Brown bear, wolves, lynx, wolverine, and black bear flourish in the pristine valley. Moose, ducks, geese, and swans, share marshes and ponds. Eagles, falcons, and a variety of hawks, soar in search of small prey. Kingfishers, jeagers, and arctic terns hover and dive for fingerlings in the river. Salmon battle the swift current of the river to return to the same spawning grounds in which they were born.

Both trips reach their full crescendo at Alsek Lake, where the Grand Plateau and Alsek Glaciers join a face of ice nearly 8 miles wide, encircling a deep lake filled with huge icebergs. We will row out among the icebergs and across the lake to the face of the glacier. To see a massive piece of the glacier break off and thunder into the lake is one of those sights you will never forget. To top it all off, towering 15,000 feet above our camp, is the ice capped summit of Mt. Fairweather, the crown jewel of the Alaska coast.

Which trip to choose? The Tatshenshini River trip covers about 140 miles in 10 days. The Alsek takes 13 days and covers about 190 miles. Both trips spend 4 or 5 days below the rivers' confluence, but their difference lies above.

The Tatshenshini River valley is more lush and forested, while the Alsek is more barren and glaciated. The Tatshenshini has more moose, the Alsek more bears. The Alsek carries a much larger volume of water. The Alsek is more remote and unexplored, one step deeper into the ice age. The Tatshenshini feels more alive, the clutch of the ice further in the past. The Tatshenshini served as fishing and hunting grounds and a travel corridor for the Tlinget Natives for centuries, while the Alsek was locked away by glaciers.

Both rivers have whitewater. The Alsek has the largest rapids but the Tatshenshini River has perhaps the most fun rapids. The Alsek has Turnback canyon, where the Tweedsmuir glacier has forced the Alsek into a treacherous twisting gorge, full of thundering rapids. It is too dangerous for rafting, so we will use a helicopter to do the 10 mile portage. From the helicopter it’s a spectacular view of the glacier and the rapids. Choose the one that best fits your schedule, then come back another time and see the other.

Join us for a wilderness adventure you will never forget…..

tasheshini river rafting Itinerary

Tatshenshini River Day 1
Our Tatshenshini River adventure begins in Haines, Alaska, a small town located 100 miles north of Juneau on the Lynn Canal. We will arrange hotel accommodations, an orientation session, and a gear check on the first evening.

Tatshenshini River Day 2
From Haines, we will drive 110 miles to Dalton Post in Canada's Yukon territory to start the trip. At first the drive follows the Chilkat River, home of the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, the drive then climbs out of the coastal valley into the high alpine region, a wonderland of wild flowers, glaciers, and incredible vistas. At Dalton Post we will board our rafts and begin the trip down the Tatshenshini River and quickly enter the first gorge with the main white water of the trip. These spirited class 2 and 3 rapids are continuous fun for the next five miles.

Tatshenshini River Day 3
Today the Tatshenshini slows, winding its way through the thick forested valley. The wooded flats are rich with wildlife and nearby ponds provide the perfect habitat for a large population of moose. By the afternoon the river reaches the Alsek Mountains, a towering range of ice capped peaks that turns the river south. Here the river once again picks up speed, sweeping us further into the pristine alpine wonderland.

Tatshenshini River Day 4-5
The river braids out into an ever widening valley, doubling its volume as it cuts deeper into the mountain ranges. The broad open deltas of the tributaries provide us with excellent opportunities to spot a bear, wolf, and occasionally even a wolverine or lynx. High on the slopes above, herds of beautiful white mountain goats graze on the grassy knolls or profile on the rugged crags.

Tatshenshini River Day 6
Each day that we float downstream the mountains in view are taller and the glaciers seem larger and more numerous. When we reach the confluence of the Tatshenshini and the Alsek Rivers you will see an awe inspiring place where four major valleys converge. We will camp near the Alaskan and Glacier Bay National Park Border.

Tatshenshini River Day 7
Early in the morning we will pass into Alaska's Glacier Bay National Park and into the sight of the massive Walker Glacier. This magnificent glacier tumbles down crystal blue to the river's edge. It is enough to take your breath away. We will spend the afternoon exploring the glacier, making our way up to the first of its ice falls. We will marvel at its jagged seracs, peer into its deep crevasses, and enjoy a snack on the colorful rocks of the medial moraines. Only by wandering onto the glacier can you truly appreciate just how huge, powerful and alive these glaciers really are.

Tatshenshini River Day 8
On the river again, more glaciers, at one point you can count over twenty glaciers in a spectacular panorama. The Alsek and Grand Plateau Glaciers come together at the river to form an eight mile wide face of ice arcing around a beautiful blue lake filled with icebergs, the largest found anywhere in Glacier Bay Park. Thunder rumbles across the lake at regular intervals as the glacier spawns another berg. The entire scene is only the foreground however to one of the world's most beautiful mountains, Mt. Fairweather. The totally ice clad summit soars over 15,000 feet above our camp.

Tatshenshini River Day 9
We will spend the day rowing out into the lake (weather permitting) for a closer look at the glaciers and massive icebergs. Our last camp is the most spectacular one yet. It is here that we coined the phrase "scenic overdose".