The Chilikadrotna River is a tributary of the
Mulchatna River
The Mulchatna River (Denaʼina language, Dena'ina: Vałts'atnaq') is a tributary of the Nushagak River in the U.S. state of Alaska. Beginning at Turquoise Lake, it flows generally southwest to meet the larger river northeast of Dillingham, Ala ...
in the
U.S. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its so ...
of
Alaska
Alaska ( ) is a non-contiguous U.S. state on the northwest extremity of North America. Part of the Western United States region, it is one of the two non-contiguous U.S. states, alongside Hawaii. Alaska is also considered to be the north ...
.
It begins in
Lake Clark National Park and Preserve
Lake Clark National Park and Preserve is a List of national parks of the United States, United States national park and National preserve, preserve in southwest Alaska, about southwest of Anchorage, Alaska, Anchorage. The park was first proclai ...
in northern
Lake and Peninsula Borough and flows westward into the larger river northwest of
Nondalton.
In 1980, the upper of the river became part of the
National Wild and Scenic Rivers System
The National Wild and Scenic Rivers System was created by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 (Public Law 90-542), enacted by the U.S. Congress to preserve certain rivers with outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values in a free- ...
.
This segment, rated "wild", lies within the national park.
Recreation
During the months from June to September, the river is generally floatable in rafts or in kayaks by boaters with the necessary skills. Much of the Chilikadrotna River is rated Class II (medium) on the
International Scale of River Difficulty, though a stretch about below the confluence with the Little Mulchatna River is rated Class III (difficult). The river also includes some Class I (easy) water. Dangers include overhanging vegetation, logjams, swift current, and a narrow winding course.
Floatfishing is popular on this river, although ''Alaska Fishing'' warns that this is "not a river for inexperienced boaters."
There are no formal campgrounds or other accommodations along the river.
Game fish
Game fish, sport fish or quarry refer to popular fish species pursued by recreational fishing, recreational fishers (typically angling, anglers), and can be freshwater fish, freshwater or saltwater fish. Game fish can be fish as food, eaten aft ...
on the Chilikadrotna include
silver salmon
The coho salmon (''Oncorhynchus kisutch;'' Karuk: achvuun) is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family and one of the five Pacific salmon species. Coho salmon are also known as silver salmon (or "silvers") and is often sold as medium re ...
,
Arctic grayling
The Arctic grayling (''Thymallus arcticus'') is a species of freshwater fish in the salmon family Salmonidae. ''T. arcticus'' is widespread throughout the Arctic and Pacific drainages in Canada, Alaska, and Siberia, as well as the upper Missou ...
,
char,
rainbow trout
The rainbow trout (''Oncorhynchus mykiss'') is a species of trout native to cold-water tributary, tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in North America and Asia. The steelhead (sometimes called steelhead trout) is an Fish migration#Classification, ...
, and
lake trout
The lake trout (''Salvelinus namaycush'') is a freshwater Salvelinus, char living mainly in lakes in Northern North America. Other names for it include mackinaw, namaycush, lake char (or charr), touladi, togue, laker, and grey trout. In Lake Sup ...
.
See also
*
List of rivers of Alaska
This is a List of rivers in Alaska, which are at least fifth-order according to the Strahler stream order, Strahler method of stream classification, and an incomplete list of otherwise-notable rivers and streams. Alaska has more than 12,000 rivers, ...
References
External links
Rafting on the Chilikadrotna– National Park Service
{{authority control
Rivers of Lake and Peninsula Borough, Alaska
Rivers of Alaska
Wild and Scenic Rivers of the United States