Holitna River (Dillingham Region)
Holitna River (not the Hoholitna River) is 110 miles long located in Game Management Unit 19 and is about 230 miles due west of Anchorage. Might be cheaper to fly commercially to Aniak than use Aniak Air Service. HOWEVER, you would have to fly your raft and all your gear commercially as well. You are better off to load ALL your gear in Anchorage and fly directly to the river drop-off point. This is no time to lost "luggage" on a commercial flight. I can recommend several air taxis in Anchorage.
Alaska's Holitna River is one of the most remote southwest float trip options. Part of Alaska's second largest drainage, the Kuskokwim drainage, the Holitna supports all five species of Pacific salmon and is the best char fishing river I have ever fished. The char are plentiful and their size and appearance is impressive by any standard. The king fishing is excellent in areas as is the sockeye and chum fishing. The river also has grayling, northern pike, and even sheefish at times. One of the least used rivers I have ever floated, it is very likely that you will not see another person on this river system! It is also one of the easiest rivers I have ever floated and seems to have endless large gravel bars making for virtually unlimited camping opportunities. Wildlife on the Holitna River includes bears, wolves, moose, caribou, bald eagles, and beavers.
Forty-Mile River Country located in north central Alaska could be productive for you as well. Caribou, Moose and Bear are found in this region. There are three ways to float this area.
East Fork of the Dennison
This trip is from Fire Lake where you'd float the East Fork of the Dennison to the South Fork of the 40-Mile River until it comes to the bridge with the Taylor Highway where we could have your vehicle positioned for you to drive back to Tok. A super cub on floats is used to land at Fire Lake. Each hunter is permitted 50 lb. of gear and rifle or bow. A load of 700 lb. will be air dropped. This runs $1295.00 per person and an additional $100.00 to have your vehicle moved. Success has been exceptional on this river.
Middle Fork of the 40-Mile River
Using a Cessna 206 into Joseph gets you in walking distance of the river. Your payload would be a maximum of 750 lb. at a cost of $1195.00 per trip. You would float out the Middle Fork to the North Fork of the 40-Mile River, which would take you to the Taylor Highway where we could have your vehicle positioned for you to drive back to Tok. It would cost an additional $150.00 to have your vehicle moved. This river is considered one of the easier floats because the water levels don't drop like other rivers. There is a ½ mile portage point on this river at the Kink. Some parties will wait until they are past the Kink to begin hunting.
3-Finger Charlie
A bit more of challenge due to lower water levels by hunting season, this float goes into a strip called 3-Finger Charlie at the confluence of the river. Most parties will want to float a few days before they begin hunting, in other words, DO NOT HUNT for the first 10 miles. Water levels can drop fast so you really need to be aware to avoid having to drag your raft. Staying very light is one of the keys to successfully hunting this river. A section called the Rock Garden, just below the Galvin's Strip, can pose some problems. The NPS in Eagle likes to know all the parties who float the river and like to know when you are off the river and your success.
You are allowed a payload of 750 lb. for $1295.00 per trip. Some parties will choose to position a vehicle in Circle City so they can drive back to Fairbanks and then come to Tok to pick up their other vehicle. An additional trip from 3 Finger Charlie to Circle City to pick up the rest of the party runs an additional $1295.00 for a 750 lb. payload.
These are rivers to keep your eye on.
