With the mighty Yukon River at its heart, Yukon-Charley is a National Preserve like no other.
The unspoiled wilderness of Alaska’s Yukon and Charley Rivers is the ideal place for a river trip. Turn of the century gold dredges, peregrine falcon nests, hand-hewn homestead cabins, challenging white water, great fishing, and Alaska’s biggest river are just some of the attractions to this wilderness park. Yukon-Charley is a 2.5 million acre wilderness in Alaska’s wild interior managed by the National Park Service in the eastern interior of Alaska.
The Charley River Watershed is completely protected within the National Park Wilderness. Starting in the high tundra mountains it descends into the verdant boreal forest before joining the enormous Yukon River. Even here in the Yukon’s upper reaches more than a 1000 miles from the Bering Sea, it is an impressive river. Brown with silt from the St. Elias Ranges the Yukon is nearly a half mile wide and flowing at almost 8 miles an hour.
The high meadows in the headwaters flourish with tundra animals like Dall Sheep, wolves and arctic ground squirrels. In the broad Yukon Valley Brown Bears work the beaches in search of chum salmon or the unwary moose calf while falcons hunt the willow flats.
With an impressive variety of habitats from the alpine tundra to the waterfowl rich lakes to the gnarled black-spruce woods, Yukon-Charley National Park keeps the avid birder and the casual naturalist excited and intrigued by the wildlife surviving in the harsh climate.
We offer rafting and canoeing trips on both the Yukon River and its rock studded tributary, the Charley River.
Whether you are interested in the fascinating history, want a relaxing family canoe trip, or are looking to experience real Alaska whitewater; Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve is a great destination.