Where_We

The Chatanika River

The Chatanika River flows from the White Mountain Watershed about 100 miles Northeast of Fairbanks, Alaska through the north side of Minto Flats, to the Tolovana River, emptying into the Tanana River some 180 miles from the headwaters of the Chatanika. The site location for 1^stAlaska Outdoor School is approximately in the center of the Chatanika Valley.

The Chatanika, while an historic wild river, with a variety of fish and wildlife, is relatively narrow and easily navigable for all of its length. The area traveled by our guests (to/from the property) is a comfortable canoe travel speed, winding its way through a variety of distinct ecosystems. This is an important State Recreation Area, and historic native fishing ground, undeveloped and relatively unknown except to the nearby Fairbanks community.

'Pristine Wilderness' and seclusion is the main attraction, with a few hearty souls living subsistence lifestyles scattered along the rivers edge. The Chatanika is a unique Alaskan river offering the guest an authentic bush experience. This is the perfect location for 1^stAOS. The Chatanika is home of one of the largest gold trends in Alaska. (Our Goldcamp is designed to provide remarkably authentic gold-panning demonstrations and experience.) Fairbanks, the "City with a Heart of Gold" is well known for its historic gold production. Many visitors to Fairbanks crave getting involved in gold panning, and there are few businesses offering authentic gold panning for tourists.

Minto Flats is a birder's paradise. Located on the Chatanika, only 35 river miles from our site, we will be offering complete packages to this important refuge site. When birds migrate north for the summer, this is one of their prime destinations. Water fowl in great variety make Minto Flats a most desirable destination for bird lovers, yet without any infrastructure on the lower Chatanika, access is near impossible. Guests will find the second leg of their canoe adventure (the first being the canoe trip in to 1^stAOS), filled with sightings of important North American species. Hawks, bald eagles, ravens, owls, woodpeckers, grosbeaks, finches, warblers; waterfowl including all manner of ducks and geese, trumpeter swans, loons, and many more species.

Almost every visitor to Alaska is expecting sensational wildlife sightings. The Chatanika offers prime habitat for a variety of Alaska's fauna including bear, moose, beaver, marmot, lynx, fox, wolverine, wolf, coyote, mink, marten and more. All could be encountered on the Chatanika. For hikers, snowshoers, snowmachiners, skijourers, dogmushers and cross country skiers, the trails are already in place. Extensive access trails built in the days of the Pipeline abound making exploration possible. This is a unique feature to the area around our location site. Few places in remote Alaska offer so many possibilities without extensive new trail work.

The Chatanika River, a Class 1 whitewater river, allows us an opportunity to explore by canoe or kayak, in a safe manner. The exhilaration comes not from raging torrents, but from the incredible scenery and wildlife viewed as we float past pristine splendor.