MCCARTHY BOAT TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Raft Two Rivers, Ride a Bush Plane: Kennicott to Nizina in a Day
A one-day St. Elias Alpine Guides offering: oar-raft Class II–III whitewater, a deli-style riverside lunch, wildlife-rich glacial valleys, and a scenic bush plane return.
Raft Two Rivers, Ride a Bush Plane: Kennicott to Nizina in a Day.
Raft and Flightsee carries you deep into the Wrangell–St. Elias backcountry, launching on the Kennicott River just downstream from the Kennicott Glacier and finishing with a bush plane lift back to McCarthy — all in a compact, wilderness-steeped day.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Surging Class II–III rapids by oar
Guides run surging Class II–III rapids in oar-driven rafts, so you can relax, hang on, and watch the river carve through a wide glacial valley.
Remote valleys and wildlife viewing
The route threads remote river corridors accessible only by boat, opening frequent opportunities to spot river-edge wildlife as the Kennicott drains glacial ice into the valley.
Riverside lunch and a scenic bush plane return
A deli-style picnic lunch is included on the river, and the day concludes with a roughly 15-minute scenic bush plane flight back to McCarthy.
What the day feels like
How the day unfolds
Begin half a mile downriver from the Kennicott Glacier and float through a glacial valley as your guide pilots an oar raft through Class II and III water; after connecting to the twisting Nizina River and threading Nizina Canyon, you pause for a riverside picnic before boarding a bush plane for the return to McCarthy.
THE RIVER
Surging Class II–III rapids by oar
Guides run surging Class II–III rapids in oar-driven rafts, so you can relax, hang on, and watch the river carve through a wide glacial valley.
THE WILDERNESS
Remote valleys and wildlife viewing
The route threads remote river corridors accessible only by boat, opening frequent opportunities to spot river-edge wildlife as the Kennicott drains glacial ice into the valley.
THE EXIT
Riverside lunch and a scenic bush plane return
A deli-style picnic lunch is included on the river, and the day concludes with a roughly 15-minute scenic bush plane flight back to McCarthy.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this day is built for and who should think twice.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The outing is a roughly 7-hour, single-day excursion.
Personal gear is not included; the operator provides a neoprene top, rain boots, and a personal flotation device. Bring personal items you want that aren’t provided (clothing, extras, gratuity).
The trip includes an experienced, knowledgeable guide, lunch, neoprene top, rain boots, PFD, and roundtrip transportation to and from McCarthy.
Pricing is tiered: adult (ages 13+) and child (ages 8–12) rates apply; minimal prior rafting experience is required.
The river launch is on the Kennicott River about a half-mile downstream from the terminus of the Kennicott Glacier; the operator provides roundtrip transport to and from McCarthy.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the trip?
The outing is approximately 7 hours in duration.
What ages can participate and how are rates structured?
Rates are split by age: adult pricing applies to ages 13 and up; a child rate applies to ages 8–12.
Do I need prior rafting experience?
The operator states minimal experience is required; trips are run in oar rafts with guides in control of the boat.
What safety and clothing gear does the operator provide?
The operator provides a neoprene top, rain boots, and a personal flotation device; personal gear is not included.
How do we return to McCarthy?
The day concludes with a scenic bush plane flight back to McCarthy; the flight is listed at about 15 minutes.
Is lunch included?
Yes — a deli-style picnic lunch is included in the trip package.