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Alaska waterways
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After spending the night at the Refuge Field Station on Camp Island people and gear were ferried by aircraft and motorboat down to the outlet of Karluk Lake. At the outlet is a four-bunk recreation cabin provided by the Fish and Wildlife Service. Four people who were preparing to float the river were camped here. Since the lake provides a convenient access point to the river, there are frequently people gathered at this point during the king salmon run. In addition to the cabin the site provides suitable tent sites and good fishing for dolly vardens and red salmon in the lake, particularly near the mouths of creeks. The weather on this day was rather typical with a steady rainfall.
Field Inspection of Karluk River, June 24-26, 1980
After inflating the boats and loading the gear, we started down the river. We
used two 13-foot Avon Adventurers. Scenic, snow-capped mountains and foothills
with their slopes reaching the waters edge surround the lake. These slopes are
generally covered with lush vegetation, including trees and tall shrubbery. The
river immediately leaves this mountain topography behind and enters a relatively
flat, tussock covered and wet
lowland area.
We floated down river a distance of about nine river miles and camped in a
grassy area on the east bank, about one-half mile below the public recreation
cabin at Portage. The river was higher than normal. Upstream of Portage the
river is primarily a single channel, mostly about 12 inches deep, with frequent
"holes" two to three feet deep. The river bottom is mostly gravel, sand or a
mixture of the two. Siltation is rather minimal. Some bank erosion is occurring
but is not excessive. Between the outlet of Karluk Lake and Portage Cabin there
are no significant natural impediments to float boating, or challenges, although
at a lower or normal water flow there are a few places where people would need
to drag their boats over shallow areas. We had to maneuver around
a temporary fish weir in the river about two miles below Karluk Lake Outlet.
Camping sites are quite limited because of the predominance of moist tussock
covered ground unsuitable for tent camping and total lack of exposed gravel bars
or beaches.
Portage is commonly a place for concentration of human activity on the river
during the King Salmon run and during the time of our trip was no exception. The
reason is this straight stretch of river offers the only river access for float
planes (in addition to Karluk Lake and Karluk Lagoon). Some visitors to the
river either start their float trip here rather than Karluk Lake or fly in to
here and are picked up here without floating the river. An optional possibility
is flying or boating into Larson Bay and hiking about 2 1/2 miles to Portage. A
public recreation cabin with 10 bunks is located here as well as a very small
Fish and Wildlife Service administrative cabin. Compared with the rest of the
river corridor camping sites are more easily found in the Portage vicinity. We
saw about a half dozen separate groups of tent campers in the Portage area. We
tried some fishing with very poor results. The constant rain and cold wind
discouraged much fishing and the high water apparently reduced the normally
outstanding potential for catching King Salmon.
June 25th
All day long we again encountered rain and wind. We floated about 13 river miles
to the upper part of Karluk Lagoon, where landing a floatplane is possible. We
camped on a grassy incline on the north bank of the river. In the first 6 or 7
miles below Portage the river passes through country similar to that seen during
the first days float - relatively flat topography and low hills or ridges. The
river braids in places as it splits around numerous small islands. An occasional
tent camping site might be found. Then the river enters a scenic canyon Field
Inspection of Karluk River, June 24-26, 1980 that it continues through until
reaching the lagoon. In the canyon the river picks up a little speed and a few
Class I rapids are created among numerous rocks in the river. We encountered no
problems at high water but at normal water level a float boater would need to
walk his boat through many shallow, rocky stretches. Suitable camping sites are
extremely limited in the canyon. We saw several bald eagles while floating
through the canyon. Upstream a short distance from where the river enters the
lagoon is located a fish weir maintained by Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
This structure crosses the entire width of the river and is a complete
navigation obstruction. The best portage (only a few yards) is on the south
bank. There is even a gate, which can be removed to line a small boat through
(it was too narrow and too low for our Avon Adventurer rafts).
Although we were due to fly out the afternoon of the 25th, the weather prevented
any flying until the afternoon of the 26th. Such delays are typical in this
region.
Summary
The primary recreation attraction of the Karluk River has been and will likely
continue to be sport fishing, primarily for King Salmon during mid-June to
mid-July. The float boater will encounter a few easy Class I rapids and during
low water may have to walk his boat through a lot of shallow places,
particularly in the canyon. Except to a limited extent during high water periods
around Portage the use of small outboard motors is not possible. The river
velocity is about 2 to 3 mph.
Access to the river is very good with the alternatives being to land a
floatplane on Karluk Lake; to land a floatplane on the river at Portage or to
walk into Portage from Larsen Bay; or to land a floatplane in Karluk Lagoon or
to travel across Karluk Lagoon by motor boat and walk up the river bank to fish
the lower segment. There is an airstrip now at Karluk Village, which can only
accommodate very small wheel planes such as a Super Cub, but plans are underway
to upgrade the strip to accommodate larger planes in the future.
In addition to the excellent King Salmon and other fishing possibilities, the
principle recreation attributes of the Karluk River include the opportunity to
view bald eagles; to enjoy pretty scenery; and to experience this in a somewhat
primitive setting. The highest concentration of eagles to view on the river is
in the canyon where we saw perhaps a dozen. The best scenery includes that of
the clear water lake ringed with snow-capped mountains and the six or seven mile
long canyon on the lower river. Although not primitive in comparison to many of
Alaska's rivers, the Karluk does offer a much better opportunity to escape the
crowds than many of Alaska's accessible rivers with good salmon fishing.
The entire river corridor, including that portion within the former boundaries
of Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge is privately owned by the Native Village
Corporation of Karluk and Nu-Nachk-Pit, Inc. [Webmaster's note: be sure to
check with the landowners for access permission information}
Karluk River [47 kb]
List of rivers for which information is available on this website
Alagnak River | Alatna River | American Creek | Andreafsky River | Aniakchak River | Awuna River | Beaver Creek | Black River | Bremner River | Canning River | Charley River | Chilikadrotna River | Chitina River | Colville River | Copper River | Delta River | Fortymile River | Gulkana River | Huslia River | Ivishak River | John River | Kakhonak River | Kanektok River | Karluk River | Kasegaluk Lagoon | King Salmon River | Kobuk River | Koyukuk River North Fork | Little Susitna River | Mulchatna River | Nigu Etivluk rivers | Noatak River | Nowitna River | Nuyakuk River | Porcupine River | Saganirktok River | Salmon River (Kobuk) | Selawik River | Sheenjek River | Squirrel River | Talachulitna River | Tlikakila River | Togiak River | Unalakleet River | Utukok River
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