Denali Southside River Guides offers fully-guided day trips in Denali State Park for those who want to explore Alaska's rivers and backcountry. Scenic wildlife viewing floats are available and all gear is provided. Each of our trips make every moment of Alaska's long summer days memorable. We strive to provide flexibility in trip departure times whenever possible, in order to accommodate the needs of travelers. Please call us to arrange a time that works for you.

day floats

Chulitna Day Floats
This peaceful scenic float takes you through the stunning Chulitna Canyon and ends 19 miles downstream. You will experience stunning vistas of Denali and the Alaska Range, as well as the Talkeetna Mountains. You will have opportunities to view spawning Salmon, grizzly bears, black bears, eagles, and other wildlife as your guide leads you through the history and mystique of the area. Minimum of 4 people.

Service Fee: $99.00 per person
Children 12 and under: $69.00

overnight float trip options

East Fork
This scenic float takes you on the border of Denali National Park and into Denali State Park. You will enjoy 3 days and 2 nights of stunning views of Denali and the Alaska Range. Your first day is spent on a crystal clear river where you may relax, float and enjoy spotting Salmon swim below you on their journey up river to spawn. Over this 3 day journey we will merge with numerous other rivers and feeder creeks and pass through stunning canyons and expansive valleys that all afford you with excellent opportunities to view the bears, eagles and other wildlife that frequent this territory.

You will be pampered and catered to throughout this trip, enjoying gourmet fireside meals and the best riverside accommodations available. We can stop along the way to view beaver ponds or for a beautiful hike up to a waterfall. This river offers all five species of salmon, as well as excellent rainbow and grayling fishing for those who wish to fish. A must for bear lovers and nature photographers.

Note: This trip offers a lot of flexibility for travelers, as it can be done in 2 days and 1 night upon request.

Service Fee: $595.00 per person

Tokositna
There is no trip quite like this one. You will board a floatplane outside the beautiful town of Talkeetna and enjoy a short scenic flight to a remote lodge in the Southside of Denali National Park. Tokosha Mountain Lodge sits on the banks of the Tokositna River with spectacular views of Denali and the Tokosha Mountains. It was originally homesteaded in 1969 by John and Marisa Neill who will be your humble hosts for the evening. Your evening will be spent listening to wonderful stories of your hosts' life in remote Alaska while enjoying a home-cooked family-style meal. After dinner you may choose to take a short hike, canoe on the lake or retire to your cabin on the river's edge.

The next morning, after a hearty breakfast, you will meet your guide riverside and begin your float down the Tokositna River. We will watch for the abundant wildlife indigenous to this
area and enjoy stunning views of Denali and the Alaska Range along the ~ 6 hour float back to Talkeetna. This trip can be shortened to a 2-hour float at the request of our guests. In addition, if you wish to have a longer scenic flight that takes you around Denali before landing at the lodge or to incorporate a day of rafting down to the lodge this can be arranged.

Minimum of 4 people.
Service Fee: $595.00 per person