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Rafting, Canoeing & Kayaking

Anchorage and the surrounding Alaska wilderness offer many river rafting, canoeing, kayaking, jet skiing, and motorboating adventures. Local river guides and outfitters offer a variety of experiences.

Read more about Rivers Near Anchorage

River Rafting

Choose from quick but leisurely and scenic floats, longer wilder rides, or multi-day wilderness adventures. Class I to Class IV rapids – trips for all types, ages and abilities.

Canoeing

Discover several lakes within the Anchorage city limits - many of which are stocked with rainbow trout. Popular spots include Jewel, Cheney, and Campbell lakes as well as Westchester Lagoon. Eklutna and Mirror lakes are a few minutes north of downtown. In addition, the Matanuska-Susitna (Mat-Su) Valley, just 45 miles north, is dotted with good fishing and canoeing lakes. Whitewater and river canoeing also available.

Kayaking

Kayak nearby Eagle River with challenging runs in its lower section, or across Eklutna Lake, where you pick up a bike for the 8-mile return trip.

The world-renowned Prince William Sound (out of Whittier, 1 hour south of Anchorage), Resurrection Bay (Seward, 2.5 hours) and Kachemak Bay (5 hours) all offer outstanding sea kayaking.

Motorboating and Jet Skiing

Motorized watersports are very popular just north of Anchorage in various lakes of the Mat-Su Valley and the Nancy Lakes Recreation Area. Jet boat tours explore areas north and south of Anchorage.

Sailboarding and Sailing

Some call them insane, others simply marvel. Ultra-adventurous sailboarders can sometimes be seen in zipping around in Turnagain Arm, just a few minutes south of downtown. Winds here often exceed 50 mph and the second-highest tides in North America makes for quite a sight.