Places to Paddle tm
Canoeing - Kayaking - Rafting
Stikine River from Shakes Lake to Wrangell AK
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Our Route Summary

  • Submitted by: Eric Yancey, Breakaway Adventures, Box 2107 Wrangell AK. 99929 (888-385-2488)
  • Date Submitted: 12/2000
  • Email: eric@breakawayadventures.com
  • Location: Wrangell, Alaska
  • Class: 1 typical
  • Distance Paddled: 35 miles
  • Release, water level or gauge information: peak volume in June is150,000 cfs (cubic feet per second)
  • Water: fresh
  • Wildlife: Bear, Black and Brown,Moose, Eagles and other birds. Salmon and Trout

Entry and Exit

  • Directions: Wrangell can be reached via a 2 hour flight from Seattle Washington or the Alaska Marine Highway (ferry system) from Bellingham Washington. After arriving at Wrangell Alaska, boats and gear are loaded on a Breakaway Adventures Jet Boat See Photo for your transport up the Stikine River to Shakes Lake (35 miles).
  • Fee: contact outfitter
  • Description: access via jet boat shuttle (see photo)
  • Parking: at outfitter
  • Facilities: at outfitter

What We Saw

Shakes Lake is where your 2-3 day float trip begins (guided or unguided).

Spend the night tenting at undeveloped camp locations or in rented U.S. Forest Service Recreation Cabins, (prior reservations required). After being dropped off at Shakes Lake, take the day to explore around the Glacier, Icebergs and waterfalls in the valley that has been carved out of the Coastal Mountains of Southeast Alaska.
Striking waterfalls can also be witnessed on the Stikine.

Spend the night at Shakes Lake or paddle down Shakes Slough approx. 3 miles to one of the Shakes Rec. Cabins to spend the night.
Depending on your time allotted the following morning you can paddle back to Wrangell or spend a leisure day of paddling and spend night number 2 at the Rynda Forest Service Cabin or the Garnet Ledge Forest Service Cabin, shown at left on the "flats" (Stikine River Delta) located at saltwater.

For a longer adventure, you may also paddle from Telegraph Creek British Columbia to Wrangell.