Nenana River

Coordinates: 64°33′53″N 149°06′18″W / 64.56472°N 149.10500°W / 64.56472; -149.10500
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Nenana River
Denali Borough
 • coordinates63°29′43″N 147°48′01″W / 63.49528°N 147.80028°W / 63.49528; -147.80028[1]
 • elevation3,237 ft (987 m)[2]
Yukon–Koyukuk Census Area
 • coordinates
64°33′53″N 149°06′18″W / 64.56472°N 149.10500°W / 64.56472; -149.10500[1]
 • elevation
344 ft (105 m)[1]
Length140 mi (230 km)[3]
Affluent of the Nenana River in McKinley Park, Alaska.

The Nenana River (Lower Tanana: Nina No’) is a tributary of the Tanana River, approximately 140 miles (230 km) long, in central Alaska in the United States.[3] It drains an area on the north slope of the Alaska Range on the south edge of the Tanana Valley southwest of Fairbanks.[4]

It issues from the Nenana Glacier in the northern Alaska Range, southwest of Mount Deborah, approximately 100 mi (160 km) south of Fairbanks. It flows briefly southwest, then west, then north, forming the eastern boundary of Denali National Park and Preserve.[4] It emerges from the mountains onto the broad marshy Tanana Valley, joining the Tanana River from the south at Nenana, Alaska,[4] approximately 35 miles (56 km) southwest of Fairbanks. The Tanana River continues to its confluence with the Yukon River.

The upper valley of the river furnishes approximately 100 mi (160 km) of the northern route of both the Alaska Railroad and the Parks Highway (Alaska State Highway 3) connecting Fairbanks and Anchorage.

The Nenana supports populations of

Pleistocene age
.

Name origin

Lieutenant

William Bright wrote that the river's name derived from the Lower Tanana (Athabascan) word, neenano', meaning the "stopping-while-migrating stream".[6]

Rafting the Nenana River

Boating

The river is one of the most popular destinations for boating and

Parks Highway, which follows the river for 80 miles (130 km), makes the river accessible at many places.[7]

The river begins as a Class I (easy) rafting stream on the

International Scale of River Difficulty. Jetboats and other craft ply the waters along the Denali Highway. Below this, however, the flow rate increases, and the Nenana becomes a Class I to II (medium) stream for the 38 miles (61 km) between Windy Station and McKinley Village Lodge. The most difficult whitewater, for experts only, occurs over the next 23 miles (37 km), in Nenana Gorge between McKinley Village and Healy, and is rated Class IV (very difficult). Below this, the river is Class I or II all the way to Nenana.[7]

Dangers include extremely cold swift water, Class IV rapids in the gorge, overhanging trees along the upper river, and overhangs, logjams, and braids on the lower river. An additional danger at the river mouth involves following the wrong braid, missing the take-out at Nenana, and being swept into the Tanana River, from which it may not be possible to exit until reaching Manley Hot Springs, 90 miles (140 km) further downstream.[7]

The Nenana River in June 2022

Crossings

Location River elevation Remarks Coordinates
Mile 216 George Parks Highway 2020 ft Known unofficially as “Number One Bridge” 63°27′24″N 148°48′16″W / 63.45667°N 148.80444°W / 63.45667; -148.80444
Mile 231.2 George Parks Highway 1800 ft Crabbie's Crossing[8] 63°39′22″N 148°50′11″W / 63.65611°N 148.83639°W / 63.65611; -148.83639
Mile 238 George Parks Highway 1580 ft 0.7 miles north of
Denali National Park
access road. South extent of “Glitter Gulch” region.		 63°44′14″N 148°53′12″W / 63.73722°N 148.88667°W / 63.73722; -148.88667
Mile 242.9 George Parks Highway 1420 ft Known as “Moody Bridge” or “Windy Bridge”; built 174 ft above river. 63°48′9″N 148°56′0″W / 63.80250°N 148.93333°W / 63.80250; -148.93333
Healy Spur Road 1280 ft East of Healy, Alaska, and south of Usibelli Coal Mine 63°51′15″N 148°57′21″W / 63.85417°N 148.95583°W / 63.85417; -148.95583
Mile 275.8 George Parks Highway 680 ft Jack Coghill Bridge to the Interior 64°13′5″N 149°16′51″W / 64.21806°N 149.28083°W / 64.21806; -149.28083

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Nenana River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. January 1, 2000. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  2. ^ Derived by entering source coordinates in Google Earth.
  3. ^ a b c Orth, Donald J.; United States Geological Survey (1971) [1967]. Dictionary of Alaska Place Names: Geological Survey Professional Paper 567 (PDF). University of Alaska Fairbanks. p. 681. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 17, 2013. Retrieved October 17, 2013. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
  4. ^
    ISBN 978-0-89933-289-5
    .
  5. ^ Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Rivers of the Lower Tanana Management Area, "The Nenana River" Accessed August 6, 2009.
  6. ISBN 0-8061-3576-X
    .
  7. ^
    ISBN 978-0-89732-957-6
    .
  8. Justia.com. 1994. Archived
    from the original on 2012-09-22. Retrieved 2011-06-01.

External links

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