A boatload of recreational opportunities

Alaska is full of ancient history, unusual geography, abundant wildlife, and opportunities for outdoor exploration. Delta Wild and Scenic River has all those things and more.

Delta River is one of six Wild and Scenic Rivers managed by BLM Alaska. These rivers were designated by Congress due to their outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural or other similar values. It is the BLM’s responsibility, in cooperation with other federal agencies, to preserve these rivers so they can be enjoyed by present and future generations.

Delta starts in Tangle River, which connects several of the Tangle Lakes before draining into Delta’s main channel. Then it flows north and a little east to the Tanana River, which eventually joins the mighty Yukon River. Delta is the shortest of BLM Alaska’s Wild and Scenic Rivers at 62 miles long. Interestingly, Delta is divided into four sections, each with its own exceptional traits. The northernmost section is designated as Recreational due to its ease of access and levels of human development, while the section just below it has a Wild designation due to its inaccessibility and primitive shorelines. The two southernmost sections have Scenic designations, which is sort of a halfway point between the Wild and Recreational designations.

The land around Delta is geographically unusual due to a combination of tundra-covered hills, rock cliffs, steep alluvial slopes, and glacial features like moraines and eskers. This wide variety of conditions makes it a great choice for hiking, camping, and photography. Summer visitors enjoy berry picking and fishing with snowmachining and skiing opportunities in the winter. Experienced boaters can brave Class I to Class III rapids on the Delta River for a two-to-three-day trip between Tangle Lakes Campground and Mile Point 212.5 of the Richardson Highway.

Apart from being rich in recreational opportunities and geological features, Delta Wild and Scenic River is flush with archaeological evidence. Ahtna Athabascans are thought to have inhabited the area as long ago as the last ice age. Tangle Lakes Archaeological District, which totals 226,000 acres and surrounds much of the Delta River’s corridor, has hundreds of archaeological sites dating back over 10,000 years making it one of the oldest known habitation areas in Alaska. The first recorded use of Delta was in 1898, when the U.S. Army used it as an exploration route.

Of course, it wouldn’t be an Alaskan river if it didn’t have fish. The Delta River contains mostly Arctic grayling, but there’s good lake trout fishing in late winter and early spring. It also contains round whitefish, burbot, and longnose suckers. More than 100 species of migrating birds inhabit the area during summer, and caribou pass through the area each spring and autumn on the way to and from calving grounds. Moose, bear, wolf, Dall sheep, beaver, lynx, and otter can also be found in the river corridor.

Now that you know what Delta has to offer, what will you explore first?