| Kantishna River | |
|---|---|
 Confluence of the Kantishna River (bottom left) with theTanana River | |
  Location of the mouth of the Kantishna River in Alaska | |
| Native name | Khenteethno' (Lower Tanana) |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| District | Denali Borough,Yukon–Koyukuk Census Area |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | confluence ofMcKinley River andBirch Creek |
| • location | near Chilchukabena Lake,Denali National Park and Preserve,Denali Borough |
| • coordinates | 63°51′58″N151°33′22″W / 63.86611°N 151.55611°W /63.86611; -151.55611[1] |
| • elevation | 647 ft (197 m)[2] |
| Mouth | Tanana River[3] |
• location | 32 miles (51 km) northwest ofNenana,Yukon–Koyukuk Census Area |
• coordinates | 64°45′44″N149°57′56″W / 64.76222°N 149.96556°W /64.76222; -149.96556[1] |
• elevation | 279 ft (85 m)[1] |
| Length | 108 mi (174 km)[3] |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | John Hansen Creek |
| • right | Bearpaw River,Toklat River |
TheKantishna River (Lower Tanana:Khenteethno) is a 108-mile (174 km) tributary of theTanana River in theU.S. state ofAlaska.[3] Formed by the confluence of theMcKinley River withBirch Creek inDenali National Park and Preserve, it drains part of the north slope of theAlaska Range including the Denali massif.[4] The direction of flow is generally north-northeast.[3] TheToklat River is a major tributary.[4]
Boaters can float the Kantishna River and some of its tributaries in canoes, folding canoes and kayaks, or inflatable canoes and kayaks. Some trips begin atLake Minchumina, run about 50 miles (80 km) down the Muddy River to Birch Creek, then downstream to the Birch–McKinley confluence (the source of the Kantishna) and then down the Kantishna to the Tanana. The entire trip is rated Class I (easy) on theInternational Scale of River Difficulty. Dangers include the possibility of dangerous winds on Minchumina Lake, as well as overhanging trees, stumps, and logs along the streams.[5]
Another tributary, Moose Creek, can be floated for about 50 miles (80 km) beginning at Wonder Lake orKantishna and entering the Kantishna River along its middle reaches near Bearpaw. From there to the Tanana, the run is the same as the Lake Minchumina float. The Moose Creek segment includes Class II (medium) rapids.[5]
Media related toKantishna River at Wikimedia Commons| International | |
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