Alaska whitewater - Colville River, North Slope Borough North Slope county, Thunder Creek to Harrison Bay section whitewater kayaking, rafting, and paddling information.   CLASS I-II     375 miles   Be aware the nearest metropolitan area is NOT Kodiak, Alaska, but Fairbanks, in the central part of the state. Went down this river in 1975, and topo maps made in 1955 were accurate for the most part, but the river had made some serious changes. (Like one large meander loop, 1/2 mile long, was gone!) Upriver from Umiat one needs to be particularly careful of river icings before July. From Umiat to the coast the drop is about 1 foot per mile or so - easy water - but it IS very remote. Nuiksut, in the river delta, is not always that hospitable to     Anglos 'from outside', and there is a compound closer to the coast run by Jim and Teena Helmericks (he's a pilot and guide) where they welcome visitors. Jim's dad Bud came down this by canoe in the early 1950s after portaging across the Brooks Range at Anaktuvuk Pass. Says Bob Nelson The Thunder Creek to Harrison Bay section of Colville River in Alaska is 375 miles long and is according to American Whitewater a class I-II section of whitewater. If you've been whitewater rafting and kayaking outside this state you might find the rivers here a bit more challenging, so keep in mind that the rivers in this state are less manageable. Getting some good exercise and just being out on the river for a while are great attractions for lots of people. The beautiful scenery of Alaska and the cool fresh water will make you feel   great. There aren’t any hotels right nearby but if you're willing to drive a short distance then no problem but do book a room before you come because it is a very popular destination. A stretch this long is of course too much for a one day trip, perfect for a real wilderness adventure. If you're a camper you can camp at one of the great campgrounds nearby. This is the only paddling stretch along Colville River. Briefly about the general area: High temperatures at Colville River during the summer are in the 40's with nighttime lows in the 30's. The winter brings highs down to the-20's while the cold winter nights at Colville River are in the-30's. Not much rain falls here at Colville River; most of the rain falls all through August; February is when it's the driest. Colville River, Thunder Creek to Harrison Bay road map Printable road map with the put-in and take-out locations clearly marked. QUICK STATS AW Class: I-II Length: 375 miles    Putin Location Coordinates: Latitude: 68.8336 Longitude: -160.35001 Takeout Location Coordinates: Latitude: 70.44611 Longitude: -150.35778 Paddler input for Colville River, Alaska: Submit Input: Your Name: Write or Paste Input here: Upload picture:      Input Submission Guidelines Current weather conditions at Colville River, Alaska Local climate location: BARROW WSO AP 85 miles away RAFTING TRIP OUTFITTERS There are no whitewater outfitters currently listed for this river.   All Alaska Whitewater Complete list of all the whitewater paddling spots in Alaska. Books about whitewater paddling on Colville River, Alaska List of books from Amazon.com that cover whitewater paddling on Colville River, Alaska. Find a whitewater outfitter in Alaska Whitewater Basics If you're new to whitewater paddling please take a look at this basic whitewater info. Outdoors Recreation Near Kodiak, Alaska Very comprehensive list of a variety of outdoors recreation in the vicinity of Kodiak, Alaska, the metro area neareast to Colville River. Find info on campgrounds, hiking trails, ski resorts, lakes, beaches, parks, whitewater and more.       These outdoors activities are available near Colville River.