Little Susitna

The Little Su is a great after work or half day run for paddlers in Southcentral. Easy shuttle and mostly roadside, there is plenty of lap potential and egress if need be.

As the river description says the stretch is continuous and busy even at lower flows. 600 is the lowest that we typically run it, although some go in with playboats as low as 400. The stretch picks up in intensity above 1500 but stays relatively the same between 1500 and 2200 which is the highest I have run it. The 1500 to 2200 range is nice because the rapids start to fill in a bit more, but things become much pushier and faster.

1000 to 1200 is a nice medium flow for first timers still understand the character of the stretch but not so fast that you miss the details. When flows are above 1000 you can put in at gold mint, when below I tend to put in at the culvert and skip the 'warm up' section.

This stretch is defintely not somewhere you want to be upside down or out of your boat. Chances of boat recovery are slim, and the stretch only has a few 2-3 boat eddies to collect yourself. That being said, this a super scenic and rewarding run that can stay in for most of the summer.