Mendenhall
Mendenhall Lake to Riverside Drive
| Difficulty | II(III) |
| Length | 4 mi |
| Avg Gradient | n/a |
| Gauge | Mendenhall R Nr Auke Bay Ak |
| Flow Rate as of 1 hour | 1300 cfsrunnable |
| Reach Info Last Updated | June 11, 2024 |
River Description
Update 6/11/2024 4.3ft/1840cfs
While this is a chill river with easy moves, the most danger in this river remains near the condos where you need to respect the trees and cables at the bottom of the rapid. You can eddy out on river right behind the downed tree, near the bend, to see what you are going to get yourself into. The safest move Ive found is approach the top of the rapid at river center and move left as you drop down past the first group of boulders that make a little pour over. Stay in the main current but you really want to ferrry to river left. Watch out for a sharp submerged rock near the bottom of the rapid, located just to the right of the prominent boulder in river center. Easy move but if you swim here the current will push you into the downed trees and thick cables on river right. Lots of submerged trees, rebar, cable you cant see when the water is up.
Update 2/26/2024
Severe flooding of the Mendenhall from the glacier release in the summer of 2023 drastically changed the whole river. This is an entirely new river, with many new strainers and boulders. Proceed with caution. There is some hope for a decent surf wave just past the back loop bridge on river right. I've been scouting it out this winter, solid pool and some time to roll where the wave forms; however, lots of rebar in the rock garden river left underneath the bridge.
Original info below:
Pourovers, surfing waves, holes, endo and cartwheel sites are packed into the section between the Back Loop Bridge and Riverside Drive just past Larry Buzzell's place. Stimulating scenery can be enjoyed by putting on at the USFS Mendenhall Lake campground (near Skater's Cabin). Drive towards the backpackers area until you see the glacier face beyond the lake on your left and a wide spot in the road. Saddle up and follow the shore on your right to the river mouth. A few large rocks and a bit of swift water mark the entry, with good eddies left and right. The water moves sl
...River Features
Put In
Take Out
New wave under back loop bridge
2/26/2024
Potential surf wave if it forms again.
After the glacier release in the summer of 2023 severe flooding changed the entire river. While there was catastrophic damage, a really nice 6ft standing wave formed just downstream of the back loop bridge, with the wave persisting through the fall. I didn't sample this tasty wave due to the copious amount of rebar and other industrial waste swept into the river. During the winter I scouted underneath to see how clear it is. Wave pool is solid, with plenty of time to right any snorkelers getting surfed. From river left underneath the bridhe there are plenty of new boulders, with some rebar concerns. Personally, I would remain river right.
Heres to hoping the wave remains!
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportScouting the river bottom at low flow for rebar and other hazards. Lake gauge was 1.36ft at time of photos.
Looking underneath the bridge for rebar and any other hazards that might make surfing the wave an unsatisfactory performance.
Very fine new playwave at the top of pinball. Look for the Sugarloaf shaped rock in the middle and eddy out behind it. Work your way above the rock to drop in and hold on!
Take out river left just below last rapid, drag across the vacant lot to Riverside Drive. Walk up and cross through Mendenhall River School out to Back Loop Bridge. Or take out river right and hike back up the Brotherhood Bridge trail to Back Loop, turn right and back to the Bridge.