Eagle

Put-In

The put-in for the Bridge to Bridge section of Eagle River is reached by heading east off of the Eagle River Loop Road just south of the Eagle River bridge. If you are kayaking or canoeing, you can park immediately and carry your boat down toward the river, turning upstream just above the river, and walking down a muddy slope to a small beach. If you are rafting, continue .5 miles to a second parking lot. A wide trail leads 100 yards to a small beach.

Take-Out

Take out 2 miles downstream at the Eagle River campground on river left, 100 yards above the Glenn Highway Bridge. This is reached by exiting the Glenn Highway on the Hiland Road/Eagle River Loop Road exit and driving straight across the intersection, following the road 2 miles to the campground. Note that there is a day parking fee of $5 and that the gates close at 10pm. Ask a local about Âthe free side take-out. Alternately, continue another 4 miles down the class III- Military Stretch but only if you have the permit...

Description

The Bridge to Bridge section of Eagle River is the after work run of choice of many Anchorage boaters. It offers a long paddling season from April to October, a few play features, and one respectable rapid. It is a cold, glacial-gray river in a shallow canyon with houses on the rim, but it feels more remote from inside the canyon. On one hand, this is an excellent beginner river because of the mild rapids, short length, and easy access, but it also is a very cold river, and swims can be a quite long at high water. Wood is always an issue, and tends to accumulate in a few spots, listed below. High water runs feature boils and washed out rapids (except for Campground), and can take as little as 15 minutes, which makes the boating vs. putting on and taking off the dry suit ratio go way down. At low water, mor

...