Archangel Creek
Fairangel Creek Confluence to the Little Su Confluence
| Difficulty | V |
| Length | 1.6 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 324 fpm |
| Gauge | L Susitna R Nr Palmer Ak |
| Flow Rate as of 58 minutes | 119 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | January 23, 2021 |
River Description
If the Little Su isn't steep and fast enough for you, Archangel Creek will definitely get your heart pumping. The creek is very steep and continuous and is pretty much one long boulder rapid. Stick with the water, pick your slot, and keep your nose up. There is one good three or four boat eddy on river left right were the river makes a kink to the right at the top of the hardest, most consequential rapid, Rib Tickler. Scout and or portage on the right.
Look for the Little Su gage to read at least 800. This correlation works best in the spring during snowmelt. The Archangel road may not be open in the spring. Don't let the hike down the road dissuade you from running the creek.
Put In - If you have reached the bridge on Archangel road you have gone just too far. You can put in at the bridge at high water, but there is some serious mank downstream. Look for two large granite boulders on the right hand side of the road (east) with a pull out on the left hand side (west). Park here hand hike down through the field of lupin to the creek.
Take out- Gold Mint Trailhead. Put in for the Little Su.
Video of a high water run on Archangel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYKa0aslR9o
River Features
Put In
Take Out
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportArchangel Creek is like the Little Su ramped up a few notches, it has the same Talkeetna character, steep with polished granite boulders and very fast. There are some great drops and boofs but most horizon lines are blind and can't really be boat scouted. We were in and out of our boats a lot, with one portage around a particularly manky section. The riverbank is mostly alders, which can make portaging and scouting difficult. You defintely do not want to be upside down or out of your boat here. Eddies are few and far between. This is a great run if you're bored of the Little Su and want to ramp it up, or just looking for an adventure. The beginning of the stretch has beautiful views of Hatcher and the Archangel valley. It has a remote feel for only being just outside of Palmer. Continue down to the confluence with the Little Su and it will feel like you have tons of water. It took us about 4 hours to do the Archangel and Little Su sections with a lot of time for scouting in Archangel. We went in when the Little Su gauge was about 2000, and somehow Archangel simultaneously felt like it had too much and too little water in it. I wouldn't want to go in any higher than that but also not any lower.