Fun on the Water: Rafting or Kayaking on the Copper River (6 days)

Your two guides, Kathie and Bill Merchant, pick you up at the Anchorage airport and drive with you along the scenic Glenn Highway, following the Wrangell Mountains all the way to McCarthy, an old gold-mining village that today is the starting point for about 90 percent of all expeditions into the Wrangell Mountains. For you, this is where the tour on the Copper River begins. Equipped with tents, food and all the gear, you set off with your guides, who never lose track – whether of the rafts or the number of kayaks.

The Copper River rises in the Wrangell Mountains and winds its way to the Gulf of Alaska. It is Alaska's fifth-largest river, flows at a speed of 12 to 15 km/h (7 to 9 mph) and has quite a few rapids and standing waves in store. Just a few yards past the put-in at McCarthy, it leads into untouched, indescribable wilderness. You are highly unlikely to meet other people here, but very likely to spot wildlife such as bears, caribou, coyotes, lynx, eagles or beavers along the riverbank. Keep an eye out for the three different salmon species in the Copper River (Chinook, King and Silver), too. Who knows, maybe you'll catch one and enjoy it for dinner. Kathie and Bill also take care of your meals throughout the tour – and will surely be happy to grill the salmon while you make yourselves comfortable at camp.

The meandering river takes you past many glaciers. Some Alaskans claim it is the only river where the mountains get more impressive and bigger the farther downstream you go. The crowning highlight is Childs Glacier, with its 100-meter-high (330-foot) deep-blue ice wall that drops straight into the river. In summer, with a little luck, you can watch house-sized chunks of ice break off the glacier and crash into the water with a deafening roar. From here on you are no longer alone on the water – floating icebergs become your traveling companions.

The take-out for this tour is Mile Lake. A shuttle takes you along an 80-kilometer (50-mile) dusty gravel road to the small and very quirky fishing town of Cordova, which is more comfortably reached by plane or ferry. After exploring the town, you spend the night at a cozy bed and breakfast. The next day, you continue by ferry across Prince William Sound to Whittier. With a little luck, you'll spot whales or sea lions along the way.

Little by little, you approach civilization again: you pass through the longest combined rail and highway tunnel in North America and drive along Turnagain Arm toward Anchorage. A trip of superlatives comes to an end – and after such intense days, saying goodbye to Kathie and Bill Merchant and the rest of the team won't be easy. But hey: there's always a next time!

Of course, we can customize the trip for you, just as all our offers are meant as inspiration. Extensions or variations are very welcome. For example, you can already put in on the Kennicott River, which flows via the Nizina River and the Chitina River into the Copper River near McCarthy. A much longer, but also very appealing option! murkl.com can give you the details – just get in touch if you're interested!