Us for an Exciting Packraft Trip...

What is packrafting? Only the best of both worlds! You'll get to hike the Alaskan Bush witnessing the awesome landscape and wildlife and just when you're ready for a change you'll get to take off your pack and ride. Yes, ride down one of Alaska's best remote rivers filled with fish, wildlife and some of the best outdoor adventure you'll find anywhere.

How Do We Do All of This?

To accomplish this wilderness trek we have purchased a small fleet of Alpacka Raft Company single person packrafts. These are very light-weight packrafts (4 pounds) designed just for this type of trekking. The rafts compact down to the size of a backpacking tent and at only 4 pounds are a wilderness traveler's dream.

After a great hike to the river you'll open up your pack, remove the packraft, inflate it with the provided inflation bag, close up your pack, strap it on the packraft, put your kayak style paddle together, get in and we're off headed down the Talachulitna River.

We'll raft down the slow moving water until we reach Hell's Gate, a short fast moving rapid that we'll either run or portage, depending on the river's level. With many more miles of fun class II water we'll complete the 6.5 mile river run portion of the packraft trip at the take point, pack the rafts in our backpacks and head up the trail toward HiLine Lake.

After a great hike to the lake we'll once again inflate our packrafts to cross the 2 mile lake back to the lodge. This a long fun filled day to remember for years to come and a great accomplishment in anyone's book.

Who, When, Where...

Our guided packraft trips are part of all of our summer family and youth camps and at no addional cost. Just signup for a family camp or a youth camp and you'll enjoy this great adventure along with the many other activities here at HiLine Lake. You must be at least 11 years old for a packraft trip. The trip starts and ends here at the camp. The map to the left shows the trails and river course we'll be using

Want a Longer Packraft Trip or Cataraft Trip? If a longer river trip is more to your liking or one not in conjuction with a stay at the camp, we can arrange for a 3-5 day Packraft Float Trip or Cataraft Float Trip down the Tal. If a raft trip in a more conventional style is what you had in mind then the Cataraft Trip is for you. A great wilderness float trip similar to our Hitaluga Guided Fishing package only without the fish. Contact us for details.

What You'll Need...

All of our trips and activities at HiLine Lake are all inclusive with the exception of personal gear. In the case of packrafting your personal gear will include a method of staying dry. While the section of the Tal that we use is only class I to III, you will get wet. To be prepared you'll need to bring one of the following types of outerwear: 3mm neoprene chest waders with wader safety belt; or Light weight chest waders with wader safety belt; and Wading boots (if not attached to chest waders). No matter which type of outerwear you choose, good footwear is a must. You may want to use wading boots with the chest waders or you may want to get the chest waders with the boot foot (boot built into the chest wader). The 3 mm neoprene waders are the warmest and highly recommended for our cold waters but in the middle of July the weather can get quite warm and the light weight waders breath to keep you cool during the heat of the day. However, this isn't a Lower 48 warm water river and you will get cold if not kept dry. Where to get them... Cabela's offers both of these chest waders in youth sizes 3-6 at a very resonable price ($39.95 for the light weight boot foot wader and $69.95 for the 3mm neoprene boot foot wader). Click on the picture to go to Cabela's web page listing the wader. If you need help in finding a size or style please let us know. Don't forget to buy and bring a wader safety belt (it stops the water from entering your waders if you take a spill).

Other than your outerwear we provide the packraft, paddle, lifevest, helmet, backpack, dry bag, food, water bottle and purifier. You provide a great attitude and we'll provide a great adventure!

As with all of our adventures we will be your guide. Most trips average 1 guide for 2-3 guests. See you on the trail!

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Please see the "Rates & Trips" page for trip details, pricing and to book your trip or for payment information.

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