| Aniakchak River | |
| Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map: | USA Alaska |
| Pushpin Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the mouth of the Aniakchak River in Alaska |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | United States |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | Alaska |
| Subdivision Type4: | Borough |
| Subdivision Name4: | Lake and Peninsula |
| Length: | 27miles |
| Source1: | Surprise Lake in the crater of Mount Aniakchak, Aleutian Range |
| Source1 Location: | Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve, Alaska Peninsula |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 56.9458°N -158.1789°W |
| Source1 Elevation: | 2511feet[1] |
| Mouth: | Aniakchak Bay |
| Mouth Location: | 11.5miles west of Cape Kunmik |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 56.7636°N -157.4953°W[2] |
| Mouth Elevation: | 0feet |
The Aniakchak River is a stream, 27miles long, in Lake and Peninsula Borough on the Alaska Peninsula in the United States.[2] It arises in Surprise Lake in the crater of Mount Aniakchak, a volcano in the Aleutian Range.[3] It flows eastward from Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve into Aniakchak Bay and the Pacific Ocean.[3]
In 1980, a total of 63miles of streams, including the main stem Aniakchak and several tributaries, all within Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve, were designated "wild" and added to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.[4] The "wild" tributaries are Hidden, Mystery, and Albert Johnson creeks and the North Fork Aniakchak River.[4]
The Aniakchak River is floatable in small to medium rafts and other watercraft. However, The Alaska River Guide advises against trying it "unless you are an expert paddler, extremely self-reliant in Alaska wilderness camping, and ready for severe weather and self-rescue."[5] From a put-in at Surprise Lake, the river begins quietly, but downstream of the Aniakchak Crater wall it plunges through 15miles of rocky rapids rated between Class II (medium) to IV (very difficult) on the International Scale of River Difficulty. Below the rapids, the rest of the river is rated Class I (easy).[5]
In addition to rapids and low temperatures, hazards include winds up to 100mph that can damage tents and other equipment and prevent airplanes from landing at the lake or on the bay.[5] Brown bears frequent the area.[5] Sharp rocks in the river may tear holes in inflatable boats.[5] These and other limits reduce the number of parties floating this river to only a few each year, mainly in July.[6]