| Kanektok River | |
| Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map: | USA Alaska |
| Pushpin Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the mouth of the Kanektok River in Alaska |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | United States |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | Alaska |
| Subdivision Type4: | Census Area |
| Subdivision Name4: | Bethel |
| Length: | 75miles[1] |
| Source1: | Kagati Lake |
| Source1 Location: | Togiak National Wildlife Refuge |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 59.88°N -160.1236°W |
| Source1 Elevation: | 1059feet[2] |
| Mouth: | Kuskokwim Bay |
| Mouth Location: | 1.5miles west of Quinhagak |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 59.7461°N -161.9314°W[3] |
| Mouth Elevation: | 0feet |
| Basin Size: | 752sqmi |
The Kanektok River is a 75miles stream in southwestern Alaska in the United States.[1] Beginning in the Ahklun Mountains at Kagati and Pegati lakes, it flows westward into Kuskokwim Bay on the Bering Sea at the city of Quinhagak.[4] Almost all of the river's course lies within the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge.[4] The Quinhagak Village Corporation owns the land bordering the lowermost 17miles of the river.[5]
The Kanektok River, varying from Class I (easy) to II (medium) on the International Scale of River Difficulty, is floatable by many kinds of watercraft. The upper reaches below Kagati Lake are sometimes too shallow for boats. Below this, swift currents, braided channels, logjams, and overhanging or submerged vegetation make the float "not a trip for beginners."[6] In high water, the difficulty along the upper 55miles of the river may increase to Class III (difficult).[6]
Alaska Fishing describes the river as "one of Alaska's most celebrated salmon and trout streams".[5] The main game fish are rainbow trout, char, Arctic grayling, king (Chinook), silver (Coho), chum, and red (sockeye) salmon. Anglers can float down from the headwaters, hire a boat to go upriver from Quinhagak, or fish near tent camps and lodges along the lower river.[5]