| Sheenjek River | |
| Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map: | USA Alaska |
| Pushpin Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the mouth of the Sheenjek River in Alaska |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | United States |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | Alaska |
| Subdivision Type4: | District |
| Subdivision Name4: | North Slope Borough, Yukon - Koyukuk Census Area |
| Length: | 200miles[1] |
| Source1: | Brooks Range |
| Source1 Location: | slightly south of the Continental Divide, North Slope Borough |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 69.0314°N -144.0111°W |
| Source1 Elevation: | 6079feet[2] |
| Mouth: | Porcupine River |
| Mouth Location: | 23miles northeast of Fort Yukon, Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 66.7397°N -144.5669°W[3] |
| Mouth Elevation: | 446feet |
The Sheenjek River is a 200miles tributary of the Porcupine River in the U.S. state of Alaska.[1] It begins in the eastern part of the Brooks Range and flows southward to meet the larger river northeast of Fort Yukon.[3]
Its name derives from the Gwich'in word "khiinjik," meaning "dog-salmon river"."[4] Explorer J.H. Turner called it the Salmon River.[1]
In the United States, the geographic location most remote from human trails, roads, or settlements is found here, at the headwaters of the Sheenjek River.
The Sheenjek is suitable for boating by wide variety of watercraft between June and late September. The upper river is rated mostly Class II (medium) on the International Scale of River Difficulty, while the lower half of the river is Class I (easy). However, just after rainstorms, the river can suddenly rise and become more difficult.[5]
Dangers on the upper river include shallow, extremely braided channels, and aufeis. Overhanging vegetation and submerged logs pose risks along the entire course, as do bears along the lower reaches in late summer and early fall.[5]