The Fortymile Wild and Scenic River is part of Weather and Safety the BLM’s National Landscape Conservation You can easily become disoriented in the System, which conserves, protects, and rugged Fortymile country, where the river restores nationally signifi cant landscapes winds through the Tanana uplands. Carry inch- and places that have outstanding cultural, to-the-mile maps and a compass. Keep track ecological, and scientifi c values for the benefi t of your position as you fl oat because many of current and future generations. National river bends look similar. Rapids and portages Conservation Lands include 900 areas (27 are not marked. Carry maps of the surrounding million acres) of National Monuments, area in case an accident forces you to walk National Conservation Areas, Wilderness Areas, out cross-country. There is no cell phone and other federally-designated special places. coverage in this area. Please follow Leave No Bureau of Land Management Trace practices. Fairbanks District Offi ce 222 University Avenue Water Temperature. The Fairbanks, 99709 is cold! Wear a life jacket. A wetsuit is Local: 907-474-2200 recommended for kayakers and canoeists Toll Free: 1-800-437-7021 planning to run the bigger rapids. Know how to www.blm.gov/ak recognize, prevent, and treat hypothermia.

Tok Alaska Public Lands Water Level. The water level can change Information Center drastically overnight in the Fortymile River P.O. Box 359 drainage, so always tie your boats well Milepost 1314, above the high-water mark. Remember that Tok, Alaska 99780 good weather in your particular location 907-883-5667 does not guarantee stable water levels; rain www.nps.gov/aplic in the headwaters can lead to signifi cant fl uctuations far downstream and change the Fairbanks Alaska Public Lands characteristics of rapids. Information Center Bears. Although there have been few problem Morris Thompson Cultural bears on the Fortymile, there are bears in the and Visitors Center area. Prudent campers cook and store food 101 Dunkel Street, #110 well away from tents and boats. Don’t bury Fairbanks, Alaska 99701 907-459-3730 cans or garbage; bears will fi nd them and www.nps.gov/aplic make a mess. Pack it in, pack it out.

Visit us on Facebook at: Giardia. All water should be treated to prevent www.facebook.com/BLMAlaska giardiasis. This intestinal parasite can leave Open gravel bars make great campsites. The Mosquito Fork Dredge and other remnants of the region’s colorful mining past can still be seen along the Fortymile Wild and Scenic River. Follow us on Twitter at: you feeling miserable for weeks. Boiling water www.twitter.com/BLMAlaska for at least fi ve minutes is the best way to kill the organism. BLM /A K /G I-89/026+8354+080 Rev 2016 Fortymile Wild & Scenic River

Fortymile History Running the River Along the riverbank of the Middle Fork, you in a relatively uncharted wilderness without The Fortymile country was not always as Early prospectors poled their boats from the can see remnants of the Washington-Alaska benefi t of developed transportation or accessible as it is today. In the past, summer River in Canada to the Fortymile River Military Cable and Telegraph System. The communication systems. The area is now on travelers walked overland with packhorses or and up its tributaries and creeks. Most of WAMCATS line, completed in 1902, provided the National Register of Historic Places. poled up the river. In the winter they traveled the early boats were made by hand, using a communications link between Fort Egbert overland or along the river by dog sled. available materials. Quality depended on in Eagle and Fort Liscum near Valdez to The Falls is a class II to III rapids about 2 Fortymile The Fortymile River was always a reliable individual skills in whipsawing and carpentry. Washington, D.C., and the rest of the United miles above the Fortymile Bridge and can be States via Seattle. portaged on the right. Wild and Scenic River thoroughfare for travelers, summer or winter. River users usually portaged even the mildest rapids rather than risk losing a whole year’s Prospectors gave the Fortymile River its name grubstake. The Chute is about a half-mile below the Deadman’s Riffl e is on the main stem of the around 1886 because it enters the confl uence of the Middle and North forks, Fortymile about 15 miles below the Fortymile about 40 miles below the former Hudson’s Bay Today’s easier road access and high-tech gear where the river straightens from a turn to Bridge. It is class III at some water levels and post of . haven’t changed the river and its challenges. the right as you face downstream. Canoes can be portaged on the right. Rapids on the Fortymile can be hazardous. generally should portage this class III water Today’s travelers on the Fortymile can fi nd The degree of hazard depends on your using either bank. Claghorn Rapids, about 3 miles downstream relaxation, adventure, and a touch of the past. conditioning, experience, and equipment, as from Deadman’s Riffl e, is also class III and can Many signs of mining activity, both past and well as the fl ow rate of the water. The same The Kink is big water, with several drops over be portaged on the right. present, are visible along the river. Watch for river section that has smooth, slow water in 3 feet and recirculating hydraulics. It should remains of old bucket-line dredges, turn-of-the- a dry June can offer challenging rapids after be portaged on the right bank. To recognize Canyon Rapids is in Canada, below the mouth century trapper cabins, and the old townsites heavy August rains. the approach to The Kink, note that two of Bruin Creek. Very dangerous at extremely of Franklin, Steele Creek, and Fortymile. signifi cant streams enter the river on the right high water, Canyon Rapids is diffi cult to line Remember, these structures and artifacts The Fortymile River runs through a remote after passing The Chute. The second of these, or portage due to the steep canyon walls. At belong to everyone. Take only pictures, leave area of Interior Alaska. Rapids often should be Hutchinson Creek, is about 10 miles below lesser fl ows Canyon Rapids is class II to III The Chute. Keep your eyes and ears open water and can be lined or portaged on the right. only footprints. Running The Chute rapids. portaged to prevent injury or loss of provisions far from help. Hard and fast rules for running after passing Hutchinson Creek, staying close to the right bank when the river bends to the As you fl oat the river, you will probably the river are impractical because every trip is Portaging around rapids at The Kink. encounter small suction-dredge operations there the trail wound up Steele Creek, over run under different conditions. You will need left. Before the river turns back to the right, mounted on pontoons. You can also see the ridge to Gilliland Creek, and down to the to maneuver around rocks or waves in nearly stop and scout ahead. Walk downstream to evidence of more substantial mining activity community of Jack Wade. It then headed west every bend of the river, and sweepers and determine just how far you can safely bring with large sluice boxes, heavy machinery, and to Franklin and south again until it reached snags are common. There is no substitute your boat before starting the portage. The rustic log cabins. Chicken. The trip would take from 3 to 4 days for good judgement and attentiveness. The portage generally is made over the trail on the by dog sled or horse-drawn wagon. following guidelines cover the signifi cant higher bench. Early foot travelers, freighters, and mail rapids. carriers followed an overland trail connecting Fortymile is gold country. At the turn of the The Kink was formed in 1898 when a group of all the communities in the Fortymile country. century, gold brought $17 a troy ounce, and Bald Eagle Rapids, on the Middle Fork just Danish prospectors blasted away a 100-foot The trail ran south from Eagle to Liberty, over Fortymile miners removed an average $225,000 above the confl uence of the Middle and rock ridge to drain a 2.8-mile-long meander. to Dome Creek, then followed O’Brien Creek worth of gold bullion each year. Today, when North forks, is hazardous for canoes at The dry river bed was worked for gold, but to the Fortymile River and downstream to the that amount of gold would be worth many high water levels. It generally can be run on proved to be poor ground and was abandoned roadhouse at the mouth of Steele Creek. From millions of dollars, the abandoned dredges either side of the large rock in the center of by 1905. Draining the meander might be remind us of the excitement of those years. the stream. Scouting ahead for sweepers is an easy task using today’s technology, but recommended. creation of The Kink was a major engineering Cover photo: Floating the Fortymile River feat in that day and time. It was accomplished near the U.S.-Canada border. River Access Location of area shown on map Eagle The river is a peaceful and refreshing alternative Fortymile Wild & Scenic River Boaters who fl oat down the Fortymile to its to road travel. You can select a half-day float on Alaska confl uence with the Yukon River will fi nd their the Mosquito Fork, a week-long float to Eagle— fi rst opportunity to take out at Eagle, which Eagle has three boat landings. The fi rst is a private or anything in between—by consulting the MP 160 Fairbanks Fort Egbert landing for the sightseeing boat Yukon Queen II. Distance and Floating Time Chart below. Anchorage Vehicles can be driven to the water’s edge at Arrangements for air taxi service to the Joseph Yukon–Charley Rivers put-in can be made in Tok. Otherwise, all put-ins the second landing, just downriver. The third are accessible from the . If you are landing requires a 20-foot climb up a steep planning a trip on the lower Fortymile to either stairway to reach downtown Eagle. Be sure to check in with U.S. Customs on arrival. or down the Yukon to Eagle, you must Canada check in with both Canada and U.S. Customs. U.S. Geological Survey Maps Before traveling the Taylor Highway, be sure North Travelers should have detailed maps of the Fo you have adequate supplies. Gas and food are rk specifi c area they are fl oating. The map in available only in Chicken and Eagle. this brochure should be used for general trip Cha 5 planning only. Use USGS inch-to-the-mile mpio Joseph Airstrip n Creek y maps (1:63,360) listed below for detailed fl oat a This unmaintained bush airstrip is rough w trip planning. h Clinton Creek Fortymile and narrow, but it’s the easiest way into the The Chute ig Townsite H • Joseph to Fortymile Bridge: Eagle A-2, B-1, Middle Fork and North Fork areas. A gully cuts r ek (abandoned) o re B-2, B-3, B-4, B-5 across the airstrip near the middle; landing l C Clinton Creek k y or n Bridge here requires an experienced pilot and capable Jo F Bald Eagle The a e • South Fork Bridge to Fortymile Bridge: Eagle se le Fortymile Bridge i p d r h d Kink T Y

aircraft. A 50-yard trail at the airstrip’s eastern C i Rapids B u A-2, B-1, B-2 ' ko

re M Wayside MP 112 Steele Creek n Ri O v end leads to the river. ek er ek N Townsite • Fortymile Bridge to Eagle: Eagle C-1, C-2 re o C r (abandoned) (U.S); Fortymile 116C/7, Cassiar 116C/8, t Canyon n h Fortymile Bridge Wayside o s F The Falls Rapids Shell Creek 116C/9, Mount Gladman 116C/10 in o h r This boat landing at milepost 112 Taylor Joseph c k (Canada) t

Highway is heavily used by miners and Airstrip u Claghorn Rapids H • Mosquito Fork Bridge to South Fork Bridge: (unmaintained) iver recreationists. A steep access road that often Mt. Warbelow tymile R Eagle A-2 or requires four-wheel drive leads to the river on F Deadmans Riffl e 5,553 ft • West Fork Campground to South Fork Bridge: the east side of the highway. It is diffi cult but Jack Wade Junction ay Eagle, A-2, Tanacross D-2, D-3 not impossible to use boat trailers here. Leave Uhler Creek ghw MP 96 (Taylor Highway) i • West Fork Campground to Fortymile Bridge: your vehicle in the parking lot on the west side Franklin Townsite H MP 0 (Top of the World Highway) to (abandoned) ld Eagle A-2, B-1, B-2 of the highway instead of on the ramp. eek r Franklin Cr n o leo e W Brochures

k po k f th

South Fork Bridge Wayside r Na ee op o

o ek r T Cre C Boundary The following brochures are available at BLM

F This boat landing at milepost 75 Taylor e h d MP 9 t a and APLIC offi ces listed on the back panel:

Highway has a parking lot, outhouse, and boat Chicken u W o k

K k r For S Fo U.S. & Canada Customs ramp. The boat ramp is exposed to the river e ito MP 66 r tc qu e • Taylor Highway Travel Guide h os lk MP 14 (8 am to 8 pm, Summer only) current and is not easy to use; four-wheel drive u Wa m M • The Eagle-Valdez Trail st is generally necessary. Long-term parking uk C Davis Dome Wayside • Early Miners of the Fortymile is available, but overnight camping is not re Walker Fork Campground MP 13 ek k allowed at the South Fork Bridge Wayside. Ketchumstuk Mosquito Fork r • Eagle – Fort Egbert: A Remnant of the Past o MP 82

F Mountain Bridge Wayside

n

5,002 ft MP 64 o Mosquito Fork Bridge Wayside s

i

n South Fork Bridge The Mosquito Fork is too shallow to fl oat n Distance & Floating Time Chart e Wayside MP 75 except during periods of high water. This D These fi gures represent estimated averages M fl oat trip starts at the Mosquito Fork Bridge, os from BLM patrol trips in varying conditions. The qu West Fork Campground & milepost 64 Taylor Highway. The easiest way i fl oat time does not include portage times – only to F River Access MP 49 to get equipment to the river is to turn east off o average time on the river. As in most northern rk rivers, high water can be expected from late

the highway just south of the bridge and drive N k May to mid-June, with a general drop toward

about 100 yards to the point where a steep e e minimal fl ows by September. All river users

ramp has been installed to the water’s edge. r

C Logging Cabin should be aware that the Fortymile can fl uctuate Mosquito

This ramp is not suited for boat trailers, but it n k i Creek Wayside dramatically at any time of the year. Water level provides a good route to carry rafts or canoes. Flats r b o a F MP 43 can rise several feet overnight, so always secure t C Chicken residents use this access point to get s e g boats well above the high-water mark. Strong W n drinking water, so please keep the area clean. i g headwinds on the Yukon can slow progress to a g Park your vehicle in the parking lot on the o crawl. Always have enough provisions to allow for Fortymile Wild Boat Launch L north side of the bridge. & Scenic River changing conditions. Mount Fairplay Corridor Campground Mt. Fairplay West Fork Bridge Wayside MP 35 5,541 ft For put-in on the West Fork of the Dennison Fork, NPS National Preserve Most of the year, the West Fork of the Information add 30 miles and 10 hours to the South Fork Bridge estimates. For put-in on the Mosquito Fork, Dennison Fork is too shallow for pleasant Roads Parking add 10 miles and 5 hours to the South Fork Bridge canoeing or rafting. The exception is during estimates. periods of high water, especially during spring Rivers Picnic Area 5 Put-in Points runoff. Put in at the West Fork Bridge, milepost y Rapids Scenic View a Joseph Airstrip South Fork Bridge Fortymile Bridge Clinton Creek Bridge 49 Taylor Highway. Boats must be carried w about 20 yards to the water. The West Fork Put-in or Take-out Toilet h 8 8 2 2 4 3 8 1 0 4 g Fortymile i k Campground, a quarter-mile from the bridge, For Bridge Points of interest H son 2 9 3 4 4 2 1 3 3 1 6 2 has outhouses and 25 campsites. A long-term enni 0 5 10 15 20 r D parking area lies south of the bridge. lo 1 3 6 3 4 4 8 6 1 7 5 4 8 1 0 5 Miles y Clinton Creek Kilometers a Bridge Clinton Creek Bridge (Canada) T 4 5 3 6 8 2 2 2 4 2 9 3 1 2 4 1 6 3 0 5 10 The old settlement of Clinton Creek was 1 8 9 4 7 4 1 4 0 2 8 5 1 0 1 2 0 5 5 3 1 1 5 inhabited from 1967 to 1979, though little

Take-out Points Take-out Eagle remains there today. This is the last take-out 6 3 3 9 5 2 3 5 4 4 7 3 2 5 4 3 4 3 1 3 4 1 8 3 point before the Yukon River. To reach it by Alaska Highwa vehicle, drive from the U.S.-Canada border about 2 y Tok Floating time in high water (hours) 28 miles down the Top of the World Highway to Delta Junction Tetlin Junction to the Clinton Creek turnoff and follow the and Fairbanks River miles from put-in to take-out 8 8 2 2 4 Average speed in high water (mph) MP 0 unmaintained road for 25 miles. No facilities or Floating time in average conditions (hours) 2 9 3 4 4 2 Average speed in low water (mph) services are available. Please respect private This map should be used for general trip Tok Cutoff to C property in the area. Camp below ordinary high- planning only. Use USGS inch-to-the-mile to Glennallen and Anchorage an ada Average speed in average conditions (mph) Floating time in low water (hours) water mark above the bridge on river left. maps (1:63,360) for detailed trip planning. BLM/AK/GI-95/010+8354+020 Rev. 2008