Nenana River

Interior Alaska’s premier whitewater river and one of the few Alaskan rivers with sustained commercial rafting. The Nenana drains the Alaska Range and flows along the east boundary of Denali National Park before joining the Tanana. The upper river is a gentle Class II float through the park boundary, but the Nenana Canyon section near Healy is Class IV with big-water features visible from the Parks Highway. Fishing is modest by Alaska standards — grayling in clear tributaries and occasional whitefish — but the whitewater and Denali backdrop draw paddlers from across the country.