Alaska · Fairbanks North Star Borough

Tanana River

Fairbanks North Star Borough · 584 mi · Class I–II
Optimal: 10000–80000 CFS · USGS #15515500
CFS
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Flow data is live from USGS·Rapid classifications and CFS ranges need community verification·Know this river?
Avg flow: 33,000 cfsHist. median: 29,700 cfsUSGS #15515500
ADF&G Sheefish Fishery · Subsistence Priority

The major tributary of the Yukon and one of the biggest rivers in interior Alaska. The Tanana drains the north slope of the Alaska Range and flows past Fairbanks, carrying glacial silt from hundreds of miles of Alaska Range glaciers. Sheefish (Arctic "tarpon") grow to over 40 pounds in the Tanana and its sloughs, and the river supports chum and king salmon runs, plus northern pike, burbot, and whitefish in backwater channels. The Tanana River Valley is one of the few roaded parts of interior Alaska, with access from Fairbanks, Nenana, and Tok.

Outfitters
Alaska River Adventures (Tanana)
Sheefish and pike trips out of Nenana
10-Year Flow Patterns
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Data Quality

River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and access points may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level.

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