Knik River Full-Day Kayak Tour

Paddle into Alaska’s glacier-carved wilderness on a full-day Knik River kayak tour, where cold water, open skies, and a dramatic glacier backdrop set the scene. Along the way, keep watch for salmon beneath your boat, eagles overhead, and perhaps a moose feeding in the shallows.

The route begins with a paddle across Jim Lake, followed by a short overland portage into Jim Creek. From there, travel through the river system toward a beach on the Knik River, which flows from the Knik Glacier, the largest glacier in Southcentral Alaska. Pause for photos with the glacier in the background before continuing downstream toward the mouth of the Knik arm of Cook Inlet. Choose a kayak or stand-up paddleboard, and enjoy lunch and basic paddling gear provided for the outing.

This Knik River kayak tour is designed for beginner kayakers, but you should be comfortable paddling in cold water, waves, and wind, getting wet, and walking over muddy, uneven ground. Meet at the Reflections Lake Trail Parking Area, then set out for a full day among Alaska’s striking waterways and wildlife.