McGuinness Creek to Mendenhall River

Updated 7/15/2024 Park at the end of the road next to the steel bridge. Carry up as far as you please, scouting for wood along the way. Class III river, with easy moves. Main threat is log jams creating serious strainers and also foot entrapments from roots along the banks. Thick gardening gloves are a good option to throw in the boat in case you need to portage around log jams. Lots of devils club. Prime flow Ive run it at is anything from 250cfs to 660cfs. While 250 is low, 660 was excellent. Gage information does not match this webpage. Here is the most current gage info: https://water.noaa.gov/gauges/MCAA2 Original info below: You'll have to drive to the end of Montana Creek road. Bring a bike or a wheeled rack to shuttle the boats to the put-in. A 4-wheeler comes in handy here or carry to the first footbridge across the creek about 1.5 miles up the road. This clear water stream is a nice break from the silty Mendenhall. You'll be able to scout the drops from the road, but not the sweepers on bends away from it. There are three main drops with intermittent (shallow) play spots all along. a 4th & 5th drop are below the parking area and you can take out along the archery range trails. What lies below here until the creek swings back to the road is ???? This is prime bear habitat and the CBJ trail hasn't been brushed for years so it is a bit of an adventure. Flat water and sweepers cover the rest of the creek till it meets with the Mendenhall. If you are fishing or doing a scenic float go on out to Brotherhood Bridge to take out. The watershed is small so you can't wait for this one, if the water is up go to it!