River
Chilkat River
The 52-mile glacial river that runs from Chilkat Glacier past Klukwan to Chilkat Inlet, home of the bald eagle gathering.
- Length
- 52 mi
- Source
- Chilkat Glacier
- Mouth
- Chilkat Inlet
- Species
- Coho salmon · Chum salmon · Sockeye salmon · Dolly Varden · Cutthroat trout
The Chilkat River flows south from Chilkat Glacier in British Columbia to Chilkat Inlet at Haines, 52 miles in all, with the Klehini and Tsirku rivers joining in the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve. The Haines Highway follows it for much of the way. It supports the third-largest coho run in Southeast Alaska plus large chum runs, and late salmon in the warm-water upwelling areas feed the famous autumn eagle gathering.
In pictures
Fishing · Rafting · Wildlife viewing · Birding
Sources
- Alaska State Parks, SoutheastAlaska DNR
- ADF&G Southeast sport fishingADF&G · Accessed 2026-11-09
- Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle PreserveAlaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation · Accessed 2026-11-10
- Haines Wildlife Viewing: Chilkat RiverAlaska Department of Fish and Game · Accessed 2026-11-10
- Haines/Skagway Management Area Featured FisheriesAlaska Department of Fish and Game · Accessed 2026-11-10
- Chilkat RiverWikipedia · Accessed 2026-11-10
Last updated 2026-11-12