Teklanika River

The Teklanika River is a feeder stream to the Yukon River drainage and a tributary of the Nenana River in the central interior region of Alaska. Flowing from headwaters at the Cantwell Glacier in the Alaska Range and reaching convert|111|mi|km|0 to the Tanana River, it drains an area widely visited by tourists to Denali National Park and Preserve. The park's only road crosses the river at milepost 31 and a National Park campground is located on its eastern bank at milepost 29.

On its course, the river travels north from the core Alaska Range as a braided river, becoming rapid and narrow as it traverses through the Primrose Ridge, braiding again through the Stampede Trail valley, narrowing again through the Tekla Ridge before ultimately meandering through a complex series of oxbow turns and lakes across the southern Tanana River valley.

The river is crossed by the Denali Park Road and the Stampede Trail, and was heavily prospected in the early 20th century for the many coal, gold and platinum deposits found along its banks.

The name derives from Athabascan Indian words which roughly translate as "glacier stream."

Popular Culture

In the book Into the Wild the Teklanika River is referred to as the Rubicon for American adventurer Christopher McCandless.

ee also

*List of Alaska rivers