Little Susitna River facts for kids
The Little Susitna River starts high up in the Talkeetna Mountains of Alaska, flowing from the Mint Glacier on Montana Peak. It travels southwest and eventually empties into the Cook Inlet, which is about 13 miles (21 km) west of Anchorage, Alaska. People have known this river by its current name since 1898.
Quick facts for kids Little Susitna River |
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 Location of the mouth of the Little Susitna River in Alaska
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Mint Glacier on Montana Peak in Talkeetna Mountains 1,700 ft (520 m) 61°51′31″N 149°03′48″W / 61.85861°N 149.06333°W |
| River mouth | Cook Inlet of Pacific Ocean 0 ft (0 m) 61°15′03″N 150°17′17″W / 61.25083°N 150.28806°W |
| Length | 110 mi (180 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 61.9 sq mi (160 km2) at the Palmer gauge |
Contents
About the River
The Little Susitna River is a major river in Alaska. It begins in Hatcher Pass, high up in the Talkeetna Mountains. These mountains form the northern edge of the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. The river flows for many miles until it reaches the Cook Inlet.
The river's water changes a lot along its path. Near the inlet, the water is calm and flat. But up in Hatcher Pass, it can be very fast and challenging, with what river experts call "class 5" rapids.
River Crossings
Several roads cross the Little Susitna River. These include Fishook Road in Hatcher Pass, Edgerton Parks Road, Welch Road, George Parks Highway, Sushanna Road, and Schrock Road.
Flooding
The river has flooded a few times in recent history. Notable floods happened in 1972, August 2006, and September 2012. During these floods, the water flow became very high, sometimes over 4,500 cubic feet per second. These floods caused some minor damage to nearby homes and buildings.
Water Sources
The Little Susitna River gets its water from several places. Its main source is the Mint Glacier. It also receives water from other creeks like Archangel Creek, Fishhook Creek, Government Creek, Nurse Creek, Mary Creek, and Swiftwater Creek, along with many smaller, unnamed streams.
River Activities
The Little Susitna River is a popular spot for many outdoor activities. People enjoy camping along its banks, trying their luck at fishing, and watching for local wildlife. It's also a great place for photography and hunting.
Accessing the River
The river starts in Hatcher Pass, which is a state recreation area. This area was first used for hard rock mining, and you can still find active gold mines there today. People can even do recreational gold mining in some spots.
Much of the land along the river between Hatcher Pass and the George Parks Highway is privately owned. However, most of the land downstream from the George Parks Highway Bridge belongs to the state.
The George Parks Highway crosses the river at mile marker 69.5 and runs alongside it for about a mile (1.6 km). Further downstream, about 42 river miles (68 km) from the start, you'll find the Little Susitna Public Use Facility. This facility offers places to camp and access for boats. It's located about 26 miles (42 km) south of Wasilla, Alaska. This campground and boat launch is part of the Susitna Flats State Game Refuge.
Boating and Whitewater
The Little Susitna River offers different experiences for boaters. Some parts are calm, while others are exciting for whitewater rafting.
- Upper Little Su: Above Motherlode, this section has challenging "class 4+" whitewater.
- Lower Su Motherlode: From Motherlode to the Fishhook Bridge, this part also has "class 4+" rapids.
- Baby Su: From the Fishhook Bridge to the Edgerton Park Bridge, the rapids are a bit easier, rated "class 3-".
These sections usually have clear, cold water flowing over rounded granite rocks and moderate drops. The best time to run these sections is when the river flow is between 350 and 900 cubic feet per second. Below the Carneyville bridge all the way to the inlet, the river is calm and easy to float, rated "class 1." During summer, the normal flow can range from 80 to 1,200 cubic feet per second. However, during floods, the water can rush at 4,500 cubic feet per second or more.
Fishing Opportunities
The Little Susitna River is a fantastic place for sport fishing. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game manages a special structure called a weir on the river. This weir helps them count the different types of salmon that swim upstream to lay their eggs. It's located a short distance upstream from the Public Use Area, off Burma Road.
It's important to know that salmon fishing is not allowed upstream of the George Parks Highway.
Fish Species
Many different types of fish live in the Little Susitna River, making it a great spot for anglers. You can find several kinds of salmon here:
- King salmon
- Silver salmon (also known as Coho salmon)
- Chum salmon
- Red salmon
- Pink salmon
Besides salmon, the river is also home to other fish like Dolly Varden trout and rainbow trout. Less commonly targeted species that also live here include Arctic grayling, burbot, round whitefish, and northern pike.
