Mendenhall Glacier is located a short drive from Juneau and is one of the most scenic and popular attractions in Southeast Alaska. A beautiful lake located at the base of the glacier offers excellent paddling opportunity in a beautiful and unique setting. The lake water is obviously very cold with small icebergs so extreme caution must be used when paddling. Canoe outfitters are available in the area that offer either group tours or self-guided tours but arrangements will need to be made far in advance.

This flat water paddle covers over 150 miles of the legendary Yukon River that travels through a narrow floodplain and hilly forest terrain of interior Alaska. The trip offers plenty of solitude and lots of opportunity for viewing wildlife and enjoying nature. This stretch of river runs between the communities of Eagle and Circle with no other access areas along the way so plan to spend at least 3-7 days to cover the distance. There are multiple public use cabins along the river and lots of good campsites to accommodate a multi-day trip. The river consists of mainly class I waters but wind can result in some rougher waters. The trip is long and travels through a very remote area so backcountry paddling experience is a must. The shuttle between the put-in and take-out can be challenging due to remote highways and few services so you may want to consider using one of the multiple outfitters that rent and shuttle boats between Eagle and Circle. Charter planes can also be used for transportation between the two towns.

Nancy Lake Recreation Area is a fairly flat, lake-studded area just 90 minutes from Anchorage that offers a remote setting and multiple lakes for paddlers to enjoy. Nancy Lake is a large lake that offers miles and miles of shoreline for exploration. The lake is surrounded by both undeveloped forested terrain as well as some residential development. This paddling trip starts from an access area off of Nancy Lake Parkway, offering good access to the water on the east side of the lake. A short portage is required to access the lake from the parking lot.

The Tanana is a long wide river that runs over 580 miles through Alaska's roadless interior, offering paddlers literally hundreds and hundreds of waterway to explore. The limited access to the river and remote setting requires multi-day paddle trips. The river is very wide and prone to wind that can result in rough waters and large waves so be sure to pull over and wait out bad weather. This stretch of river covers over 50 miles between Fairbanks and the small community of Nenana. Take-out at the public beach located on the left before the Parks Highway Bridge.

Nancy Lake Recreation Area is a fairly flat, lake-studded area just 90 minutes from Anchorage that offers a remote setting of multiple lakes for paddlers to enjoy. Rhein Lake is located just off of Nancy Lakes Parkway and is an easily accessible lake, requiring just a very short portage from the road. Paddling Rhein Lake is a good option for a short day outing or as a warmup before setting out on one of the longer canoe trails available in the area.

Nancy Lake Recreation Area is a fairly flat, lake-studded area just 90 minutes from Anchorage that offers a remote setting of multiple lakes for paddlers to enjoy. This canoe trail covers over 8 miles, hitting over 14 lakes along the way. There are multiple portages required but well-marked paths show the way and boardwalks cover much of the wet terrain making for easier portages. The trip can be done as a long day trip or as an overnight trip by utilizing public-use cabins and campsites located along the trail.

The Swan Lake Canoe trail leads paddlers through very remote and rugged wilderness terrain and provides endless paddling trip options. The canoe trail can be accessed from two points off of Swan Lake Road. This paddling trip starts at the west entrance with a short portage down to Canoe Lake and follows a chain of lakes to Otter Lake. The canoe trail also takes off of Spruce Lake or continues on from Otter to other kettle lakes so be sure to reference a canoe trail map if exploring other lakes. The trail also continues to the east eventually leading back to the east entrance providing the option of a long one-way trip. The area is very scenic with lots of wildlife but is not heavily visited due to rugged conditions and lots of bugs. The trip requires lots of portages and experience in the backcountry and is not a good option for beginner paddlers with no experience.

The Swanson River Canoe trail leads paddlers through very remote and rugged wilderness terrain and provides endless paddling trip options. The canoe trail can be accessed from a short road that branches off of Swan Lake Road. This paddling trip starts at the entrance and follows a chain of lakes to Berry Lake. The canoe trail also branches off at multiple other lakes so be sure to reference a canoe trail map if exploring parts of the trails and other lakes. Paddlers can follow the trail all the way to Swanson River and then follow the river to Swanson River Landing providing the option of a long and difficult one-way trip. The area is very scenic with lots of wildlife but is not heavily visited due to rugged conditions and lots of bugs. The trip requires lots of portages and backcountry experience and is not a good option for a beginners paddlers setting out on their own.

Hidden Lake is located off of Skilak Lake Road in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and offers easy access to a scenic wilderness lake for paddling, fishing, and wildlife viewing. A campground at the lake is one of the most popular on the Kenai Peninsula and provides toilets, drinking water, and a boat ramp. An island on the lake is a fun destination and can be used for overnight camping if desired.

This scenic lake located on the Kenai Peninsula just south of Kasilof offers a fun and scenic destination for paddling, fishing, and wildlife viewing. The lake is surrounded by lots of heavily wooded, undeveloped shoreline. A state recreation area situated on the northwest side of the lake provides a launch area, campgrounds, and day-use facilities.