Aniak River

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The Aniak River is a river in Alaska. Aniak is a Yup'ik word meaning "the place where it comes out," which refers to the mouth of the Aniak River. This river played a key role in the Placer Gold Rush of 1900-01, when prospectors from Nome rushed to the Kuskokwim River Delta after hearing of discoveries along the "Yellow River" - later identified as the Aniak River, because of the yellow tint from silt carried from headwater streams. The upper sections flow through the Kilbuck and Kuskokwim Mountains, and the lower portions transition to the Kuskokwim lowlands and tundra. The river stretches 140 river miles joining the Kuskokwim 1 mile east of Aniak. The river has some excellent sports fishing opportunities, with all 5 species of pacific salmon, pike, sheefish, arctic char, rainbow trout, and grayling all present. Several sports fishing outfitters operate out of Aniak. Navigation of the river is tricky since it is swift flowing with multiple channels and many hazards including debris loads, log jams and sweepers (logs below the water surface) that change position with each spring's ice breakup cycle. The lower river is more navigable with an experienced boat driver, however the upper river is typically only accessed by rafts which can be dropped off by airplane at Aniak Lake 100 miles upstream from the Kuskokwim confluence. In the winter, navigation of the entire river is possible via snowmobile or dogsled.