Floating the upper Kenai River in Kokopelli XPD packrafts.

[Kam]

Hi all,

I live in Kenai and have fished the middle and lower river countless times with a power boat, but would like to float and fish the upper river in late June with a buddy who has never really rafted before.

I have two Kokopelli XPD packrafts that I've used in some class 1 and 2 rapids down in Oregon, but have yet to use them on the Kenai.

Is there anything important to consider beforehand and is there anything over class 2 from the bridge in Cooper Landing down to Jim's?

Would that be the best stretch of river to float for an inexperienced rafter for a day trip?

Any and all input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[mtnbiker208]

you could always take one of the scenic tours and scout it out.

 

[ColeyG]

From Cooper Landing down to Jim's the only things to worry about are big pushy current features and wood along the high banks. There isn't much for mid-river obstructions or "technical" features in the main channel.

You'd have to try pretty hard to get into trouble on either of the typical "upper" floats, Cooper Landing to Sportsman's. Sportsman's to Jim's. That having been said, I've seen it happen. Inexperienced boaters tipping over next to one of the high banks with logs in the river = potential recipe for trouble. Stay on the inside bends and things are pretty casual.

On the upper upper, there is a big splashy wave train at the Princess Lodge (Princess Rapid) which isn't much to worry about and easily avoided. Just below the bridge there is a hard corner to the right that swirls and eddies pretty hard as it plows into the bank below the Russian River campground road. I wouldn't consider either of these features dangerous, but in a small boat the current will move you around a bit if you are right in the meat of the run. Most people in packrafts tend to pick their way around the edges of these and/or walk the bank for a few hundred feet to avoid anything they don't like.

Things are quite a bit more woody in the side channels.

If you are comfortable in class 1-2 with some paddling effort required to avoid boulders, sweepers, etc., I don't suspect you'd find anything to worry about on either float.

If in doubt, just follow one of the 10,000 drift boats, rafts, innertubes, or stand up paddles boards floating these sections on any given summer day.