Gulkana River
| Gulkana River | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Alaska |
| Census Area | Southeast Fairbanks, Valdez–Cordova |
| Source | Summit Lake |
| - location | Alaska Range, Southeast Fairbanks Census Area |
| - elevation | 3,806 ft (1,160 m) |
| - coordinates | 63°14′29″N 145°28′03″W / 63.24139°N 145.46750°W |
| Mouth | Copper River |
| - location | 9 miles (14 km) northeast of Glennallen, Valdez–Cordova Census Area |
| - elevation | 1,302 ft (397 m) |
| - coordinates | 62°13′15″N 145°23′34″W / 62.22083°N 145.39278°WCoordinates: 62°13′15″N 145°23′34″W / 62.22083°N 145.39278°W |
| Length | 60 mi (97 km) |
| Basin | 2,140 sq mi (5,543 km2) |
 Location of the mouth of the Gulkana River in Alaska
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The Gulkana River is a 60-mile (97 km) tributary of the Copper River in the U.S. state of Alaska. Beginning near the southeastern end of Summit Lake in the Alaska Range, the river flows generally south to meet the larger river 9 miles (14 km) northeast of Glennallen. The Richardson Highway and the Trans-Alaska Pipeline run north–south, nearby and roughly parallel to the Gulkana River. Slightly south of Summit Lake the river passes under the east–west Denali Highway near its junction with the Richardson Highway at Paxson.
A total of 181 miles (291 km) of streams in the Gulkana River watershed were designated "wild" and added to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System in 1980. This included the 47 miles (76 km) of the main stem between Paxson Lake and Sourdough. The other designated segments included the north and south branches of the West Fork Gulkana River, the West Fork itself, and the Middle Fork Gulkana River from Dickey Lake to the fork's mouth on the main stem. The federal Bureau of Land Management administers the "wild" river segments and their surrounds.
The Gulkana River watershed, which includes many clearwater lakes and streams, "has one of Alaska's most productive and popular grayling fisheries...", according to Alaska Fishing. Accessible by highway, airplane, boat, and foot trails, the Gulkana system supports large populations of king and red salmon, rainbow trout, and lake trout as well as Arctic grayling. The river flows through wild country affording views of the Wrangell Mountains. Visitor services are available along the Richardson Highway.
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