Middle Fork Koyukuk River

The Middle Fork Koyukuk River is a 62-mile (100 km) tributary of the Koyukuk River in the U.S. state of Alaska.[3] Formed by the confluence of the Bettles and Dietrich rivers near Wiseman on the southern flank of the Brooks Range, the Middle Fork flows generally southwest to its confluence with the North Fork Koyukuk River, with which it forms the main stem of the Koyukuk.[3][4]

Middle Fork Koyukuk River
Middle Fork Koyukuk River is located in Alaska
Middle Fork Koyukuk River
Location of the mouth of the Middle Fork Koyukuk River in Alaska
Location
CountryUnited States
StateAlaska
Census AreaYukon–Koyukuk
Physical characteristics
SourceConfluence of Bettles and Dietrich rivers
 • locationnear Wiseman, Brooks Range
 • coordinates67°38′26″N 149°44′29″W[1]
 • elevation1,419 ft (433 m)[2]
MouthKoyukuk River[3]
 • coordinates
67°02′30″N 151°04′00″W[3]
 • elevation
724 ft (221 m)[2]
Length62 mi (100 km)[3]

From its starting point slightly north of Sukakpak Mountain, the river flows generally south or southwest in its upper reaches. The Dalton Highway and the TransAlaska Pipeline run roughly parallel to the river between its source and a point between Twelvemile Mountain, on the river's right, and Cathedral Mountain, on the left, south of Coldfoot. Further south, at Tramway Bar, the river turns generally west to its confluence with the North Fork Koyukuk River.[5]

Boating

The Middle Fork is suitable for boating by a wide variety of watercraft for its entire length. It is rated Class I (easy) on the International Scale of River Difficulty. Dangers include bridge abutments on the upper reaches and black and grizzly bears.[6]

The river is highly accessible from various points along the Dalton Highway. Chartered planes can land at Dietrich, near the head of the Middle Fork, and regularly scheduled flights serve Wiseman and Coldfoot. Further downstream along the main stem of the Koyukuk River, scheduled flights serve Bettles and Allakaket.[6]

See also

References
  1. Derived by geolocating with Google Earth
  2. Derived by entering coordinates in Google Earth.
  3. Orth, Donald J.; United States Geological Survey (1971) [1967]. Dictionary of Alaska Place Names: Geological Survey Professional Paper 567 (PDF). University of Alaska Fairbanks. United States Government Printing Office. p. 638. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 17, 2013. Retrieved October 5, 2013.
  4. Alaska Atlas & Gazetteer (7th ed.). Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. 2010. p. 136. ISBN 978-0-89933-289-5.
  5. "Topographic Map". Acme Mapper. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
  6. Jettmar, Karen (2008) [1993]. The Alaska River Guide: Canoeing, Kayaking, and Rafting in the Last Frontier (3rd ed.). Birmingham, Alabama: Menasha Ridge Press. pp. 120–21. ISBN 978-0-89732-957-6.
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