Nowitna Wild & Scenic River

The Nowitna River is about 283 miles long. About 223 miles of that are across Nowitna National Wildlife Refuge and that's the section of the river designated Wild & Scenic.

Except for a short section in the mid-length of the river, the Nowitna is classified as a Class I float. That 15-mile Nowitna Canyon area in mid-length (between Big Mud River and Mastodon Creek) pushes the river rating to Class II with some areas of extended rapids. Otherwise, the river meanders all over a relatively flat landscape among bogs, swamps, ponds, oxbows and ever-changing channels. The lower area of the river also suffers from strong winds blowing upstream.