These rivers are glacially-fed. In the summer (peak in July), they roil with suspended sediment loads (high turbidity, low clarity) as long days of sunshine melt glacial ice. Hikers and backpackers should be aware that these rivers, which may be easily crossed in the morning (low glacial melt), often become higher and unsafe to cross by afternoon (peak glacial melt). The braided (multiple) channels are continually shifting across wide gravel floodplains with little vegetation. The changing flow and unstable river beds make it difficult for macroinvertebrate and fish communities to persist in these rivers. Consequently, these rivers support a low diversity of invertebrates (usually restricted to a few specialized species) and few, if any, fish. Examples along the Park Road: Teklanika River (Mile 31.3); East Fork Toklat and Toklat River (Mile 53.2) —two forks meet to form Toklat under the bridge; McKinley River (turnoff for McKinley Bar Trail at Mile 84.6)
Teklanika River|East Fork Toklat|Toklat River|McKinley River
Teklanika River|East Fork Toklat|Toklat River|McKinley River