Along with sport fishing, the Ayakulik River offers recreational floating, and access to hunting, berry picking, wildlife viewing and photographic opportunities. Currently , the only way to access the river is by small plane. Rafters generally float from the confluence of the Ayakulik River and Bare Creek to the ocean. Several years ago, a storm added so much debris to the lagoon at the mouth of the river Ayakulik river it became dangerous too land a floatplane unless wind and tide conditions were favorable. As a result, it has been problematic for rafters to arrange for pick-up after completing their float trip at the ocean beach.
Most rafters resort to being shuttled from the beach by small wheel plane or charter helicopter.
Anyone wishing to access the uplands along that portion of the river within the boundaries of the KNWR should contact the refuge staff for appropriate use information. The uplands along the lower one mile of the river are outside the refuge and have a complicated land ownership pattern. Inc. Land above the ordinary high water mark is private property. Inc. The corporation has agreed to provide to public access easements on their property. The second easement is located on the sand spit at the mouth of the Ayakulik River.