"DSC_9904_HDR" by Bureau of Land Management Alaska , public domain
Fortymile
Wild and Scenic River - Alaska
Fortymile River is an extensive network of creeks and rivers in east-central Alaska, 392 miles of which have been given a National Wild and Scenic or Recreational River designation. Boaters have many choices for recreational trips through deep, winding canyons lined by forests of birch, spruce and aspen. Remnants of past mining operations dot the river banks as mementos of the area's rich mining history.
Visitor Map of Birch Creek Wild and Scenic River in the BLM Fairbanks District Office area in Alaska. Published by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
Map of Winter Recreation in the White Mountains National Recreation Area and Steese National Conservation Area in Alaska. Published by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
Map of Summer Recreation in the White Mountains National Recreation Area and Steese National Conservation Area in Alaska. Published by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
Brochure about Recreation in Alaska. Published by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
Fortymile WSR
https://www.blm.gov/visit/fortymile-national-wild-and-scenic-river
Fortymile River is an extensive network of creeks and rivers in east-central Alaska, 392 miles of which have been given a National Wild and Scenic or Recreational River designation. Boaters have many choices for recreational trips through deep, winding canyons lined by forests of birch, spruce and aspen. Remnants of past mining operations dot the river banks as mementos of the area's rich mining history.
The Fortymile Wild and Scenic River is part of
the BLM’s National Landscape Conservation
System, which conserves, protects, and
restores nationally significant landscapes
and places that have outstanding cultural,
ecological, and scientific values for the benefit
of current and future generations. National
Conservation Lands include 900 areas (27
million acres) of National Monuments,
National Conservation Areas, Wilderness Areas,
and other federally-designated special places.
Weather and Safety
Bureau of Land Management
You can easily become disoriented in the
rugged Fortymile country, where the river
winds through the Tanana uplands. Carry inchto-the-mile maps and a compass. Keep track
of your position as you float because many
river bends look similar. Rapids and portages
are not marked. Carry maps of the surrounding
area in case an accident forces you to walk
out cross-country. There is no cell phone
coverage in this area. Please follow Leave No
Trace practices.
Fairbanks District Office
222 University Avenue
Fairbanks, Alaska 99709
Local: 907-474-2200
Toll Free: 1-800-437-7021
www.blm.gov/ak
Water Temperature. The Fortymile River
is cold! Wear a life jacket. A wetsuit is
recommended for kayakers and canoeists
planning to run the bigger rapids. Know how to
recognize, prevent, and treat hypothermia.
Tok Alaska Public Lands
Information Center
P.O. Box 359
Milepost 1314, Alaska Highway
Tok, Alaska 99780
907-883-5667
www.nps.gov/aplic
Fairbanks Alaska Public Lands
Information Center
Morris Thompson Cultural
and Visitors Center
101 Dunkel Street, #110
Fairbanks, Alaska 99701
907-459-3730
www.nps.gov/aplic
Visit us on Facebook at:
www.facebook.com/BLMAlaska
Follow us on Twitter at:
www.twitter.com/BLMAlaska
Water Level. The water level can change
drastically overnight in the Fortymile River
drainage, so always tie your boats well
above the high-water mark. Remember that
good weather in your particular location
does not guarantee stable water levels; rain
in the headwaters can lead to significant
fluctuations far downstream and change the
characteristics of rapids.
Bears. Although there have been few problem
bears on the Fortymile, there are bears in the
area. Prudent campers cook and store food
well away from tents and boats. Don’t bury
cans or garbage; bears will find them and
make a mess. Pack it in, pack it out.
Giardia. All water should be treated to prevent
giardiasis. This intestinal parasite can leave
you feeling miserable for weeks. Boiling water
for at least five minutes is the best way to kill
the organism.
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Fortymile
Wild and Scenic River
The Mosquito Fork Dredge and other remnants of the region’s colorful mining past can still be seen along the Fortymile Wild and Scenic River.
Fortymile Wild & Scenic River
Fortymile History
Running the River
The Fortymile country was not always as
accessible as it is today. In the past, summer
travelers walked overland with packhorses or
poled up the river. In the winter they traveled
overland or along the river by dog sled.
The Fortymile River was always a reliable
thoroughfare for travelers, summer or winter.
Early prospectors poled their boats from the
Yukon River in Canada to the Fortymile River
and up its tributaries and creeks. Most of
the early boats were made by hand, using
available materials. Quality depended on
individual skills in whipsawing and carpentry.
River users usually portaged even the mildest
rapids rather than risk losing a whole year’s
grubstake.
Prospectors gave the Fortymile River its name
around 1886 because it enters the Yukon River
about 40 miles below the former Hudson’s Bay
post of Fort Reliance.
Today’s travelers on the Fortymile can find
relaxation, adventure, and a touch of the past.
Many signs of mining activity, both past and
present, are visible along the river. Watch for
remains of old bucket-line dredges, turn-of-thecentury trapper cabins, and the old townsites
of Franklin, Steele Creek, and Fortymile.
Remember, these structures and artifacts
belong to everyone. Take only pictures, leave
only footprints.
As you float the river, you will probably
encounter small suction-dredge operations
mounted on pontoons. You can also see
evidence of more substantial mining activity
with large sluice boxes, heavy machinery, and
rustic log cabins.
Early foot travelers, freighters, and mail
carriers followed an overland trail connecting
all the communities in the Fortymile country.
The trail ran south from Eagle to Liberty, over
to Dome Creek, then followed O’Brien Creek
to the Fortymile River and downstream to the
roadhouse at the mouth of Steele Creek. From
Cover photo: Floating the Fortymile River
near the U.S.-Canada border.
Open gravel bars make great campsites.
Today’s easier road access and high-tech gear
haven’t changed the river and its challenges.
Rapids on the Fortymile can be hazardous.
The degree of hazard depends on your
conditioning, experience, and equipment, as
TaylorHwy2010.indd 1
4/21/10 10:14 AM
Early miners (Stout Collection, University of
Alaska Fairbanks Archives)
ALASKA
Mosquito Fork Dredge
Most of the old cabins and roadhouses of the
early gold seekers are gone now. What remains
are the piles of mine tailings, abandoned gold
dredges and sluice boxes, and overgrown
ditches that once channeled water to the placer
mines. Many of the names along the highway
Travel Guide
Fortymile Gold Country
Taylor
Highway
Know Before You Go
The Taylor Highway is open seasonally from
April to mid-October. Beyond milepost 64 the
Taylor Highway is a gravel road. Conditions
range from good to poor depending upon
maintenance and weather conditions. The road
becomes narrow and winding, particularly north
of Jack Wade Junction. Use caution and travel
slowly, especially on hairpin curves.
Between the small communities along the
highway, be prepared for limited facilities for
gas and tire repair, drinking water, and trash
disposal. All basic services are available in Tok,
Chicken, and Eagle. BLM campgrounds offer
minimal facilities, and travelers are advised to
carry their own water supply and be prepared
to pack out their own trash. RV travelers should
fill their gas tanks and use dump stations before
traveling the Taylor Highway.
Bureau of Land Management
Fairbanks District Offce
1150 University Avenue
Fairbanks, Alaska 99709-3844
Toll Free: 1-800-437-7021
http://www.blm.gov/ak
recall the early days of the gold rush: Logging
Cabin Creek, Jack Wade Creek, and Lost
Chicken Hill. Active mines dot the route as
a reminder that the lure of gold still lives in
Fortymile country.
BLM
A New Landscape
Wildfires in 2004 and 2005 burned much of the
spruce forest along the highway, clearing the
way for new growth. As you travel the highway,
notice how the area is regenerating. Pink
fireweed and fresh green clumps of willows are
the first plants to spring up in the blackened
landscape. Cottongrass and blueberry shrubs get
an infusion of nutrients from the burned forest,
growing thick and lush. In some areas, birch
trees are replacing the burned-over spruce in a
process that will take several decades.
Top of the World Highway
Boundary Milepost (MP) 9
Boundary served the mining community in
the Walker Fork, Cherry Creek, and Canyon
Creek drainages for many years beginning in
the 1890s. Part of the original Boundary Lodge,
built in 1926, is still standing.
Fortymile Caribou Herd MP 12
An interpretive panel tells the story of the
decline of a herd that once numbered over half a
million and how an international team formed a
coalition to manage for the herd’s recovery.
Davis Dome Wayside MP 13
This wayside offers a view of the vast expanse
of the Fortymile area. Caribou are sometimes
seen here. Watch for migrating hawks in spring
and fall.
Area burned by wildfire along the Taylor Highway
Subsistence Use
Signs are posted on Federal land
to mark the boundaries of a special
type of hunting area. Regulations
under the Alaska National Interest Lands
Conservation Act (ANILCA), passed by
Congress in 1980, allow rural residents
of Alaska to hunt game such as caribou
in these areas. Subsistence hunters must
have an Alaska hunting license and comply
with seasons and bag limits. Finding the
boundaries of Federal land along the
Taylor Highway is very challenging, so the
BLM has posted these signs to help rural
residents hunt legally.
Taylor Highway
Major discoveries in 1886 and 1887 set off
Interior Alaska’s first gold rush. Communities
such as Jack Wade, Chicken, Franklin, and
Steele Creek rose almost overnight, and miners
quickly wore a series of trails between Eagle
and the mining towns and camps. These trails
later became wagon roads that, in turn, became
parts of the Taylor Highway, built during the
winter of 1945-1946 and completed in 1951.
The Taylor Highway is a route through gold
mining history. Prospectors searched for
gold in the Fortymile region well before the
famous Klondike stampede of 1897. As early
as 1881, gold-bearing gravels were discovered
on the North Fork of the Fortymile River,
foreshadowing the area's future reputation as the
richest goldfield in the Yukon valley.
Taylor Highway History
International Boundary MP 14
Elevation 4,127 ft (1,258 m). United States and
Canada customs offices are open only during
the summer months, usually from May 15 to
September 15. Dates can vary so call ahead
(907-774-2252) to be sure. Hours are from
8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Alaska time. The Top of the
World Highway continues to historic Dawson
City and the Klondike gold fields.
Davis Dome Wayside, Top of the World Highway
TaylorHwy2010.indd 1
Early miners (Stout Collection, University of
Alaska Fairbanks Archives)
ALASKA
Mosquito Fork Dredge
4/21/10 10:14 AM
Most of the old cabins and roadhouses of the
early gold seekers are gone now. What remains
are the piles of mine tailings, abandoned gold
dredges and sluice boxes, and overgrown
ditches that once channeled water to the placer
mines. Many
T
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Tread Lightly
Welcome
ravel and recreate with minimum impact.
Welcome to the public lands managed by the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Alaska. The
BLM manages more than 70 million acres of public
land in Alaska. These lands are yours to enjoy
and use for a variety of recreational opportunities.
Your visit to BLM-managed public lands in Alaska
will offer you a once in a lifetime experience.
Whether you’re hiking in the mountains, exploring
the treeless tundra, or fishing in a freshwater
stream, you’ll experience the open landscapes
of BLM-managed public lands. Unless otherwise
posted, all public lands are available for recreation
use. However, please remember that BLM
manages public lands for other uses, such as
energy and mineral development, wildlife habitat,
and conserving natural, cultural, and historic
resources. This publication will give you a general
idea of where recreation opportunities exist on
public lands in Alaska. Please note the location of
the BLM offices throughout the state. BLM staff are
happy to assist you while you are enjoying Alaska’s
public lands.
espect the environment and the rights of
others.
ducate yourself, plan and prepare before
you go.
llow for future use of the outdoors by
leaving it better than you found it.
iscover the rewards of responsible
recreation.
https://treadlightly.org/
Leave No Trace
We encourage visitors to adhere to the seven
Leave No Trace principles on all BLM-managed
public lands.
• Plan Ahead and Prepare
• Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
• Dispose of Waste Properly
• Leave What You Find
• Minimize Campfire Impacts
• Respect Wildlife
• Be Considerate of Other Visitors
Trail Etiquette
Map
Campground Name # of Sites
#
Season of Use
Vault
Toilet
Water
Fee
13
Arctic Circle
22
June - Sept.
Y
N
Y*
32
Brushkana Creek
21
June - Sept.
Y
Y
Y
25
Cripple Creek
21
June - Sept.
Y
Y
Y
47
Eagle
16
June - Sept.
Y
N
Y
16
Five Mile
8
June - Sept.
Y
Y
Y**
4
Galbraith Lake
18
June - Sept.
Y
N
Y**
8
Marion Creek
27
June - Sept.
Y
Y
Y
24
Mount Prindle
13
June - Sept.
Y
Y
Y
22
Ophir Creek
19
June - Sept.
Y
Y
Y
38
Paxson
50
June - Sept.
Y
Y
Y
52
Salmon Lake
6
June - Sept.
Y
N
N
39
Sourdough Creek
42
June - Sept.
Y
Y
Y
36
Tangle Lakes
27
June - Sept.
Y
Y
Y
45
Walker Fork
20
June - Sept.
Y
Y
Y
42
West Fork
25
June - Sept.
Y
N
Y
Y = service available
N = service not available
* Beginning summer 2022
Windy Arch, near Windy Gap in the White
Mountains National Recreation Area.
Safety
Public Access
BLM Alaska’s lands are vast and rugged. Remember
to plan your trip accordingly by ensuring you have
first aid supplies, emergency vehicle supplies, and
adequate provisions before heading out. When
planning a backcountry trip, always file a trip plan
with a friend or family member and let them know
when you plan to return.
BLM Alaska managed public lands are intermingled
with private, state, Tribal, and a variety of other
jurisdictions. A visitor may legally access public
lands via:
• A public trail, road, or highway;
• A navigable water;
• From adjacent public or state lands that are
from landowner; or via a valid 17b public
easement. Information on 17b easements and
maps can be found at https://www.blm.gov/
alaska/17b-easements;
Trail Etiquette
invasive species.
• Slow down for curves and hills, when visibility is
limited and when other users are present.
• Keep noise and dust down.
• Keep pets under control. Some trails require
dogs to be leashed.
Whether travelling far off the beaten path or along the road,
thorough preparation is imperative for a successful trip.
Alaska is bear country. Store your food and other
scent attractants in an enclosed vehicle or bearproof food storage container, and never store your
food in an occupied tent. When travelling in bear
country, remember to make noise, travel in groups,
carry bear spray, and keep your dog on a leash.
• Be familiar with local rules.
• Leave gates in the condition you found them.
Rights of Way
BLM visitors are responsible for knowing their
location and applicable regulations. Appropriate
public land users remain on legal routes, obey all
signs, respect private property, and avoid resource
damage. The best way to ensure a successful
outing is to check with the nearest BLM office
for up-to-date access information in your area.
Your local BLM office can also supply you with
recreation permits and information on specific
recreation opportunities, such as camping, fishing,
wildlife watching, hiking, off-highway vehicle
travel and snowmobiling. For more information,
go to www.blm.gov/media/public-room/alaska.
Also, be sure to check the State Department of
Transportation (DOT) Highway Safety page
https://dot.alaska.gov/highwaysafety before
travelling.
• Yield the right of way to those passing you from
behind or traveling uphill.
• Motorized vehicles yield to mountain bikes,
runners, hikers