The Nuyakuk River is a tributary of the
Nushagak River
The Nushagak River ( esu, Iilgayaq) is a river in southwest Alaska, United States. It begins in the Alaska Range and flows southwest to Nushagak Bay, an inlet of Bristol Bay, east of Dillingham, Alaska.
The Mulchatna River is a major tributa ...
in southwestern
Alaska
Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S. ...
, United States.
From its source at Tikchik Lake, an extension of
Nuyakuk Lake in
Wood-Tikchik State Park, it flows eastward into the larger river upstream of
Koliganek.
The Nuyakuk's
mouth is northeast of
Dillingham.
Recreation
Many kinds of watercraft can be used for boating on the Nuyakuk. ''The Alaska River Guide'' describes the stream as "an excellent river for families or novices, with experience in portaging...especially those who enjoy fishing."
The segments of the Nuyakuk that require
portages occur along the upper of the stream below Tikchik Lake. Two sections of Class II (medium) water on the
International Scale of River Difficulty are along this part of the river. Below this, the river plunges over a series of ledges in a sequence rated Class IV (very difficult) to V (extremely difficult). Beyond these rapids and ledges, the river is Class I (easy) all the way to the mouth.
Game fish
Game fish, sport fish or quarry refer to popular fish pursued by recreational anglers, and can be freshwater or saltwater fish. Game fish can be eaten after being caught, or released after capture. Some game fish are also targeted commercial ...
inhabiting the Nuyakuk include
rainbow trout,
char,
Arctic grayling
The Arctic grayling (''Thymallus arcticus'') is a species of freshwater fish in the salmon family Salmonidae. ''T. arcticus'' is widespread throughout the Arctic and Pacific drainages in Canada, Alaska, and Siberia, as well as the upper Mis ...
,
silver salmon,
king salmon
The Chinook salmon (''Oncorhynchus tshawytscha'') is the largest and most valuable species of Pacific salmon in North America, as well as the largest in the genus '' Oncorhynchus''. Its common name is derived from the Chinookan peoples. Other v ...
, and
lake trout
The lake trout (''Salvelinus namaycush'') is a freshwater char living mainly in lakes in northern North America. Other names for it include mackinaw, namaycush, lake char (or charr), touladi, togue, and grey trout. In Lake Superior, it can also ...
. Anglers generally reach the river by floatplane or boat; accommodations include a private lodge along the upper river.
There are good campsites except along the lower river near the mouth.
See also
*
List of rivers of Alaska
This is a List of rivers in Alaska, which are at least fifth-order according to the Strahler method of stream classification, and an incomplete list of otherwise-notable rivers and streams. Alaska has more than 12,000 rivers, and thousands more st ...
References
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Rivers of Dillingham Census Area, Alaska
Rivers of Alaska
Rivers of Unorganized Borough, Alaska