Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve - Rivers and Streams

Aniachak National Monument and Aniachak National Preserve by National Parks Service

Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve contains, in its entirety, the Aniakchak River, designated a Wild River by Title VI, Section 601(27) of ANILCA. It preserves the free-flowing condition of the river and protects the river and its immediate environments for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Aniakchak River begins within the volcanic caldera and flows to the ocean through a progression of geologic and vegetative reminders of the area's recent and spectacular volcanic history. The Aniakchak River originates in Surprise Lake in the caldera and passes through a gash in the caldera wall. The Aniakchak River is the primary gateway through which life finds its way from outside into the caldera. Hidden, Albert Johnson, Mystery, and North Fork creeks, plus several smaller creeks, feed into the Aniakchak as it flows to the Pacific. It is the longest river (27 miles) draining into the Pacific from the Alaska Peninsula.

South of the caldera, flowing west into Bristol Bay, lies the Meshik River and its biologically rich valley. It originates in Meshik Lake, as a shallow circular lake about one mile in diameter, which is about 10 miles southeast of the caldera. Its northern tributaries--the Cub, Windy, Rainbow, Waterfall, Bear, and Plenty Bear creeks, and several smaller streams--wash and erode the southern flanks of the volcano, creating extraordinary rugged terrain and exposing lava flows and ancient sedimentary rock layers that formerly were buried under volcanic ash. Waterfalls, deep ravines, and rugged escarpments are characteristic of these tributaries, yet the main valley of the Meshik River is wide, flat, and marshy. Shoe, Wolf, Black, Violet, Sleepy, Blue, Bluff, Landlocked, Braided, and Highland creeks, and several smaller creeks, drain into the Meshik from the south. The western and northwestern slopes of the volcano, which lie at an easy slope and are covered with volcanic ash, are drained by Birthday, Barbara, Reindeer, and Mud creeks, plus many intermittent streams which drain into Bristol Bay.

The Cinder River originates in a semicircle of mountains northeast of the caldera and is fed by High Creek and several small creeks that drain the northeast slopes of Aniakchak. The Cinder enters the Bristol Bay lowlands almost at the foot of the volcano. The Cinder River has been designated as a potential wild river.