Lion’s Head

Class III/IV-

Lion’s Head is the classic day run of the Matanuska Valley and for good reason. The run is defined by the murky and cold water coming off the nearby Matanuska Glacier; this proximity also influences the river’s nonstop nature. These features make it an obvious choice for those curious to build the confidence to venture into the big glaciated streams found in the Wrangells and the Alaska Range. 

Flows for Lion’s Head tend to be predictable depending on the weather. Clear and hot midsummer days will provide big water paddling while cooler shoulder season days lead to more digestible water levels for most. The gauge on the Matanuska near Sutton can be referenced as well. Above 1 foot can be paddled, and as it rises above 2 feet, the water is at a great medium flow, and above 3 feet is a big water run.

Beginning at the Caribou Creek Parking lot allows for you to comfortably spread out as you inflate your boat and get your gear in order. Floating down Caribou Creek provides a mellow warm-up, but be sure to keep your guard up as there tends to be a lot of wood throughout this short section due to the river braiding out as it confluences with the South Fork of the Matanuska. Shortly after the South Fork confluence, you’ll be treated to a unique perspective as you float directly underneath the steep south face of the Lion’s Head. Luckily for us boaters, the whitewater does not pick up until you are beyond the beautiful geology. As the long right turn underneath Lion’s Head begins to become a left, you’ll hear and see the whitewater picking up.

As the whitewater approaches, feel free to eddy out left to scout the entry rapid. Even though this rapid is the first in a non-stop barrage of class 3 rapids, it is wise to scout it so you know the nature of the rest of the river. If the rapid looks too meaty, the entire left side of the river is walkable as it is forested moraine, but do know that portaging this rapid likely means you should portage the entire whitewater section which lasts nearly 4.5 miles from where the whitewater begins to Keith Road which acts as the take-out for the float. 

For those next 4.5 miles, expect consistent class 3 water punctuated with big standing or crashing waves followed by boat-eating holes. In classic glaciated stream fashion, reading the water can prove to be the biggest challenge on this river; the murky, grey water can hide the telltale signs of holes in the chaotic waves. While there is no one rapid that feels like a stout class 4, the consistent nature of the river makes wet-reentries a challenge, and for this reason the class 3 whitewater requires constant focus which makes it paddle more like a class 4. Be sure to hold onto your gear and try to get back into your boat quickly as the near-freezing water will sap your energy much faster than a warmer stream. Skipping out on your drysuit for this float is a death wish, don’t be dumb and cut corners on this river. As you begin to near the end of the float, expect for the whitewater to begin to ease up and for more play opportunities to arise. In the midst of the playing, you’ll find yourself going underneath the bridge on Glacier Park Road. Once you pass under this bridge, start looking for a place to take out so you can walk up Keith Road, the next bridge down. Staging a car in the lot up top can be wise, but hitching a ride from here back to Caribou Creek has proven trivial in my experience.

9/21/25
1.15ft (Matanuska River near Sutton)

We loaded up in Anchorage eager to paddle Willow Creek, but when we checked the flows we saw a runaway spike in water coming down Willow Creek due to heavy rains the night before. Unsure of where the flows would settle at, we hastily pivoted to Lion’s Head in the Muldoon Walmart parking lot (where we were buying a DVD for my backseat passengers to watch). 

As McGruber played through the speakers, I watched the cloudy skies become clearer as we got further from the ocean. Eventually we were at Caribou Creek where the fall colors were in full swing. Another group pulled into the lot and after chatting it seemed likely we could be doing portions of the float together. They got out ahead of us, but as we reached the first rapid, we found their boats left on a beach while they scouted. We joined them and offered to run safety for a few of them who were new to class 3s. They all ran the rapid clean and offered safety for us which we happily accepted. After the entry rapid, we decided to run the rest of the whitewater as a big crew. Beyond the first rapid, we read and ran the rest of the river.
At the Keith Road bridge, our group took out while the other crew elected to continue on to Hicks Creek. I ran into one of their crew at and MCA meeting a few days later, and we both relived the very fun and forgiving run we got to share on a beautiful fall day!