Yentna River

Yentna River
Yentna River in Southcentral Alaska
Yentna River is located in Alaska
Yentna River
Location of the mouth of the Yentna River in Alaska
Native nameYentnu (Denaʼina)
Location
CountryUnited States of America
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationEast Fork Yentna River and
West Fork Yentna River
Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska
 • coordinates62°16′50″N 151°46′26″W / 62.28056°N 151.77389°W / 62.28056; -151.77389
 • elevation200 ft (61 m)
Mouth 
 • location
Susitna River
Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska
 • coordinates
61°33′38″N 150°29′4″W / 61.56056°N 150.48444°W / 61.56056; -150.48444
 • elevation
26 ft (7.9 m)
Length75 mi (121 km)

The Yentna River (Dena'ina: Yentnu) is a river in South Central Alaska, formed by its East Fork and West Fork at 62°16′50″N 151°46′26″W / 62.28056°N 151.77389°W / 62.28056; -151.77389, flows South-East to Susitna River, 30 miles (48 km) North-West of Anchorage, Alaska, at Cook Inlet Low.

History

Tanaina Indian name reported by Spurr (1900, p. 46), United States Geological Survey. "Sometimes called Johnson River after the first white man to ascend it."

The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race route travels along the Yentna River for about 40 miles, from the mouth at the Susitna River up to a tributary, the Skwentna River. The first checkpoint of the race at Yentna Station is located along the left bank of the river.

Watershed

Location of Susitna, Alaska
Location of Susitna, Alaska

It begins in the Mount Dall and Yentna glacier systems and flows southeast to the Susitna River 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Susitna. The river system (including upstream tributaries) is about 100 miles (160 km) long.

Tributaries

From mouth to source:

Lake Creek just about 8 miles down river from Bottle Creek. Major fishing area: kings, reds, silvers. Winter sports, hunting. Moose Creek, Indian Creek, Fish lakes Creek, Hewitt Creek, Malone's Slough, Donkey Creek, Johnson Creek, Clearwater Creek, Rich Creek, Flag Creek, Delta Creek, Fourth of July Creek, & Kichatna River round out the rest of the main Yentna River Tributaries.

See also

List of rivers of Alaska

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Yentna River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
  2. 1 2 3 "East Fork Yetna River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
  3. 1 2 3 "West Fork Yetna River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
  4. ↑ United States Geological Survey Hydrological Unit Code:
  5. ↑ "Checkpoint: Yentna". Iditarod. 2013-01-13. Retrieved 2026-04-07.
  6. ↑ "Kahiltna River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
  7. ↑ "Bottle Creek (Yentna River)". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
  8. ↑ "Skwentna River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-03.