Gold N Paddle
River raft gold prospecting trip down the Kenai river
Note: Summer Spots are filling up quickly, contact us to reserve your spot today!
Gold N Paddle
We started a gold and paddle trip last year and it was a great success. The trip starts with an orientation of prospecting equipment at Prospectors John's Includes learning how to use a sluice box, classifiers, gold pan, etc.
Then we go across the drive to get rubber boots, rain gear, life preservers, etc. and take a 250 yard river walk to waiting rafts.
We board our rafts and take a scenic trip through the Kenai Mountains through some small rapids. After approximately an hour of rafting we will reach the stream that we will be prospecting this year. You will disembark the rafts, meet your guide and walk about 200 yards up stream to a base camp where you use the equipment of your choice to prospect.
There’s a good chance to find some color, mostly fines but a lot of flakes and occasional pickers and there’s always the chance of a good nugget. We provide a vial for you to put your gold findings in to take home as a souvenir.
A small campfire will be built and lunch is served. The basic fair consists of hotdogs on a stick over a campfire and all the fixings, chips, marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate, fruit snacks, water or soda, however, we can accommodate your special needs and wants with sufficient notice.
After about three or so hours of prospecting we reboard the rafts and take a scenic raft trip through the wildlife refuge.
(chances are good to see eagle, bear, moose, mountain goats, sheep, spawning salmon and witness the world famous combat fishing area of the Russian River). This final leg of the trip takes about 2 hours. We board vans to return to Prospector John's.
The trip is approximately 7 1/2-8 hours fully guided by competent, insured and forest service permitted guides. The raft guides are also well versed in the history of the river including ancient native activity along the river.
This trip is very popularly priced at only $ 249.00
We offer pre-booking discount if booked during the months of November, December, January & February. There are a few days already booked for the month of July so it's advisable to make reservations early for late June, July and early August trips.
Group rate discounts are available. Call to see how many we can accommodate.
Once again, postal motto applies….we go rain shine, sleet or snow. We provide rain gear if needed.
Purchasers of this trip will be sent a gift certificate and voucher that is transferable so this makes the perfect gift for any friends and family visiting Alaska and the Kenai Peninsula.
You can check the reputation for Prospector John's by contacting the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce and Soldotna Visitor Center tanya@soldotnachamber.com. Other references available upon request.
Prospector Johns is located approximately a two hour drive south of Anchorage in Cooper Landing.
(a small town nestled in the mountains a few hundred yards from the headwaters of the world famous Kenai River ) and Prospector John’s can arrange for a fully guided tour bus with a guide from Anchorage to Soldotna if you desire.
Lodging and almost any activity you can imagine are available in the area.
People call me Prospector John (that's me in the pic panning on a wild stream approximately a three day horseback ride from the nearest road) I'm a long time resident of Cooper Landing so I can personally help you make any arrangement you desire.
Again, this is hands on experience lasting approximately 8 hours.
Trip can be purchased as a gift certificate and is a superb Christmas gift for your loved ones and friends.
Visiting Alaska next summer?
We will send you a gift certificate voucher. All we need is the recipient to call and confirm a reservation at least 30 days before excursion.
No cancellations 30 days prior to excursion and we offer 90% refund on cancellations more then 30 days prior.
Reservations for just the gold prospecting and raft trip can be booked separately.
Contact John at 1-907-598-1808 or e-mail
Thank you!
