Mendenhall River

The Mendenhall River (Lingít: Woosh Ilʼóox̱ʼu Héen) is an Alaskan river north of Juneau in the Mendenhall Valley. The river begins at the Mendenhall Lake, at the base of the Mendenhall Glacier.

Rafting on the river

The Mendenhall is about six miles (9 kilometers) long, one mile (1.6 km) of which is whitewater. The most favorable months in which to raft on the river is May through September. The most active points along the whitewater section are Scott's Iatola (or Iatolla) Hola, Tourist Trap, and Pinball Alley. The whitewater ends near the Juneau International Airport.

Flooding

Minor flood stage for the Mendenhall River is 12 feet (3.7 m), and a level of 14 feet (4.3 m) is more likely to cause extensive problems. If the Mendenhall is at minor flood stage, however, it is likely that areas such as Montana Creek, Jordan Creek, and the Mendenhall Lake are also experiencing flooding at that time.

Interesting facts

• On October 20, 1998, the river reached its then-greatest-recorded water flow of 12,400 cubic feet per second (350 m³/s).
• Named in honor of Thomas Corwin Mendenhall, the superintendent of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey (1889–1894).
• Since 2011, periodic glacial floods have occurred from the Suicide Basin through the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau, Alaska. A major release in 2023 destroyed two buildings.

Points of interest

• Brotherhood Bridge

See also

• List of Alaska rivers
• Mendenhall Glacier
• Mendenhall River Community School
• Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge
• Thomas Corwin Mendenhall

External links

• Hydrology, Geomorphology, and Flood Profiles -- (full report is a PDF file)
• Facing the "Iatolla Hola"—September 4, 2001 article in the on-line version of the Juneau Empire
• Mendenhall River on E-RAFT.com
• Rafting picture
• Juneau areas at risk of floods
• Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge