Raften naar Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve vanuit Haines

Response: Thank you for sharing you feelings about this tour. I have been guiding on the Chilkat River for over forty years. It was a trip down the Chilkat River back in 1986 that made me decide to move to Haines. I have dedicated my life and career to educating the public about the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve. As a matter of fact, I wrote the book, Where Eagles Gather, the story of the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve. I love this river and stand behind the quality of the river trip experience we offer at Rainbow Glacier Adventures. Often, when someone gives us a bad review, it is because the trip did not meet their expectations. So let’s take a moment to look at your comments to see how your expectations may not have matched the reality of the tour experience.: Sedate: We do not advertise our river trips as adrenaline boosting. This is not a whitewater trip. It is a chance to experience nature and get completely away from roads and"civilization." Many wildlife viewing trips take place along a road. You do not truly get away from fossil fuels, fumes, pavement, noise. On our trips, we access true wilderness….there is not a sound of a gasoline engine. Much of the country you travel through would not show a single human track. Instead, the tracks would be of bear, moose, wolves, and river otter. I don’t necessarily look at “sedate” as a bad thing; I actually think that most guests come on our trip to get away from the hype and experience nature on its own terms. But if you were looking for an adrenaline boosting whitewater adventure, then you chose the wrong tour. Boring, dull: There is an interaction between our guides and our guests. The guide has to thread the needle between information and entertainment. I teach our guides to individualize each tour to the guests in their rafts. Each guide has their own personality, and I encourage them to let their personality show through. They also each have had extensive river training, not only in river navigation and safety, but also in natural history, history and the story of the Tlingit culture. They are prepared to go in depth on all these subjects. Did you ask your guide any questions about the area? Uncomfortable: We are called Rainbow Glacier Adventures. There are those that want “adventure” but they want total comfort and predictability. While we make every effort to make our trips comfortable, all our guests must be prepared to sit with no backrest for one and one half hours. Our trips run in all kinds of weather, and sometimes wind and rain can make the trip uncomfortable. Unpredictability is an aspect of adventure. The two cannot be decoupled. Dirty: As far as your choice of the word “dirty”, it is important to understand the nature of the area you are traveling in. This is a wild, untamed river fed by glaciers. Glaciers break down rock into a fine powder called glacial flour. This rock flour is suspended in the waters of the Chilkt River. That fine dust can be found everywhere along the river banks, on the shore, and on the rafts. On windy days, the dust gets suspended in the air. But I would not call that dust “dirty.” When I think of “dirty”, I think of filth and garbage. This river trip provides an opportunity to get completely away from human filth and garbage. In terms of seeing wildlife, it is always a matter of chance. The Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve is a pristine area that is home to an incredible variety of wild animals. Will you see wildlife on every tour? The likelihood of seeing bald eagles is very high. Our river trip travels through one of the densest bald eagle nesting and feeding areas in the USA. WIll you see moose, bear, wolves, trumpeter swans and otters? I cannot guarantee it. But I can guarantee that this river trip is special for those who are looking for a safe way to experience a slice of Alaskan wilderness.

Thanks for this great review. Our guides love all things nature and share thier passion with our guests. Very lucky to see a moose on this tour!

Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We’re delighted to hear how much you enjoyed your afternoon on the river with Davey, and we’re not at all surprised! He’s truly a master guide. His ability to weave together the history of Haines with its wildlife, all while navigating the river, comes from a deep love of this place and its stories.

Thank you for sharing such wonderful feedback! We’re so glad you enjoyed your adventure with Richard. His professionalism, knowledge, and personable nature make him a valued part of our team, and we’re delighted to hear that he helped make your experience memorable. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you, your friends, and your family on another adventure in the future!

Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re so glad you enjoyed rafting with Richard—his knowledge and passion really shine on the river. It sounds like you had a beautiful day with the eagles and scenery, even under the clouds. We love hearing you wished the float could have lasted longer—that’s always the best compliment! We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to see you out on the river again someday.

Thank you for your thoughtful review! We’re so happy to hear you and your husband had a fantastic day with Russ. He’s a wonderful guide and will be glad to know how much you enjoyed the rafting trip. We also appreciate you noting how the weather affects wildlife behavior — while warm sunny days are a treat for us locals, many animals (like people!) prefer to stay cool in the shade. As you said, the weather never diminishes the experience; it’s always a peaceful float through stunning scenery with a knowledgeable and caring guide. Thank you again for joining us during your time in Haines and for sharing your experience!