Paddle the Kenai River and build packrafting skills with a guide
Gear, instructor, shuttle
Learn packrafting basics on the Kenai River with hands-on coaching as you practice strokes, river safety, and maneuvering skills. This beginner-friendly course covers moving water, including mild to moderate rapids.
Participants must be at least 14 years old, and anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. You must be able to swim. There is a parking fee at the Upper Kenai River Boat Launch that is not included—confirm the amount with Greetwell before booking.
Day tours (no aircraft): 48+ hours before departure, refund minus 10% administrative fee; under 48 hours, no refund; no-shows, no refund. Full refund of booking payments made if KBA cancels due to weather.
Arrive 15 minutes before your tour start time for check-in and preparation.
Yes. You must be able to swim.
Bring clothes for layering, waterproof gloves, warm socks (wool or synthetic recommended), a full water bottle, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a camera or smartphone. You can also bring cash or Venmo for guide gratuities (recommended but not required).
With a perfect rating across hundreds of reviews, this outfit consistently delivers on memorable Alaska adventures, from glacier treks to river rafting. The guides really make the experience here – Brandon, Derek, Mary, and Jared all get enthusiastic shout-outs for being knowledgeable, friendly, and genuinely passionate about what they do. People love that guides take their time, answer questions, and even drop guests directly at their accommodations. The glacier hikes seem especially popular, with travelers calling them bucket-list experiences worth the physical effort. The company handles logistics smoothly with hotel pickups and well-prepared equipment. One traveler noted the Resurrection River rafting felt shorter than expected with multiple stops breaking up the actual time on the water, though they still enjoyed their guide. Most guests, however, feel they got exactly what they hoped for – whether it's standing on crystalline blue ice, spotting eagles and salmon, or conquering challenging terrain with capable guides who genuinely love their work.
We had an amazing experience with Kenai Backcountry Adventures! Our family of four loved snowmobiling and snowshoeing to the glacier — the views were incredible and the whole adventure was so much fun. A big thank you to Derek for being such a wonderful guide. He was friendly, knowledgeable and made sure everyone felt comfortable. He made the experience even more memorable for us. Definitely one of the highlights of our Alaska trip — highly recommend!
Gaja S
April 3, 2026
We had an amazing experience with Kenai Backcountry Adventures! Our family of four loved snowmobiling and snowshoeing to the glacier — the views were incredible and the whole adventure was so much fun. A big thank you to Derek for being such a wonderful guide. He was friendly, knowledgeable and made sure everyone felt comfortable. He made the experience even more memorable for us. Definitely one of the highlights of our Alaska trip — highly recommend!
Gaja S
April 3, 2026