| Delta River | |
| Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map: | USA Alaska |
| Pushpin Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the mouth of the Delta River in Alaska |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | United States |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | Alaska |
| Subdivision Type4: | Census Area |
| Subdivision Name4: | Copper River, Southeast Fairbanks |
| Length: | 80miles |
| Source1: | Tangle Lakes |
| Source1 Location: | Amphitheater Mountains, Alaska Range, Copper River Census Area |
| Source1 Elevation: | 2823feet[1] |
| Mouth: | Tanana River |
| Mouth Location: | Big Delta, Southeast Fairbanks Census Area |
| Mouth Coordinates: | [2] |
| Mouth Elevation: | 984feet |
The Delta River is an 80miles tributary of the Tanana River in the U.S. state of Alaska.[2] Its name in the Ahtna language is Saas Na’ . Fed by the Tangle Lakes of the Alaska Range, the river flows north to meet the larger river near Big Delta.[3] It is older than the Alaska Range, being formed before their uplift 30 million years ago.[4]
In 1980, 62miles of waterways in the Delta River basin, including all of the Tangle Lakes and the main stem to within 0.5miles of Black Rapids became part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Of this, 20miles are designated "wild", 24miles "scenic", and 18miles "recreational".[5]
Easily accessible from the boat launch at the Tangle Lakes campground near the Denali Highway and at many points downstream along the Richardson Highway, the river can be floated in sections that vary in difficulty from Class I (easy) to Class V (extremely difficult) on the International Scale of River Difficulty and may require portages. The upstream stretches include four lakes and their Class II (medium) connecting channels. About 2miles downstream of the last lake, the river enters a canyon and flows over unrunnable waterfalls. A 0.50NaN0 portage leads to a 20NaN0 stretch of Class III (difficult) rapids.[6]
Below the Class III rapids, the river continues through 29miles of Class I and II water before entering a 20miles stretch between Ann Creek and One Mile Creek known as Black Rapids. Here the difficulty is Class III rising to Class IV (very difficult) or V, followed by 30miles of Class III and then 18miles of Class I.[6]
Author Karen Jettmar warns of dangers including "sweepers, canoe fragments wrapped around rocks, bears, cold and wet weather, and high winds". She says that "only experts should attempt to run Black Rapids (Class IV - V) below Mile 229 on Richardson Highway."[6]
The Tangle Lakes complex, 24miles long, that feeds the Delta River has "some of the best road-accessible grayling fishing in Interior Alaska".[7] In the deeper lakes of the system, lake trout are fairly abundant. Lakes and streams that are away from the highway and accessible only by canoe or trail are the least heavily fished. Arctic grayling fishing is also considered excellent on the upper river down to its confluence with Eureka Creek.[7]