Ideally located in the heart of Alaska’s best trout and salmon fisheries just outside of King Salmon, AK, Rapids Camp Lodge has earned the reputation as one of the premier Alaskan fly-out operations. Rapids Camp Lodge operates three floatplanes, including two de Havilland Beavers on floats, a Beaver on Tundra Tires, and a turbine powered de Havilland Otter.
Located on the world-renowned Naknek River, the lodge can provide all the fishing gear, waders, flies, and tackle required free of charge. Comfortable accommodations in single occupancy bedrooms with private baths plus a small cabin allow a maximum of ten guests. The huge riverfront property boasts incredible food, a cozy great room with high-speed wireless internet, satellite TV, and a lively bar.
Their fishing program is founded on an endless array of angling options for all species of salmon, char, trout, and more with the use of the largest fleet of aircraft in the business. With four airplanes and a maximum of ten-twelve guests per week, the aircraft/angler ratio is among the best in Alaska. Rapids Camp also provides round-trip air transport between King Salmon and Anchorage on their private aircraft (Pilatus PC-12) – allowing guests to avoid commercial travel to King Salmon.
The rivers and streams in the area are world renowned for their runs of wild Pacific salmon and thriving resident populations of rainbow trout, arctic char, arctic grayling, northern pike, and dolly varden. Guests fish the Naknek, a world famous trophy rainbow trout destination fishery, and with the use of the lodge’s four aircraft, hundreds of miles of rivers and creeks around the lodge. Many of those are within nearby national and state parks and federal wildlife refuges which have little or no human development. After building the lodge on the grounds of the old officer’s retreat, RCL has become one of the most complete and reputable fly-out operations in Western Alaska. Its family atmosphere, superior food and service, first-rate equipment and airplanes, non-fishing friendly activities, and a world-class roster of tenured guides and pilots combine to create one of the greatest Alaskan experience available.
Location: Naknek River, King Salmon Alaska
Species: Rainbow Trout, All five species of Pacific Salmon, Arctic Char, Dolly Varden, Grayling, Northern Pike
Seasonality: Mid June - End of September
Rates: $12,950 Per Person (7 NIghts / 6 Days) $9,850 (4 Nights / 3 Days)
Reach out to our team in the travel department to learn more about our experiences at Rapids Camp Lodge.
Phone: (888) 824-5420 or (214) 219-2500
Email: travel@tailwatersflyfishing.com
Guests at Rapids Camp fly out daily aboard one of lodge’s four aircraft to remote streams and rivers in the area. With two de Havilland Beavers on floats, a de Havilland turbine-driven Otter on floats, and one of the Beavers on tundra tires, Rapids Camp guests are best equipped to access the area’s remote fisheries and wildlife viewing areas. In the event that weather precludes flying, the incredible rainbow trout and salmon fishing of the Naknek River is right out the front door. The Naknek is home to some of Alaska’s largest rainbows — many exceeding 30 inches – and tremendous runs of all Pacific salmon species.
The lodge maintains custom jet boats on the Naknek and many smaller jet sleds stashed on various rivers throughout the region including two boats on the Kvichak and three boats on the Nushagak. Float trips in comfortable rafts are also part of the weekly routine depending on the season and anglers’ interests. Southwestern Alaska offers an incredible diversity of fishing opportunities with eleven freshwater gamefish species available throughout the season.
Rapids Camp visits nearly fifty of Bristol Bay’s best river systems. Check out our brochure for a brief description of the most popular spots. With four airplanes (3 on floats and 1 on tundra tires), the lodge also provides access to many other lesser known rivers that can seasonally fish off the charts and don’t have much competition from other fly-out lodges.
Following a long day on the water, Rapids Camp guests relax and enjoy exceptional accommodations and amenities. The traditional log cabin style buildings are tastefully decorated and tailor made for a luxurious Alaskan wilderness experience. The lodge sits on a bluff perched above the Naknek, with the float planes parked at the pier right out front!
The lodge houses their guests in eight spacious single occupancy bedrooms with private baths. The huge sixty acre property sits directly on the banks of the Naknek River. Compared to other wilderness fishing lodges, RCL has a huge advantage in being connected to town by a road. This accessibility to daily flights from Anchorage allows their world-class chefs to pamper guests with meals of the freshest ingredients. They serve only the finest meats and wild game (duck, Kobe beef, venison, etc.), have access to the freshest salmon and halibut on earth, and have fresh produce delivered weekly. Desserts are delicious, the bar is always well stocked, and the wine selection is always top notch. Guests help themselves to local draft beer from the bar and the lodge has several excellent California, Chilean, and other imported wines as part of every meal and cocktail hour.
Other amenities include a private reading room, hot tub, and a workout facility. There is a full time professional masseuse on staff at the lodge for evening relaxation after a long day on the river. Rapids Camp Lodge is as nice as any fly out fishing lodge in Alaska, and we encourage our customers to understand this is not a “roughing it” kind of experience. Even the most high maintenance clients of any gender will be comfortable in the lodge’s facilities.
Rapids Camp Lodge operates on a Friday – Friday schedule.
Guests first fly to Anchorage, Alaska, which is serviced daily by the major airlines. Most guests travel to Anchorage on Thursday and spend the night in Anchorage at one of our recommended hotels, continuing on to the lodge Friday morning.
ANCHORAGE TO KING SALMON ON THE LODGE’S PRIVATE PLANE!
On Friday morning, guests board the lodge’s private plane aircraft (Pilatus PC-12) for a 1 1/2 hour flight (285 miles) from Anchorage to King Salmon. The cost of round trip air between Anchorage and King Salmon IS INCLUDED IN YOUR TRIP COST. Upon arrival at the lodge, you will have time to unpack and get oriented before getting your fishing license, meeting your guides, and getting outfitted with any necessary gear. On the way home, guests are transported back to Anchorage in time for commercial connections Friday evening.
RAPIDS CAMP LODGE IS OPEN JUNE – LATE SEPTEMBER
Choosing a date to fish anywhere in Western Alaska depends upon which species of fish you would like to target. Fishing is excellent all season, but the conditions and species available vary from month to month and may impact when you decide to visit. All months are excellent for viewing wildlife, and anglers often find themselves sharing the river or stream with multiple grizzly bears doing a little fishing of their own.
The annual salmon run plays a huge role in the productivity and style of fishing. Every summer, millions of Pacific Salmon return to their home streams to spawn and die, contributing to this natural cycle of life that maintains the health and productivity of the fishery.
Please view our brochure for a detailed breakdown of Alaska fishing seasonality.
We encourage non-angling companions to visit the lodge as well. We frequently send families and small children to the lodge every season and it is a total home run. Perhaps the best way to see Alaska’s gorgeous wilderness, scenery, and wildlife is on a fly-out fishing trip. Guests at RCL can detour to enjoy glacier and volcano flight-seeing, bear and wildlife viewing, clam digging, and eco-tourism activities.
Rapids Camp is by no means a pretentious “fly fishing only” program. Beginner anglers are welcome and encouraged to use spinning equipment instead of fly-rods if required to make guests more comfortable and successful.
Tailwaters Travel must adhere to the cancellation policies of the guides, outfitters and lodges which it represents. Rapids Camp Lodge’s policy follows: A non-refundable fifty-percent (50%) deposit is required at the time of booking to confirm all reservations. All trips must be paid in full 90 days prior to departure day.
A deposit may be transferred to another person who is not booked at the lodge for the current season. Deposits are refundable for cancellation only after/if the canceled space has been filled. Refunds are not granted for non-flying days due to weather or reasons out of the lodge’s control. Refunds of deposits/payments made on credit cards will be charged a 3.5% service charge to fully compensate Tailwaters Travel for all bank charges incurred. Receipt of deposit and/or final payment is acknowledgement that registrant has read and accepts the cancellation, refund and responsibility clauses.
Given the strict cancellation and refund policies associated with nearly all fishing packages, we cannot stress enough the importance of obtaining travel insurance to protect your investment. Redpoint Travel Protection / Ripcord offers competitive medical/cancellation/interruption coverage to couple with their industry-leading medical evacuation services. Click here to learn more and contact us to generate a quote.