Where the River Bends and the Fishing Begins.
Simple comfort steps away from great fishing
Set along a small, intimate stretch of the Sapsuk River (aka Hoodoo river), this fixed tent camp puts you steps from some of the best king salmon, silver salmon and steelhead water on the Alaska Peninsula. The river runs clear and cold, loaded with ocean-bright fish in a truly remote setting. Walk from your bunk to the water in minutes, and fish productive runs all day with minimal boat time.
Sapsuk River Camp blends practical comfort with wild solitude—warm tents, hearty meals, and a tight-knit group of anglers focused on making every cast count. It’s off the grid, off the radar, and everything you want in a serious fishing trip.
Our Fishing Program
Short Runs. Ocean-Fresh Fish. Light Pressure.
The Sapsuk River is tailor-made for fly fishing; clear, mid-sized, and loaded with wild ocean-bright fish throughout the season. With soft edges, deep slots, and long tailouts, it’s a river that rewards the swing. Easy to wade and quick to read, the water here fishes close and clean, with most runs just minutes from camp by foot or a short jet boat ride.
We fish the entire season using two-handed (spey) techniques, ideal for covering water efficiently and presenting flies with precision. During silver salmon season, when fish stack in tighter holding zones and softer channels, single-hand rods can also shine, especially when stripping flies or skating surface patterns.
To preserve the quality of the experience, we keep group sizes intentionally small. During king and silver salmon season, the camp hosts up to six anglers per week and in fall, we scale back to just four anglers per week for steelhead season for more personalized fishing and access to rested water.
Guides rotate guests through a variety of productive beats, most just a short walk or quick jet boat ride from camp. Anglers fish two per guide and each day is shaped around conditions, tides, and timing, with a focus on giving every angler a thoughtful, flexible, and rewarding experience.
Whether you’re swinging for chrome-bright kings, chugging poppers for aggressive silvers, or carefully covering steelhead lies, the Sapsuk delivers consistent, exciting fishing in a setting that still feels wild and untouched.
Fish Where the Wild Things Are
Accommodations
Thoughtfully Built, Comfortably Simple
Sapsuk River Camp is designed with intention—offering everything you need for a successful fishing trip, with just enough soft touches to make it feel like home. The camp sits on a high bluff overlooking the river, with stunning views across the open tundra to the towering volcanoes in the distance. Guests stay in double-occupancy Weatherport tents equipped with electric outlets, ample storage space for gear, drip-oil heaters, and cozy bedding to ensure a warm, comfortable place to rest at the end of each day.
Meals are served in a bright and welcoming kitchen and dining tent, where you’ll gather for hearty food, hot coffee, and easy conversation. The “Volcano Lounge” provides a relaxed, communal space for apres fishing cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, swap stories, and unwind in comfort out of the elements.
The camp includes a heated bathhouse with running hot water, offering a welcome touch of comfort in the wilderness. Clean outhouses and a simple camp layout keep things efficient and low-impact. And while you’re miles from the nearest road, Starlink internet access is available throughout, so you can stay connected when needed—without losing the sense of true remoteness.
Cast Into Something Wild
Meet Our Team
Guides Who Know Every Bend
This is Alaska hospitality at its best—genuine, capable, and built for the middle of nowhere.
The crew at Sapsuk River Camp runs tight—and that’s exactly how we like it. With just a handful of guests each week, our team gets to know you quickly and fishes with real focus.
Our guides are patient, skilled, and deeply tuned into the river’s rhythms—reading tides, tracking fish movement, and knowing when to change plans to keep you in the action. Back at camp, our cook and hospitality coordinator keep things comfortable and welcoming, serving up hot meals and managing the small details that make a big difference.
Start Planning Your Alaskan Adventure
Planning a fishing trip to Sapsuk River Camp with Aleutian Adventures is simple. We’ve built our programs to make it as easy as possible to get here, gear up, and fish hard. Below you’ll find everything you need to know to start planning your adventure. Contact our team directly for more information and current availability.
Rates & Details
King Salmon (June through July) – $9,000.00
Silver Salmon (August through September) – $8,750.00
Steelhead (September through October) – $9,250.00
**Add $700.00 for Single Tent**
What’s Included?
- 7 nights accommodations (double occupancy)
- 6 nights guided fishing (2:1 guest to guide ratio)
- Meals and non-alcoholic beverages
- Charter flight to/from Anchorage and Nelson Lagoon
What’s Not Included?
- Flights to/from Anchorage
- Hotels, meals, transportation in Anchorage
- Fishing license & king salmon stamp
- Beer, wine, alcohol
- Fishing equipment and flies
- Gratuities to guides and staff
Travel & Logistics
Your Aleutian adventure begins with a flight to Anchorage, where we recommend arriving at least one day early and staying overnight. The following morning, you’ll meet at Merrill Field for check-in and board a scenic 2.5-hour charter flight to Nelson Lagoon. Upon landing, our guide team will greet you and transfer you 1.5 hours upriver by jet boat to camp.
Because access to camp is tide-dependent, timing varies. If travel is delayed, guests will stay at our bunkhouse and waiting area in Nelson Lagoon until safe passage is possible.
There’s no guided fishing on arrival day, but you’re welcome to rig your rods and explore the nearby water on your own.
Enjoy six full days of guided fishing on the Sapsuk River (also known as the Hoodoo River), rotating guides and covering new stretches of water each day. Guides will adjust plans based on tides, weather, and river conditions to keep you on productive beats.
On your departure day, you’ll pack up after breakfast and head back downriver to Nelson Lagoon. Weather permitting, return flights depart between 1–2 PM and arrive in Anchorage by 4–5 PM. From there, you can catch a taxi to your hotel or to the commercial airport for your flight home.
Things to Know Before You Go
How remote is the camp?
Very. There are no roads in or out—once you’re at camp, it’s just you, the crew, and the river. The camp is approximately 550 miles Southwest of Anchorage, Alaska.
What’s the best time to fish the Sapsuk?
June through October. We fish for kings from mid-June through July, silvers late August through mid September, and steelhead late September through October.
Are there showers and bathrooms?
Yes—there’s a community bathhouse with hot running water, and two clean well-kept outhouses.
How many anglers are in camp?
We host a maximum of six guests per week to keep the experience intimate and uncrowded. During king and silver salmon season we host up to six guests per week and scale down to four guests per week during steelhead season.
Do I need to be an experienced spey caster?
Not at all. However, we always recommend practicing your cast prior to your arrival so that you get the most out of your fishing experience. Our guides work with all skill levels, and the water here is perfect for learning or refining your swing.
Please take time to read our booking policies.
See What Our
Anglers Are Saying
— Phil Trask
7 months ago
Review Source Rating 5/5 – See more reviews
(5+ reviews)
Sapsuk River Camp - FAQ's
What type of anglers is Sapsuk River Camp best suited for?
Sapsuk River Camp is best suited for passionate spey anglers who value solitude, strong runs of salmon and steelhead, and a straightforward, well-run remote camp experience. If you enjoy long days on the water, light fishing pressure, two-handed fly fishing, and the authenticity of a well-appointed Alaska tent camp—rather than luxury lodge amenities—Sapsuk River Camp is an excellent fit.
Where is Sapsuk River Camp located?
Sapsuk River Camp is located on the remote lower Alaska Peninsula, about 20 miles upriver of the Bering Sea coast.
How do I get to Sapsuk River Camp?
Guests fly commercially to Anchorage and overnight. The following morning, a lodge-coordinated charter flight transports guests approximately three hours to a remote airstrip near the Bering Sea coast. From there, guests travel upriver by jet boat (approximately one hour) to camp.
When should I go?
King Salmon: Mid-June to mid-July
Silver Salmon: August to mid-September
Steelhead: Mid-September through October
How will I fish?
The fishing program is spey-forward throughout the season, using two-handed rods to efficiently cover water and present swung flies. During silver salmon season, when fish concentrate in softer channels and holding water, single-hand rods can also be effective—particularly for stripping flies or skating surface patterns.
Is there wade fishing?
Yes, anglers wade fish 100% of the time from gravel bars and riverbanks.
Where will I fish?
Guests access fishing water by jet boat, traveling to productive sections of the Sapsuk River. Most king salmon water is close to camp, while silver salmon and steelhead runs are typically accessed slightly farther upriver.
How long does it take to reach the fishing grounds?
Boat runs generally range from 5 to 30 minutes from camp, depending on the section of river being fished.
What fish species will I catch?
Depending on the time of season, anglers can target king salmon, silver salmon or steelhead.
How many fish will I catch?
Catch rates vary by season and conditions. During king salmon and steelhead seasons, anglers can expect a few solid hookups per day. Silver salmon season often provides higher-volume fishing, with the potential for consistent action throughout the day.
Will I see other anglers?
A small number of anglers may be encountered during king and silver salmon seasons. During steelhead season, you will not encounter others. Overall fishing pressure is light compared to most Alaska fisheries.
What are the guides like?
Experienced Alaskan professionals who thrive in remote environments and know the river intimately.
Is the wading difficult?
Wading difficulty varies by section of river and time of season. Most king and silver salmon water is easy to moderate, with stable gravel bars and forgiving footing. Steelhead water can be more technical, with larger rocks, stronger current, and more challenging wading conditions.
Do I need to be an expert caster to catch fish?
No, however, prior experience with two-handed casting is strongly recommended to get the most out of the fishing program.
Does the lodge provide equipment?
Guests are encouraged to arrive fully prepared with their own fishing gear. Guides carry flies, leaders, tips, and terminal tackle to supplement guest gear as needed. The camp also maintains a small selection of backup rods and reels in case of breakage or equipment failure.
What setups do you recommend?
Kings: 12–13 ft 9-wt Spey rods
Silvers: 11-12 ft 7-wt or 8-wt Spey rods and/or 9 ft 8-wt single hand rods
Steelhead: 11-12 ft 7-wt or 8-wt Spey rods
What happens if water conditions are poor?
If river conditions temporarily limit fishing, guests wait for improvement. There are no alternate rivers fished from camp. The Sapsuk River is relatively protected and rarely becomes unfishable for extended periods.
What is the camp atmosphere like?
Relaxed, fun, communal, and focused on fishing. A true Alaskan tent-camp experience that has everything you expect and nothing you don’t.
Who runs the camp?
A small, capable crew of three guides plus a host/chef manages daily operations.
Where do we eat and what are meals like?
Meals are served in the dining tent. Expect hearty, home-style dishes—local seafood, pasta, and grilled meats. Lunch is riverside and simple.
What are the guest accommodations like?
Heated Weatherport tents on raised platforms with full beds, linens, and power from a generator with battery backup. There’s a shared shower house with on-demand hot water and two outhouses.
Is there internet or cell service?
Yes, the camp has Starlink internet access with wifi broadcast throughout the camp.
Plan Your Stay at Sapsuk River Camp
Remote Experience. Maximum fishing. The kind of trip you’ll want to repeat.