The Chilkat River, which flows through the Chilkat Valley near Haines in southeast Alaska, boasts the world's largest concentration of Bald Eagles. Every fall thousands of these majestic birds migrate to the Chilkat, where they spend the winter feeding on salmon in the unfrozen sections of the river. During the summer months a large number of these eagles remain in the valley. Summer raft float trips allow guests to see and photograph scores of eagles; many perched in the trees and stumps along the shore. Grizzly bears, black bears, moose, and wolves are also sometimes on the riverbanks. The magnificent snow- covered peaks of the Chilkat Mountains provide a spectacular backdrop.
      Although the Chilkat's waters move swiftly, there is no whitewater. Anyone over seven years of age can enjoy the trip. The raft trip, including the shuttle from Haines, normally takes about four hours.