Vanstock X NOVA Alaska Guides
A field trip experience provided by NOVA X Vanstock. A day trip spent rafting one of Alaska’s most beloved rapids: Lion’s Head!
Adventurers will be picked up from the Vanstock grounds Sunday morning and whisked away to experience Alaska’s incredible white water, and return before the music plays Sunday at 3pm.
*Vanstock weekend admission ticket is required to participate in the field trip experience*
What you’ll get
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A nostalgic field trip experience. You’ll be picked up from your camp field, aboard a school bus, to enjoy one of Alaska’s most beautiful drives with all your friends.
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Ride Alaska’s powerhouse glacial river. This river is full of thrills, crashing waves and Class III & IV boulder gardens that create nonstop consistent fun.
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Experience the view of the massive Matenuska Glacier from the river. This scenic alpine area has outdoor vistas and snow capped peaks in all directions.
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Top notch river gear provided by NOVA including a pfd [personal floatation device], pair of water shoes, river helmet, and full dry-suit.
Attendees must provide warm layers for under the dry suit.
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Meet 30 new friends! Experience an adventure of a lifetime with like minded people from Vanstock weekend!
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A rare opportunity to have a premier and professional guide experience at a discounted price! We are proud to partner with NOVA, who has been in the business since 1975!
Itinerary
Field Trip Experience
Enjoy the convenience of boarding a school bus right from your campsite; no need to pack up camp! Pack a cold lunch and join your friends for the adventure of a lifetime! Return to Vanstock weekend before the music lineup begins!
Most Beautiful Road in Alaska
Sit back and relax as you head through the hour long drive up one of the most beautiful drives in Alaska. The Glenn Hwy, headed towards Glacierview, is complete with cliffsides, the twisting Mat-Su river, mountains, lush hill sides, lakes, and one of the most massive glaciers in Alaska.
Photo by Ian Merculieff takebreaks_ on instagram
Lion’s Head White Water
Experience this powerhouse glacial river! It’s full of thrills, crashing waves, and Class III & IV boulder gardens that create nonstop consistent fun. Filled with plenty of rapids and waves to crush, this amazing trip has been ideal for everyone from first-timers to experienced river runners alike. Its larger volume character really makes you feel the strength and might of Alaska!
Limited Availabiltty
Limited Availabiltty
Vanstock X NOVA Lions Head Field Trip
$111
If have considered a rafting trip, but have not fully committed, this is the perfect opportunity for you! From the convenience of Vanstock with people you are camping with. Join this exhilarating, one- of-a-kind field trip experience!
Convenient pick-up from your Vanstock Camp.
2 hour total bus ride + 3 hour rafting experience.
Arrive back before the live music begins.
✺ Need to Knows ✺
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No experience necessary.
Great for families with children 12 yrs+
Roller Coaster-style waves and holes
Great trip for team-building.
Must be able to swim
Full paddle-rafting or paddle-assist options available
State of the art boats and equipment.
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Most popular half-day whitewater rafting trip
“The Lion’s Head section of the Matanuska River is NOVA’s original river trip and where it all began for us! Our first trips as a new business were on the Matanuska River back in 1975 and is still the most popular whitewater rafting adventure NOVA offers! This powerhouse glacial river is full of thrills, crashing waves and Class III & IV boulder gardens that create nonstop consistent fun. Filled with plenty of rapids and waves to crush, this amazing trip has been ideal for everyone from first-timers to experienced river runners alike. Its larger volume character really makes you feel the strength and might of Alaska. Slicing between two different mountain ranges, the Jagged Chugach and the ancient Talkeetnas. This scenic alpine area has outdoor vistas and snow capped peaks in all directions including the massive Matanuska Glacier which is visible during tour transit. This raft trip actually launches on a separate lush low volume tributary called Caribou Creek, a great training ground before hitting the big river and rapids downstream. The creek contributes its water volume merging with the glacial currents of the South Fork on the much larger Matanuska river. Consisting of predominantly back to back Class III & IV rapids, the South Fork travels along parallel to the Matanuska Glacier moraine. The ‘Lion’s Head’ is a massive volcanic plug that the river goes around as it then charges into whitewater. This enormous chunk of volcanic rock stands out in the middle of this grand valley and has the distinctive shape and appearance of a lion’s head staring out over the Matanuska Glacier. NOVA is the pioneer rafting company on the Matanuska and has offered a variety of tours and sections throughout the years covering the entirety of the river’s length. The northern Glenn Highway used to access this river area is a recognized National Scenic Byway and is a truly magnificent scenic drive on the way out from town. Located only two hours north of Anchorage. With unparalleled mountain scenery and several miles of consistent nonstop Class III & IV rapids, this iconic half-day river trip is a local treasure of the Mat-Su valley.
NOVA offers several different options for running this river trip depending on levels and requests: Center oar rafts, paddle-assist rafts and full paddle rafting. View paddler information, for more details on raft setups or give the office a call. NOVA can also modify the trip experience by using larger or smaller size boats depending on water levels and guest wishes or comforts (easy with lower risk or challenging with higher risk). Please inquire at the office before the trip or inform your guide at your tour check-in.” - NOVA
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Water levels can dramatically change or alter the characteristics and nature of rivers and creeks in Alaska. Natural free-flowing waterways are unpredictable and have ever evolving variables compared to dam release controlled waterways. Higher water levels usually result in an increase in difficulty, intensity and risk. NOVA has implemented cut-off levels for operating tours as a safety standard for this highly respected section of water. Levels also force tour adjustments like boat sizes, equipment changes, group/load sizes in each boat, and even canceling. Proper weight and power distribution in the rafts is a major key to successful navigation. Guides are authorized to make these decisions based on monitoring usgs water level gauges prior to trip launch and may even deny participants from engaging in the activity for safety reasons. Water levels, weather and other variables can also affect the duration of a tour, like changing the volume and speed of the current. Our office staff will inform all reservations in advance about any forecasted water level changes that may jeopardize or result in cancelling the tour. Full refunds are issued if cancellations occur for our field trip and/or rescheduling with NOVA for runnable levels on another upcoming date.
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Age Limit
Ages 12 – 65
Min. Size/Weight/Height
100 Lbs, and 5 Ft. 2 Inches
Max. Size/Weight/Height
250 Lbs, and 6 Ft. 6 Inches, Girth 50 Inches.
Must be able to swim.
Must be relatively physical.
Must handle some exertion.
Whitewater rapids
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Due to the nature of this field trip, cancellations with NOVA will require 72 hours notice for a full refund. Vanstock event tickets maintain the no-refund policy. There is no refund for cancellations with less than 24 hours notice or no-shows.
If you are late for your trip ,there is a chance we will have to leave without you. If so, you will no longer participate in Vanstock X NOVA field trip experience. NOVA will do their best to reschedule your trip at no additional cost. If you are not interested in rescheduling, then missing your trip is considered an absence, resulting in no refund.
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There are inherent risks associated with river travel and outdoor activities that everyone must accept and understand. Variable uneven terrain, sharp rocks, slippery rocks, and changing weather are common. Some safety hazards will always exist and are beyond human control such as water levels and erosion. Rivers and all moving waterways can be dangerous and deadly. Rescue in these environments and features is not only technical and difficult but in some cases not possible at all. Safety standards are in place for these reasons and must be followed. Guides manage risk by interpreting and recognizing hazards that average boaters and guests are unaware of. Many traveling on the mellow sections have a false sense of security because of the friendly inviting nature of the easy river. Whitewater with rapids on the Class system of III, IV or V sections deserve respect. Individuals traveling on rivers, creeks or streams without professional guides should possess the proper knowledge, experience, and equipment.
**All participants on all our tours must follow our guidelines, procedures and sign a waiver. Only parents or legal guardians may sign for youth minors. We do not allow infants on our tours. We do not allow pets on our tours.
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NOVA tours operate regardless of most weather conditions, we go rain or shine in Alaska!
Waterways and weather can sometimes be cold in Alaska. Please, dress appropriately or bring along some warm synthetic layers and socks for your tour comfort. Cotton layers are not preferred in cold environments or when wet.
All standard river gear required for this tour is provided by NOVA including a pfd (personal floatation device), pair of water shoes, river helmet, and full dry-suit. The dry-suit is only a waterproof shell with no warm insulation, please bring your own warm comfortable layers for underneath the dry-suit.
Once you are in the dry-suit restroom breaks are difficult to accommodate, please consider facilities pre-trip.
Participation in The Vanstock X NOVA field trip is for Vanstock ticket holders.