Killik River

The Killik River is a 105-mile (169 km) tributary of the Colville River in the U.S. state of Alaska.[1] It begins in the northern portion of Gates of the Arctic National Park and flows north onto property of the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation.[3]

Killik River
Location of the mouth of the Killik River in Alaska
Location
Country	United States
State	Alaska
Borough	North Slope, Yukon–Koyukuk Census Area
Physical characteristics
Source	Confluence of April and Kakivilak creeks
• location	Gates of the Arctic National Park, Brooks Range, Yukon–Koyukuk Census Area
• coordinates	67°46′09″N 154°32′54″W[1]
• elevation	4,863 ft (1,482 m)[2]
Mouth	Colville River
• location	52 miles (84 km) southwest of Umiat, North Slope Borough
• coordinates	69°00′26″N 153°54′35″W[1]
• elevation	548 ft (167 m)[1]
Length	105 mi (169 km)[1]

The river's headwaters are near Survey Pass in the Endicott Mountains on the north slope of the central Brooks Range, and the river mouth is south of Angoyakvik Pass.[4] The direction of the headwaters stream is northwest at first, then sharply northeast before April and Easter creeks enter from the right slightly north of the North Slope Borough boundary.[4] The river continues northeast for much of its course until it turns northwest again on the lower reaches after receiving the Okokmilaga River from the right.[4]

Major tributaries of the Killik are April and Easter creeks, as well as the Okokmilaga.[4] North of Easter Creek, tributary streams, such as Aniakvik Creek and Nigaktukvik Creek, flow predominantly through short, narrow, V-shaped valleys.

The main stem flows down a U-shaped glacial valley containing lakes, sand dunes, lateral moraines, and alpine tundra.[5] This valley, about 2 miles (3 km) wide initially, widens to between 3 and 5 miles (5 and 8 km) on the lower reaches, and the river becomes braided.[5] Copious stretches of dwarf birch (betula nana), and sedges, with large expanses of sedge bogs and tussocks dominate the tundra.

The Killik is fed largely by precipitation and snow melt, and hence its waters are relatively clear of the sediment that characterizes glacial streams.