[1] The Richardson Highway and the Trans-Alaska Pipeline run north–south, nearby and roughly parallel to the Gulkana River.

Depending on which segments are being run, floats on these streams vary from Class I (easy) to IV (very difficult) on the International Scale of River Difficulty.

The West Fork Gulkana River and its two branches are also runnable but difficult to reach and navigate.

In particular, portages on the South Branch route, which includes lakes and a segment of the Tyone River, are "arduous".

[9] Hazards on these streams include Canyon Rapids, rated Class III to IV (difficult to very difficult) on the main stem, isolation, cold water, logjams, overhanging or submerged vegetation, portages of varying difficulty, and powerboats on the lower river.