[3] Flowing northward from headwaters at the Cantwell Glacier in the Alaska Range,[1] the Teklanika drains an area widely visited by tourists to Denali National Park and Preserve.

The river is crossed by the Denali Park Road and the Stampede Trail, and was heavily prospected in the early 20th century for the many coal, gold, and platinum deposits found along its banks.

[4] In the book Into the Wild, the Teklanika River is referred to as the Rubicon for American adventurer Christopher McCandless.

Since then, the river has proven an often deadly obstacle to many hikers attempting to reach the bus where McCandless camped-out and later died of starvation.

While she drowned on state land, her body was pulled ashore by her French boyfriend a short distance downriver.