Sheenjek River

Sheenjek River
Location of the mouth of the Sheenjek River in Alaska
Location
CountryUnited States
StateAlaska
DistrictNorth Slope Borough, YukonKoyukuk Census Area
Physical characteristics
SourceBrooks Range
  locationslightly south of the Continental Divide, North Slope Borough
  coordinates69°01′53″N 144°00′40″W / 69.03139°N 144.01111°W / 69.03139; -144.01111
  elevation6,079 ft (1,853 m)
MouthPorcupine River
  location
23 miles (37 km) northeast of Fort Yukon, Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge
  coordinates
66°44′23″N 144°34′01″W / 66.73972°N 144.56694°W / 66.73972; -144.56694
  elevation
446 ft (136 m)
Length200 mi (320 km)
TypeWild 191.0 miles (307.4 km)
DesignatedDecember 2, 1980

The Sheenjek River is a 200-mile (320 km) tributary of the Porcupine River in the U.S. state of Alaska. It begins in the eastern part of the Brooks Range and flows southward to meet the larger river northeast of Fort Yukon.

Its name derives from the Gwich'in word "khiinjik," meaning "dog-salmon river"." Explorer J.H. Turner called it the Salmon River.

In the United States, the geographic location most remote from human trails, roads, or settlements is found here, at the headwaters of the Sheenjek River.