Mt. McKinley Summit Flight Tour - Talkeetna Aero

Take a trip to the summit of Mt. McKinley in the comfort of a twin-engine aircraft, or make plans to walk on one of Mt. McKinley's awesome glaciers. Talkeetna Aero Services and its partner will take you on a trip into the Ice Age that you'll never forget! Flights depart from Talkeetna and Denali National Park.

Each tour includes a 15-minute pre-flight briefing and tour description with maps of the flight plan. Experienced pilot-guides narrate your tour, offering geology, history, and local lore. Safe and reliable intercom-equipped aircraft provide everyone with a window seat for incredible views and photography. The best way to see Alaska is from an airplane!

The Summit McKinley Tour is Talkeetna Aero’s most popular flight. Experience flying right over the top of Mt. McKinley, where you can look down both sides of the McKinley massif and Alaska Range. The Wickersham Wall, the longest continuous granite ice wall in the world, drops from over 20,000 feet to almost sea level. Included in this flight is an extensive tour of both the north and south sides of McKinley. You begin your flight over the beautiful Susitna Valley and head into the Alaska Range. Tour the south side of Denali in its full splendor from the Kahiltna “Climber’s Base Camp”to the Ruth Glacier and Don Sheldon Amphitheater and through the Great Gorge. Witness where the magnificent glaciers are formed and begin their journey to the sea. See all the peaks and glaciers on the south side: Ruth and Kahiltna Glaciers, Don Sheldon Amphitheater, Great Gorge, Moose’s Tooth, climbers’base camps (in season), Mt. Hunter, Foraker, and Huntington. On the north side, the original climbing routes will be pointed out as well as the Muldrow and Peters Glaciers. During the climbing season, you have a good chance to see climbers on their way to the top.

The South Side Glacier Tour covers the glaciers and peaks on the south side of McKinley: the Ruth and Kahiltna Glaciers, Mt. Hunter, Foraker, and Huntington, Moose’s Tooth, the Great Gorge and the Don Sheldon Amphitheater. Add on a glacier landing and step out of the plane onto age-old ice. The vastness and beauty of the glaciers will awe and amaze you.

The Circle Denali Tour is an extension of the South Side route and includes all the Summit tour highlights minus the fly—over—making it a great tour for families with younger children, who sometimes experience ear trouble t higher altitudes. Glacier landing add-ons are available for this tour as well, and Talkeetna Aero is the only operator that offers the option of a glacier landing on the mountain’s south side, i.e. a Denali departure. Their Denali Landing Tour adds a glacier landing to the Circle Denali route that departs from Denali.

he North Face Glacier Tour flies over the wilderness of Denali National Park and up Stampede Trail. On days when McKinley may be overcast, this tour will introduce you to the beauty of the area and the glaciers in the area.

For travelers with limited time or who would prefer to base out of Talkeetna or Anchorage, Talkeetna Aero Services offers their exclusive Denali Day Trip. Enjoy a scenic McKinley flightseeing tour enroute, then tour the park via the Tundra Wilderness Tour, a 6-8 hour guided bus trip. A deluxe box lunch is provided with snacks and beverages.

Air-taxi flights between Anchorage, Talkeetna, and Denali National Park are available with advance reservations and space available.

Details: No experience necessary. Most tours suitable for all ages and activity levels. Must be 10 years or older for Summit McKinley Tour, no exceptions.

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Tour Highlights

Narrated flightseeing tours of Mt. McKinley, Alaska Range, and Denali National Park
Interactive headsets for passengers. Large un-tinted windows for great photos.
Pilots and aircraft are FAA approved for all-weather (IFR) flights
Holder of an FAA Air Carrier Certificate
Fleet of three Piper Navajo twin engine all-weather aircraft, one DeHaviland Beaver with wheel skis, and one Cessna 185 with wheel skis
Ground transportation provided from local hotels and lodging
Two-person minimum required
Spotless safety record
Winner of Mat-Su CVB “Cheechako Award” for developing a new and unique product for Alaskan visitors
Satisfaction guaranteed
Pilots are Alaska-trained and familiar with the local geology, history, and climbing lore
Alaskan owned and operated since 1982

2009 Times & Prices

Tours	Dates	Flight Time	Adult
Summit McKinley Tour – From Talkeetna	Year Round	90 - 150 minutes	$249 - $449
Summit McKinley Tour – From Denali *	Mid May - Mid Sept	90 - 150 minutes	$249 - $449
Circle Denali Tour – From Talkeetna	Year Round	1 hour, 15 minutes	$275
Circle Denali Tour w/Glacier Landing – From Talkeetna	Mid May - Mid Sept	2 hours	$350
South Side Glacier Tour – From Talkeetna	Year Round	1 hour	$250
South Side Glacier Tour w/Glacier Landing – From Talkeetna	Mid May - Mid Sept	1 hour, 45 minutes	$325

Note:

Flights operate all day long, from 9:00am - 7:00pm, depending on daylight hours

Denali Day Trip	Dates	Depart	Return	Adult
From Talkeetna	Mid May - Mid Sept	7:00am	7:15pm	$425
From Anchorage	Mid May - Mid Sept	7:00am	7:45pm	$525

Note:

Includes: Round trip by air, Mt. McKinley scenic flight, Park shuttle bus, deluxe box lunch, and ground transfers in Denali Park.
Custom flights and tour packages can be arranged.

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What to Bring

Bring along sunglasses and cameras and a light jacket. There is plenty of room in the plane for a small pack. Closed shoes for glacier landings are recommended.
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Directions

	To Anchorage Airport
	From downtown, head south on "L" Street, which turns into Minnesota Drive. Turn right onto International Airport Road, which takes you directly to the airport. To Talkeetna Airport
	From Mile 99 on the Parks Hwy, turn onto Talkeetna Spur Rd. At Mile 13, you will pass the “scenic overlook.” Continue down the hill towards town and cross the railroad tracks. You will pass the library and the Latitude 62 Lodge. In front of the Beadberry Shop is a sign pointing you to the Talkeetna State Airport. Turn right on 2 nd St., cross the railroad tracks again and turn right immediately. Go around the curve. Talkeetna Aero is in the two-story white building. From downtown Talkeetna: turn left on 2 nd St, cross the railroad tracks, and immediately turn right. Go around the curve. Talkeetna Aero is in the two-story white building. To Healy River Airport (Denali National Park office)
	At Mile 248 on the Parks Hwy, turn onto the Healy Spur Road. On the corner, you will see the Totem Inn on your right and the Denali North Star Inn on your far left. There is a sign for the Airport, Community Center, and Clinic. Turn right on the Healy Spur Road and go 1.1 miles. The airport will be on your left. Talkeetna Aero is the second driveway, with a nice log cabin in the trees with a big sign.

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Payment Policy

Talkeetna Aero requires a 50% deposit at time of reservation for Day Trips and Package Tours, and $100 per person at time of reservation for Flightseeing Tours. Talkeetna Aero accepts cash, personal check, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.
	Cancellation Policy
A $25 per person fee will be charged if cancellation received more than 30 days prior. Cancellation between 30-14 days prior will forfeit deposit. Cancellations received more than 72 hours prior to flight will incur a $10 credit card admin fee. Less than 72 hours, you will forfeit deposit. Less than 24 hours or no show will be charged the full amount. No charge if flight or tour is cancelled by Talkeetna Aero Services and you are unable to reschedule.
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Talkeetna Tours » Mt. McKinley Summit Flight (Talkeetna Aero Services)