Talkeetna

This charming pioneer town, with its block-long Main Street, is halfway between Anchorage to Denali in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, and offers tons of adventures as well as great views of Mt. Denali (it’s actually closer to the mountain than the Denali National Park entrance. In fact expeditions to climb Mt. Denali start in Talkeetna!).

There are only a limited number of escorted tours and small group escorted to Talkeetna, but it’s very easy to explore as an independent traveler.

Favorite Activities in Talkeetna

Take in the great mountain views on a flightseeing or zipline tour. Talkeetna is also home to the convergence of three major glacial rivers. Explore them on a jet boat tour or rafting trip. You can also rent kayaks, canoes, and paddlboards to explore local lakes.

If fishing is on your Alaska list, Talkeetna is a great spot to angle for salmon and rainbow trout, and is less crowded than some of the rivers further south. At a minimum, choose one flightseeing tour and one river tour! It's also located near Denali State Park, a great spots for hiking on your own or with a guide who can share details about the history, geography, flora, and fauna.

In winter, scan the skies for the northern lights, go snowmobiling, dog sledding, or explore the town's great cross-country ski trails. In fact, if you're here in March, you can watch or participate in the exciting Oosik Classic Ski Race!

Getting to Talkeetna

Many visitors stop in Talkeetna for a night or two on the way to Denali, but it's is also a popular getaway for locals.

• By Car: Talkeetna is 2 1/2 hours from Anchorage and 3 hours from Denali by car.
• By Motorcoach: The Park Connection Motorcoach offers transportation from Anchorage, Seward, and Denali to Talkeetna.
• By Train: Aboard The Alaska Railroad, it's 3 hours from Anchorage, 4.5 hours from Denali, or 8.5 hours from Fairbanks.
• Private Transfer: AK Tripping offers private transportation with an experienced local driver to and from Talkeetna for groups of up to 4 in a comfortable Toyota Highlander.

For more details see our advice article on getting between Anchorage and Talkeetna.