Talkeetna

A frontier town where three rivers meet; take a small plane around Denali, North America's highest peak, land on a glacier, and see where mountaineers set off.

Talkeetna lies in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough in south-central Alaska, at the confluence of the Susitna, Chulitna and Talkeetna rivers, about 180 km from Anchorage (roughly a 2.5-hour drive) and about 100 km from Denali as the crow flies. The town grew up in the early 20th century with gold mining and the Alaska Railroad, and still keeps its frontier look of log cabins, general stores and old roadhouses; its main street is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Every year from April to July, climbers attempting Denali, North America's highest peak, check in here and fly by small plane to base camp on the glacier. The signature experience is a Denali flightseeing tour: take off in a small plane from the airstrip at the edge of town, circle the Alaska Range and land on a glacier such as the Ruth Glacier for a walk — on a clear day, it's the experience of a lifetime. In town, you can wander the historic main street, take in the confluence and snowy peaks from Riverfront Park, and visit the National Park Service's Talkeetna Ranger Station for climbers and the Talkeetna Historical Society Museum; on the rivers there are jet boat tours and rafting. About an hour north is Denali State Park, where the south viewpoint looks straight across the valley at Denali, Byers Lake is good for paddling, and K'esugi Ridge is one of Alaska's most beautiful ridge trails. The Alaska Railroad stops here, and in summer you can ride the traditional flag-stop Hurricane Turn train deep into the wilderness. The best season is Jun–Aug, with nearly 20 hours of daylight and flights and boat tours all running; May and September are possible, but some businesses haven't opened yet or have already closed for the season. Winters are bitterly cold and most things shut down, though you may see the northern lights. Denali is often hidden by clouds, so build some flexibility into your flightseeing dates. You can drive from Anchorage or take the Alaska Railroad; plan on 2–3 days. Mosquitoes are thick in summer, so bring repellent, and be bear-aware when hiking in the backcountry.

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