Talkeetna Guidebook

Debbie
Talkeetna Guidebook

Activities

Connect with Talkeetna
Talkeetna River Guides can show you Wilderness scenery from a floating raft. Float the Talkeetna River, the Susitna River, or the Chulitna River. Chances to see wildlife and Denali.
18 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Talkeetna River Guides & Rafters, Inc.
13529 E Main St
18 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Talkeetna River Guides can show you Wilderness scenery from a floating raft. Float the Talkeetna River, the Susitna River, or the Chulitna River. Chances to see wildlife and Denali.
Rent a kayak or take a guided kayak trip on Byers Lake.
Denali Southside River Guides
5 North Parks Highway
Rent a kayak or take a guided kayak trip on Byers Lake.
One of the two big flightseeing companies in Talkeetna (the other is Talkeetna Air Taxi). Both equally good and experienced. Book a flight above the Alaska Range and see Denali and glaciers up close, or you can even land on a glacier! There is a also a land-on-a lake and hike options you can check out.
30 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Denali National Park and Talkeetna Air Taxi
14212 E 2nd St
30 người dân địa phương đề xuất
One of the two big flightseeing companies in Talkeetna (the other is Talkeetna Air Taxi). Both equally good and experienced. Book a flight above the Alaska Range and see Denali and glaciers up close, or you can even land on a glacier! There is a also a land-on-a lake and hike options you can check out.
One of the two big flightseeing companies in Talkeetna (the other one is K2 Aviation). Book a flightseeing trip to see the Alaska Range and glacier and Denali up close. You can even add-on a glacier landing!! Talkeetna Air Taxi has highly experienced pilots who bring mountaineers and their climbing gear to basecamp on Denali.
30 người dân địa phương đề xuất
K2 Aviation
14052 E 2nd St
30 người dân địa phương đề xuất
One of the two big flightseeing companies in Talkeetna (the other one is K2 Aviation). Book a flightseeing trip to see the Alaska Range and glacier and Denali up close. You can even add-on a glacier landing!! Talkeetna Air Taxi has highly experienced pilots who bring mountaineers and their climbing gear to basecamp on Denali.
Take a walk to discover Talkeetna’s history. Visit the museum’s many buildings. Very small fee gets you a walking tour brochure. Support this little non-profit and help preserve Talkeetna’s history.
20 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Talkeetna Historical Society Museum
22248 D St
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Take a walk to discover Talkeetna’s history. Visit the museum’s many buildings. Very small fee gets you a walking tour brochure. Support this little non-profit and help preserve Talkeetna’s history.
Take an easy hike (about 3 1/2 miles) through the forest. There are some high spots on the trails where you can see Denali. Pick blueberries when they are in season (but be careful not to crush the plants so that we can enjoy blueberries in future seasons).
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Talkeetna Lakes Trailhead
25225 Comsat Rd
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Take an easy hike (about 3 1/2 miles) through the forest. There are some high spots on the trails where you can see Denali. Pick blueberries when they are in season (but be careful not to crush the plants so that we can enjoy blueberries in future seasons).
Now the "Talkeetna Gear Shop." Rent a bike (mountain bike, electric bike, fat tire bike) and cruise around Downtown Talkeetna, the bike path along the Talkeetna Spur Road, and local trails.
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North Shore Cyclery
14008 E 2nd St
9 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Now the "Talkeetna Gear Shop." Rent a bike (mountain bike, electric bike, fat tire bike) and cruise around Downtown Talkeetna, the bike path along the Talkeetna Spur Road, and local trails.
This is my friend Iris. Not only does she have interesting stories to tell, but her Homestead Tour gives you a glimpse into the life of a hobby dog musher and her eco-conscious homestead lifestyle. This is an experience that brings you close to life in Talkeetna. THIS is how we like to live. Pet the dogs, learn about hardy gardening, solar power off-grid living, canning vegetable, filleting salmon… and all the things quite normal to many Alaskans.
the Flower Kennel and Homestead LLC - Talkeetna Alaska
miles south of
This is my friend Iris. Not only does she have interesting stories to tell, but her Homestead Tour gives you a glimpse into the life of a hobby dog musher and her eco-conscious homestead lifestyle. This is an experience that brings you close to life in Talkeetna. THIS is how we like to live. Pet the dogs, learn about hardy gardening, solar power off-grid living, canning vegetable, filleting salmon… and all the things quite normal to many Alaskans.
Take a jet ist ride up and down the wild and scenic rivers that meet here in Talkeetna. One of Mahay’s jet boat rides takes you up to Devil’s Canyon, wow!
31 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Mahay's Jet Boat Adventures
22333 Talkeetna Spur Rd
31 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Take a jet ist ride up and down the wild and scenic rivers that meet here in Talkeetna. One of Mahay’s jet boat rides takes you up to Devil’s Canyon, wow!
Take a ride on the Alaska train! The most scenic routes are Talkeetna to Denali and Anchorage to Seward. There is also a flag stop train from Talkeetna to Hurricane on Thursdays (the round trip takes a few hours).
Alaska Railroad No 1
Take a ride on the Alaska train! The most scenic routes are Talkeetna to Denali and Anchorage to Seward. There is also a flag stop train from Talkeetna to Hurricane on Thursdays (the round trip takes a few hours).
Denali Arts Council organizes Live at 5 Summer Concert Series: every Friday at 5 pm in the Talkeetna Village Park between Memorial Day through Labor Day. Order some food to go, sit yourself down on a picnic blanket or your spread out coat (or bring a camping chair), sip on a beer or a wine while you enjoy your meal, and listen to live music in the park next to the local Talkeetnans. Dance barefoot in the grass. At the Sheldon Community Arts Hangar, home of Denali Arts Council, you will find arts programming ranging from drama, concerts, comedy to circus school and art exhibits. Check the Denali Arts Council website to see what’s happening while you are here in Talkeetna.
7 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Denali Arts Council
22249 D St
7 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Denali Arts Council organizes Live at 5 Summer Concert Series: every Friday at 5 pm in the Talkeetna Village Park between Memorial Day through Labor Day. Order some food to go, sit yourself down on a picnic blanket or your spread out coat (or bring a camping chair), sip on a beer or a wine while you enjoy your meal, and listen to live music in the park next to the local Talkeetnans. Dance barefoot in the grass. At the Sheldon Community Arts Hangar, home of Denali Arts Council, you will find arts programming ranging from drama, concerts, comedy to circus school and art exhibits. Check the Denali Arts Council website to see what’s happening while you are here in Talkeetna.

Food scene

Support this little, local coffee shop with the BEST-tasting coffee in Talkeetna! On hot summer days, I get their coffee milkshake. Their crepes are amazing too.
26 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Conscious Coffee
13521 N Main St
26 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Support this little, local coffee shop with the BEST-tasting coffee in Talkeetna! On hot summer days, I get their coffee milkshake. Their crepes are amazing too.
Baked goodies made with love. And coffee and teas. Some gluten free and grain free options too. Many locally grown and harvested ingredients like birch syrup and veggies are used in dishes. I love their brownies, the oatmeal bread, the wood-fired pizzas. Anita keeps the menu interesting and fresh.
26 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Flying Squirrel Bakery Cafe
26 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Baked goodies made with love. And coffee and teas. Some gluten free and grain free options too. Many locally grown and harvested ingredients like birch syrup and veggies are used in dishes. I love their brownies, the oatmeal bread, the wood-fired pizzas. Anita keeps the menu interesting and fresh.
A fun place with space to sit outdoors. Stage for live music. Voted best pizza in Alaska! The flatbreads with house sauce are amazing too (I love the Veggie Flatbread). And the panini roll, mmmh! A great place to relax in the beer garden, listen to live music, watch people walk past on Main Street… a colorful vibe.
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Mountain High Pizza Pie
22165 C St
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A fun place with space to sit outdoors. Stage for live music. Voted best pizza in Alaska! The flatbreads with house sauce are amazing too (I love the Veggie Flatbread). And the panini roll, mmmh! A great place to relax in the beer garden, listen to live music, watch people walk past on Main Street… a colorful vibe.
Two locations! We love their Mother Ale, but really, you can’t go wrong with any of the beers and spirits made at Denali Brewing Company. The brewery and tasting room is at Mile 2 of the Talkeetna Spur Road where you can enjoy wood-fired pizza (I like their mushroom pizza best) or a really delicious kale salad with cranberries and walnuts. Only 15 minutes drive from My Alaska Cabin to Mile 2 of the Talkeetna Spur Road. Or visit their restaurant on Main Street in Talkeetna. Their veggie burger and sweet potato fries are my favorite. Try the Blueberry Mojave drink too.
36 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Denali Brewing Company
37083 Talkeetna Spur Rd
36 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Two locations! We love their Mother Ale, but really, you can’t go wrong with any of the beers and spirits made at Denali Brewing Company. The brewery and tasting room is at Mile 2 of the Talkeetna Spur Road where you can enjoy wood-fired pizza (I like their mushroom pizza best) or a really delicious kale salad with cranberries and walnuts. Only 15 minutes drive from My Alaska Cabin to Mile 2 of the Talkeetna Spur Road. Or visit their restaurant on Main Street in Talkeetna. Their veggie burger and sweet potato fries are my favorite. Try the Blueberry Mojave drink too.
The best burgers & fries (also reindeer burgers). Sit on picnic benches outside or sheltered under a roof next to this food truck tucked so close to the building, it looks like it is a part of it. Now freshly painted red (like a barn) you can find the Burger Barn to the left of the post office. The paper to-go boxes are shaped like a little red barn. So cute (and better than styrofoam).
Shirley's Burger Barn
22336 Talkeetna Spur Rd
The best burgers & fries (also reindeer burgers). Sit on picnic benches outside or sheltered under a roof next to this food truck tucked so close to the building, it looks like it is a part of it. Now freshly painted red (like a barn) you can find the Burger Barn to the left of the post office. The paper to-go boxes are shaped like a little red barn. So cute (and better than styrofoam).

Sightseeing

Walk to the end of Main Street, then go down to the river. Take a photo here of the river and the mountains. Turn right and follow the woodsy trail along the river. Collect a rock or two and carry them in your pocket. Cross the railroad bridge (throw the rocks into the water, plonk! plonk!) Then take a left after you leave the bridge to play in the silty sand that the river deposits here. Sit on a piece of driftwood (unless high water decided to “clean” the “beach”). This is a great place to unwind and just be.
Talkeetna River
Walk to the end of Main Street, then go down to the river. Take a photo here of the river and the mountains. Turn right and follow the woodsy trail along the river. Collect a rock or two and carry them in your pocket. Cross the railroad bridge (throw the rocks into the water, plonk! plonk!) Then take a left after you leave the bridge to play in the silty sand that the river deposits here. Sit on a piece of driftwood (unless high water decided to “clean” the “beach”). This is a great place to unwind and just be.
Get a scoop of ice cream (you have 20 seconds to decide what flavor). I like a simple vanilla ice cream best, but Moose Tracks is pretty good too. Take a peak around this historic building, the high shelves, the decorations.
26 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Nagley's Store
13650 E Main St
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Get a scoop of ice cream (you have 20 seconds to decide what flavor). I like a simple vanilla ice cream best, but Moose Tracks is pretty good too. Take a peak around this historic building, the high shelves, the decorations.
Take a historic walking tour — with the App or with the brochure and map. Visit the Talkeetna Historical Society Museum! Learn about Talkeetna’s history and see a model of Denali and the Alaska Range in their mountaineering exhibit. It’s worth it and doesn’t cost much.
20 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Talkeetna Historical Society Museum
22248 D St
20 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Take a historic walking tour — with the App or with the brochure and map. Visit the Talkeetna Historical Society Museum! Learn about Talkeetna’s history and see a model of Denali and the Alaska Range in their mountaineering exhibit. It’s worth it and doesn’t cost much.

Bar/Nightlife

Talkeetna is small, but we do have a very cool place to dance and have a drink (or two). Often live music on weekends during the summer months.
A must stop is the Fairview Inn! It is a historic building that hosts one of the wildest bars in Alaska. Live music and dance either inside or at the outdoor music stage. A fun place! Take your time to notice the many pictures and unique decorations on the walls.
26 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Denali Fairview Inn
101 N Main St
26 người dân địa phương đề xuất
A must stop is the Fairview Inn! It is a historic building that hosts one of the wildest bars in Alaska. Live music and dance either inside or at the outdoor music stage. A fun place! Take your time to notice the many pictures and unique decorations on the walls.

What’s “nearby”?

We have a saying in Alaska: “Everything is two hours away.” Well, not all routes, because some stretches take longer to drive. Talkeetna to Denali (3 hours), Anchorage to Talkeetna (2 hour 15 minutes), Talkeetna to Byers Lake (1 hour), Talkeetna to Fairbanks (5 hours).
1 hour south of Talkeetna: Take the road from Willow to Palmer or the other way around (Wasilla Fishhook Road) for a scenic road trip. Take your time to hike one of the many trails into the mountains. See the old Hatcher Pass Mine with renovated historic buildings and trails all around. Pick some blueberries alongside locals (and bears) at the end of Summer (end of July/August).
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Hatcher Pass
146 người dân địa phương đề xuất
1 hour south of Talkeetna: Take the road from Willow to Palmer or the other way around (Wasilla Fishhook Road) for a scenic road trip. Take your time to hike one of the many trails into the mountains. See the old Hatcher Pass Mine with renovated historic buildings and trails all around. Pick some blueberries alongside locals (and bears) at the end of Summer (end of July/August).
50 minutes north of Talkeetna: Rent a kayak (guided or unguided). Hike around the lake (guided or unguided). And enjoy a view of Denali from the far side of the lake.
6 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Byers Lake
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50 minutes north of Talkeetna: Rent a kayak (guided or unguided). Hike around the lake (guided or unguided). And enjoy a view of Denali from the far side of the lake.
45 minutes north of Talkeetna: It’s not a visitor center yet. But starting at Kesugi Ken Campground, you can hike up an easy 3-4 Mile long zig-zag trail up to the Kesugi Ridge to get some fabulous views of the mountains and the Chulitna River below. At the top, the trail makes a loop and then connects back to zig-zag you down the mountain and back to the parking lot.
K'esugi Ken Interpretive Center
45 minutes north of Talkeetna: It’s not a visitor center yet. But starting at Kesugi Ken Campground, you can hike up an easy 3-4 Mile long zig-zag trail up to the Kesugi Ridge to get some fabulous views of the mountains and the Chulitna River below. At the top, the trail makes a loop and then connects back to zig-zag you down the mountain and back to the parking lot.
3 hours north of Talkeetna: Book your shuttle bus in advance at reservedenali.com The 8-hour shuttle bus trip goes to Eielson Visitor Center and back; the 11-hour shuttle bus trip goes to Wonder Lake and back. The shuttle bus is the only way to drive in Denali National Park (or get a permit for bikes and backcountry hiking and camping). — 2022 update: The park road gets some major repairs after a massive landslide at Polychrome Pass. Busses are not able to drive further then Toklat River. To make the most of your trip, consider one of the many hiking trails in Denali. Plan your trip at nps.gov/dena
Denali Park Road
Denali Park Road
3 hours north of Talkeetna: Book your shuttle bus in advance at reservedenali.com The 8-hour shuttle bus trip goes to Eielson Visitor Center and back; the 11-hour shuttle bus trip goes to Wonder Lake and back. The shuttle bus is the only way to drive in Denali National Park (or get a permit for bikes and backcountry hiking and camping). — 2022 update: The park road gets some major repairs after a massive landslide at Polychrome Pass. Busses are not able to drive further then Toklat River. To make the most of your trip, consider one of the many hiking trails in Denali. Plan your trip at nps.gov/dena
Welcome to our immediate neighborhood. Not much going on here. It’s usually quiet. Take a walk out of our driveway to the right until you reach the end of the road (no loop, ha ha) which is about 2 miles. Or take a left out of our driveway to the lake and the meadow to see “our” pair of cranes, or take a dip in the lake on hot summer days (please don’t use the guest cabin towels; I can give you older towels to dry off with for lake swimming). All the properties in this area are 5 acres or bigger, and many neighbors are here only on weekends. Maybe you’ll hear a four-wheeler or a dog barking or maybe a chainsaw... but that is all short lived. It is a quiet place where we live. Enjoy!
Malaspina Loop
Malasupina Loop
Welcome to our immediate neighborhood. Not much going on here. It’s usually quiet. Take a walk out of our driveway to the right until you reach the end of the road (no loop, ha ha) which is about 2 miles. Or take a left out of our driveway to the lake and the meadow to see “our” pair of cranes, or take a dip in the lake on hot summer days (please don’t use the guest cabin towels; I can give you older towels to dry off with for lake swimming). All the properties in this area are 5 acres or bigger, and many neighbors are here only on weekends. Maybe you’ll hear a four-wheeler or a dog barking or maybe a chainsaw... but that is all short lived. It is a quiet place where we live. Enjoy!

Alaska Art

Shop local
A wonderful gallery on Main Street Talkeetna. Find wall art, jewelry, sculptures, hand-printed t-shirts, children’s books, art notecards, birch bowls… all made by Alaskans. Buy a big original painting and have it shipped to your home!
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The Dancing Leaf Gallery
13618 E Main St
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A wonderful gallery on Main Street Talkeetna. Find wall art, jewelry, sculptures, hand-printed t-shirts, children’s books, art notecards, birch bowls… all made by Alaskans. Buy a big original painting and have it shipped to your home!
See art on the walls, watch a local theater production, see live music, catch a comedy show or Green Light Circus… check the Denali Arts Council website or social media sites to see what’s happening. Everyone has a front row seat at the Arts Hangar, and you will be surprised about some of the cool artists coming to Talkeetna!
7 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Denali Arts Council
22249 D St
7 người dân địa phương đề xuất
See art on the walls, watch a local theater production, see live music, catch a comedy show or Green Light Circus… check the Denali Arts Council website or social media sites to see what’s happening. Everyone has a front row seat at the Arts Hangar, and you will be surprised about some of the cool artists coming to Talkeetna!
Dora has been photographing the Aurora Borealis (the Northern Lights) for two decades. In her cute, historic log cabin store at the beginning of Main Street in Talkeetna, you can see her work and buy one of her photographs on paper or metal or as a notecard.
8 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Aurora Dora
22229 Talkeetna Spur Rd
8 người dân địa phương đề xuất
Dora has been photographing the Aurora Borealis (the Northern Lights) for two decades. In her cute, historic log cabin store at the beginning of Main Street in Talkeetna, you can see her work and buy one of her photographs on paper or metal or as a notecard.

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Denali National Park

Sadly, there has been a huge landslide on the road inside the park. This 100+ mile road usually carries shuttle busses and many sightseers from the park entrance all the way to Eielson Visitor Center or Wonder Lake. But alas, now we have to wait for that road to be fixed. In the meantime, visit the front country of Denali. You can take a shuttle bus to Savage Creek to hike; you can visit the Denali Sled Dog Kennel; you can learn at the Visitor Center exhibits and at the Murie Science and Learning Center; and you can buy a book or other gift at the Alaska Geographic bookstore.
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Pack Light, Pack Layers

No need to bring a lot of clothing to Alaska. We are very casual here: jeans or hiking pants (perhaps a pair that can zip off pant legs to make shorts), two t-shirts, a sweatshirt with a hoodie (best to fight of mosquitoes), a rain coat, hiking boots or good sneakers, and maybe some flip flops for hot days. Bring good socks for walking/hiking. Roll your clothing instead of folding it into your bag (space saving and doesn’t wrinkle as much when you unpack). Buy lemon-eucalyptus mosquito spray at Fred Meyer in Anchorage, Wasilla or Fairbanks (works better than Deet and doesn’t destroy clothing.)
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Live at 5 Music in the Village Park

Every Friday at 5 pm from Memorial Day to Labor Day, Talkeetnans meet at the Village Park in Downtown Talkeetna to listen to live music. Bring a camping chair or sit in the grass. Many people will bring take out food to have a picnic style dinner (some bring a beer or a wine too, yup, that’s how unruly Talkeetnans are). ;-)
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Groceries are cheaper in Anchorage and Wasilla

Stock up on groceries at Fred Meyer in Anchorage or Wasilla or Fairbanks. This store is a super store! Everything from groceries to fishing gear, clothing and more. The local small stores sell all the basics, but are more expensive.
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The Blue Tarp Podcast and KTNA Radio

Stories by locals about locals. A great way to get to know Talkeetna’s history, our stories, and listen to local news (stream online at KTNA or tune in when you get here).
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The 5 Car Rule & Headlights On & Passing Lanes

In Alaska, we have to pull over if more than 5 vehicles are closely following you. This can happen when you are leisurely traveling, looking out the car to the mountains, or trying to spot wildlife. Simply use the next turnout and let the vehicles behind you pass. Also: drive with headlights on at ALL times! Tip: Wait for a passing lane to pass! There are plenty of passing lanes. Don’t drive faster than the speed limit, and adjust your speed if it rains or it’s foggy. Slow down, be safe! Let the big trucks going north to Prison Bag pass you! Watch for moose!!!
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Shows Off Inside The Home

In Alaska, it is custom to take your shoes off before you enter the home. We have mostly dirt paths and gravel roads instead of asphalt, so walking inside a house with dirty shoes or boots isn’t cool! Tip: Wear some fun socks to truly enjoy the shoes-off feeling!
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Get the Alaska TourSaver booklet

The Alaska TourSaver offers 100 travel discounts around the state. From Alaska Airline tickets to bear viewing, whale viewing, train trips to glacier cruises. Travelers can use just one coupon to recoup the cost of the book. Visit the TourSaver website to order the newest edition. Also available as an app.