Talkeetna is a small town near the Alaska Range, and is the base for expeditions to Mount Denali. The downtown area is actually designated as a historic district, and many of the buildings are from the early 1900s. Around 800 people live in this spot year-round and many of the businesses caters to the visitors the mountains and rivers naturally draw. Talkeetna is absolutely the perfect place for a getaway to the mountains.
This tiny town is fourteen miles off the Parks Highway and a 2.5-hour drive from Anchorage. As you head down the road to Talkeetna, you feel your troubles melt away as you head away from the rest of the world and toward the wild.
The town was started as a district headquarters for the Alaska Railroad in 1916 and has flourished since then with people who are addicted to the crisp, clean air and the great outdoors.
The town lies at the confluence of the Susitna, Chulitna and Talkeetna Rivers, making it a great location for cross-country skiing or ice skating on the smooth, flat frozen surface. In the summer, fishing and rafting are popular activities.
In March, many visitors are drawn to the Oosik Classic, a 50km ski race each year. Talkeetna is a popular place to head for the weekend for fun and outdoor adventure.
The three highest peaks in the Alaskan Range, Mt. Foraker, left, Mt. Hunter, and Denali (Mt. McKinley), the highest mountain in North America, are all accessible from Talkeetna.
Naturally, the town is the launching point for climbing and sight-seeing tours of the mountains. Take a flight over Denali or do some mountain climbing for a once of a lifetime experience.