3 Day Talkeetna Itinerary: Beautiful Views and a Quirky Town

You hear about small towns around Alaska, like Talkeetna, and you just hear that you have to visit but you aren’t quite sure why. Sometimes it’s because the town is cute and sometimes it’s because it’s a great hub for exploring and enjoying the sights and activities. Our Talkeetna itinerary shows off both! Three days is perfect for enjoying this quirky Alaskan town and also getting out into nature. And maybe you’ll even get to meet the Mayor while you’re here.

As you plan our your own Talkeetna itinerary, keep in mind that you can grab other travel plans and put them all together to make an awesome Alaskan adventure. As you go farther north into the interior you’ll have such different experiences. You’ll love it. If you have any questions about visiting Talkeetna or planning an Alaska road trip, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more.

Planning a Visit to Talkeetna, Alaska

Anyone flying into Anchorage (ANC) and driving up to Denali National Park will be driving past Talkeetna. Even though it’s not directly on the Parks Highway, it’s very easy to add to your trip. 20 minutes off the highway is the town, the lakes and more. There are quite a few places to stay right near town and along the Talkeetna Spur Road, so you’ll have an easy time putting this part of your trip together. We really enjoy the Talkeetna Wilderness Lodge, but you can do what’s right for your travel crew and the Talkeetna itinerary you’re going with.

Alaska Native Land Acknowledgement: Honoring the Peoples of the MatSu Valley

When to Visit Talkeetna

Like with most Alaska destinations, Talkeetna is primarily open from mid-spring to fall. The lodges and accommodations mostly close with a few exceptions. When it’s open though (May through September) it’s fun and bustling. Talkeetna actually becomes much busier than you might expect. The town’s population booms with both tourists and seasonal workers, so expect lots of live music, sometimes long waits for restaurant seating, and full tours (so book anything in advance). Also, if the mayor is on the prowl, when it’s busy in town you might not get to see this cat celebrity.

Note: yes, the mayor of Talkeetna is a cat (unofficially).

A fun time to visit Talkeetna is once Hatcher Pass opens up. The Hatcher Pass Road connects the Willow/Talkeetna side of the pass to the Palmer side. If you’re not planning on going up to Denali NP, another great way to build out an Alaska trip is to do the Talkeetna itinerary and then drive across Hatcher Pass and do our Palmer itinerary too. That’ll cover a week of adventure and show you a really beautiful version of Alaska.

Getting to Talkeetna

As I said, it’s easy to drop into Talkeetna on the way to Denali National Park. It’s just off the Parks Highway, which if you’re driving from Anchorage you’ll be taking all the way up to the Park or onto Fairbanks. Just 20 minutes from the main highways, Talkeetna is a great, self-contained village. The Talkeetna Spur Road has fun stops along the way, including the birch syrup shop and Flying Squirrel Bakery. Most of the lodging options in Talkeetna are out here on the Spur Road too, so basically getting to Talkeetna gets you acquainted with the whole area and ready for a fun itinerary.

The Alaska Railroad and Talkeetna

If you are doing your Alaska trip via rail, you’ve got a few options for adding Talkeetna. You can book a leg of the Denali Star route to get there and then book passage from Talkeetna up to Denali or down to Anchorage from here when you’ve completed your stay. If you’re doing the train, you should still be fine visiting Talkeetna without a car. Be sure that you book accommodations or tours that provide transportation, because taxi/Uber service in Talkeetna is VERY limited.

Something cool about the Alaska Railroad in Talkeetna is an additional leg of service you can do, and you actually book it separate. The Hurricane Whistlestop goes between Talkeetna and the town of Hurricane. You can add this to your Talkeetna itinerary and even spend a night there. You can enjoy the quiet, visit Spencer Glacier, have a nice night, and then return to Talkeetna. It’s an unusual trip addition. Book same-day Hurricane round trip here.

3 Day Talkeetna Itinerary

Let’s jump into our plan. Remember that you can update our 3 day Talkeetna itinerary to suit your needs and interests and that our chosen activities and timing are based on how we travel. If you need more down time or want to add more grand adventures, that’s totally up to you. Create the Alaska trip that YOU want to have!

Day 1: Talkeetna Jet Boat Tour and Local Attractions

Our first day of the Talkeetna itinerary has you out on the water hearing about the area, watching for Alaska wildlife and hopefully getting a view of Denali from the Susitna River. Today’s plan is very unique to this part of Alaska, so you’re starting out your time here on the right foot.

Talkeetna Jet Boat Tour

Start your adventure with a jet boat tour along the Susitna, Chulitna, and Talkeetna rivers. Mahay’s Jetboat tours take you deep into Alaskan wilderness, with some tours offering short nature walks to look for wildlife like moose, bald eagles, and even bears. Choose from options like a 2-hour tour or a full or half-day tour for more river exploration and views of Denali if it’s a clear day.

If you want to do the longer tour, just update your Talkeetna itinerary to fit with more time on the river. The Chulitna Gorge or Devil’s Canyon trips are really cool and are unlike any other sort of river adventure you’re find in Alaska. Lunch is provided if you’re doing the longer trip into Devil’s Canyon, but if it’s one of the shorter trips, you’ll get to enjoy lunch in quirky, beautiful downtown Talkeetna.

Afternoon Fishing on the Talkeetna River or Montana Creek

Spend your afternoon fishing along the Talkeetna River, known for its salmon and trout. Or if you want to keep it small and peaceful, try Montana Creek (my favorite in town). If you’re new to the Talkeetna / Willow area or fishing in Alaska, consider booking a guided fishing trip to maximize your chances of catching something. Local guides will provide gear, permits, and insight into the best fishing spots.

If you’re fishing on your own, be sure that you’ve gotten the correct license for the type of fishing you plan on doing. The fish you go for and the gear you use is regulated, and ignorance of the law is no excuse, so do your due diligence to be sure you have a happy end to your fishing story. Alaska Fish and Wildlife is VERY active and monitors fishing activity all over the place. I’ve seen lots of people get tickets or gear confiscated down on the Russian River on the Kenai, and have seen it here too.

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Day 2: Hiking and Kayaking in Denali State Park

After a mellow day yesterday, this part of our Talkeetna itinerary takes us out into the woods for some hiking. Be sure to get a grab-n-go lunch or picnic pack before you leave Talkeetna, because there aren’t any lunch options where we’re going. We don’t have anything too crazy planned for the day, but we’ll for sure enjoy getting our heart rates up and hopefully getting a beautiful view of Mount Denali.

Hiking in Denali State Park

After breakfast, take a drive to Denali State Park (approximately 30 minutes from Talkeetna). It’s a very scenic drive to Denali State Park, so enjoy it and make stops along the way. There are two great pull out areas that are a part of Denali State Park, the South View and North View parking areas. There are trails here that go on the ridge above the Chulitna River and on a clear day the view of Denali is beautiful.

For longer hikes, there are a few good options, and if the weather is nice you can do either paired with several shorter hikes. Denali State Park offers plenty of trails and overlooks for viewing Denali and the Alaska Range, as well as wildlife watching. Here are my picks for a longer morning hike:

• Curry Ridge Trail (6 miles round trip): This moderate trail offers beautiful views of the Alaska Range and can be especially rewarding on clear days. It’s one of the best ways to enjoy Denali’s grandeur without intense elevation gain.
• Byers Lake Trail (5 miles round trip): For a more relaxed hike, this loop around Byers Lake offers views of the surrounding mountains and opportunities to spot wildlife, such as loons, beavers, and occasionally bears.

For lunch, have a picnic at Byers Lake. Bring a packed lunch to enjoy by the lake. There are picnic areas with tables and scenic views. If it’s a clear day, you might even see Denali reflected in the lake.

Afternoon Kayaking Near Talkeetna

This afternoon we’re kayaking on Byers Lake or at XY Lakes in Talkeetna. Rent a kayak (seasonally available) at Byers Lake and the Talkeetna Lakes and spend the afternoon exploring the peaceful waters. Byers Lake is a glacier-fed lake is surrounded by mountains and is known for its completely calm water. Paddling around the lake provides stunning perspectives of the mountains, and you may even encounter wildlife along the shore. I love in fall because it’s surrounded by deciduous trees, so it gets beautiful fall colors.

Kayaking on XY Lakes in Talkeetna is also great and when you’re done you’ll be close to town or your lodging. Here you can rent a kayak or two and explore the first lake, then haul out and portage to the next and so on. It’s actually very easily and the distance for portage isn’t too bad. This is a great spot to see moose!

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Day 3: Dog Sled Farm and Local Trails

Today is your last full day in Talkeetna. If you haven’t gotten to have breakfast at Flying Squirrel Bakery & Cafe yet, do it today. Once you’re ready to the fun, today’s schedule really is up to what time you’re able to book your activities. This part of the Talkeetna itinerary puts you in Iditarod mode or takes you up into the air.

Dog Sled Farm Visit

Start the day with a visit to a local dog sledding farm, such as Dream a Dream Sled Dog Tours, Dallas Seavey’s Wild Things Dog Mushing or Talkeetna’s Iditarod Kennel. Most farms offer hands-on tours where you’ll meet the sled dogs, learn about their training for the Iditarod, and experience a summer sled ride on wheels. This is a great chance to learn about Alaskan dog mushing culture and interact with these amazing working dogs. You can plan for a sled dog day in summer OR winter.

• Summer Sled Dog Mushing / Winter Sled Dog Mushing
• Susitna Sled Dog Kennel Visit

Hiking Options in Talkeetna

With yesterday’s kayaking the Talkeetna Lakes (XYZ lakes) was one of our picks, and there is hiking here too. The Talkeetna Lakes Park Trail is a network of trails around several small lakes, it is close to town and offers easy to moderate hiking. It’s a peaceful area for birdwatching and spotting small wildlife. The trails are all set up on a color coded system so as you hike you can choose which trails to follow based on their markers.

To do the full X-Y Lake Trail, it’s a slightly longer hike. This 5-mile trail through forests and along the lakes is a local favorite (I’ve done it several times), and it’s especially beautiful in fall with changing colors. If this is how you’re ending your day, when you head back into town for dinner, stop at the Talkeetna River Overlook for views of Denali and the Alaska Range, especially if it’s a clear night. Remember, in summer the sun sets REALLY late, if at all. In spring and fall (and winter) this spot is great for watching the Northern Lights.

Denali Flightseeing from Talkeetna

The final pick for an awesome Talkeetna itinerary is some flightseeing. The town is much closer to Mount Denali that you are at the entrance to Denali National Park, so this is actually an ideal place to take off for flight seeing. There are different ways you can do it, and with each flightseeing tour, you should call the operator once you get your booking confirmation to clarify any questions, including time in air, landings and weight restrictions:

• Simple flightseeing up into Denali National Park
• Flightseeing w/ Glacier Landing (confirm landing at time of booking)
• Longest flightseeing from Talkeetna