Talkeetna Jet Boats - Fun, High Speed River Safaris

One of the most popular things to do in Talkeetna is the jet boat tour on the Susitna River. Mahay’s Jet Boats are the fast, fun tour you’ll find heading up the river and it’s a great way to learn about the area and life in the MatSu Valley. I’ve done the jet boat tour several times so have lots to share about it. If you have any questions about the jet boat tours out of Talkeetna or exploring the area, please leave a comment or send us a note!

Wake behind Jet Boat on Susitna River Talkeetna Alaska 1

What to Expect on the Talkeetna Jet Boat Tours

There are a few different jet boat tours you can do on the Susitna River out of Talkeetna: the Wilderness Excursion, Chulitna Gorge and Devil’s Canyon Adventure. The shortest trip is the Wilderness Excursion which takes you up the river and includes a stop at a recreated trapping camp and indigenous Alaska native camp, which goes ten miles up river for 20 miles round trip. The next option is the Chulitna Gorge trip which takes you 25 miles up the Susitna River and has quite the expanse of scenery. The longest trip is the Devil’s Canyon Adventure which lasts all day and is 130 miles round trip. This is quite the trip and you get to see an incredible amount of the Susitna Valley and hopefully lots of wildlife.

I think the shorter Wilderness Excursion is great with kids or if you don’t want to be on the water all day. You get to spend time on the river and if you’re lucky get an amazing view of Denali (formerly Mt McKinley) and you’ll stop at an island in the river to learn some history and go for a nature walk. Since the short trip goes many times throughout the day there are lots of opportunities to jump on one of the tours.

Guests on Mahays Jet Boat Tours on Susitna River Talkeetna Alaska 1

Being Prepared for a Jet Boat Ride on the Susitna River

Unless the weather is icky, you should be plenty warm for a summer ride on the Mahay’s Jet Boats out of Talkeetna. The cabin is covered and windows shut for most of the trip, so if you are wearing pants and a sweater or pullover you should be fine. On colder days, it can get quite chilly when you’re blasting up the Susitna River on a jet boat, so just look at what the weather is doing and be smart about it.

Phone photography is great on a jet boat ride. It can be bumpy so a large camera isn’t very useful. I say that but then also, if you happen to see wildlife on the riverbanks during your tour, you may want to snap photos for which a big lens is always nice. You’ll have to use your best judgement when it’s tour time, and be sure to ask the guides how the wildlife has been lately to help you make a camera decision.

Rob Taylor with Camera on Mahays Jet Boat Tours on Susitna River Talkeetna Alaska 1

Tips for a Fun Jet Boat Tour from Talkeetna

If you’re thinking about the longer jet boat tours on the Susitna River out of Talkeetna, then you need to book that as soon as you know your dates. While there are lots of wilderness excursions throughout the day, there are limited spots for the Devil’s Canyon or Chulitna Gorge trips. These longer trips cover a huge distance and are very popular.

If you’re booking the shorter trip, plan it to either start your day or to head out and be back before dinner. This was you can easily plan other activities around your tour time. Earlier tours tend to be better for wildlife sighting, but in the peak of summer sighting times are a bit off due to the almost never-ending daylight. Check with the Mahay’s Jet Boats office for advice around tour times.

Parking at Mahay’s Jet Boat Tours in Talkeetna

There is plenty of parking for doing the jet boat tours out of Talkeetna. You can either park at the main Mahay’s Jet Boat Tours office in Talkeetna and then ride the shuttle bus over to the launch site, or you can drive yourself. The parking area at the launch site is plenty big and costs nothing. To get to the parking, you need to drive to a different spot than the office. (Google maps link here):

From Talkeetna Spur Road head east onto E Second Street
Cross the train tracks and then LEFT on Terminal Ave
After the Swiss Alaska Inn turn LEFT on Front Steet
the Mahay’s Jet Boat Tours parking is at the end of the street.

Transfer Bus for Mahays Jet Boat Tours on Susitna River Talkeetna Alaska 1

Tour Operating Info

To complete your planning, here is all the information to plan and book your adventure.

Operating Dates/Season: mid-May to mid-September
Tour office phone number: 907-733-2223
Company website: Mahay’s Jet Boat Tours
Tour check-in address: 22333 S Talkeetna Spur Rd – office; 13687 E Front St – boat dock if you’re driving yourself
Tour booking links: book directly through Mahay’s only

Talkeetna jet boats are one of the coolest, fastest tours you can do on the Susitna River. Launching near downtown Talkeetna, Mahay's Jet Boat Tours are an Alaska staple when it comes to river adventures.

More Things to Do around Willow / Talkeetna

Willow and Talkeetna are two great areas with lots of activities. Located in the MatSu Valley north of Anchorage on the Parks Highway, you’ll find a very walkable downtown area in Talkeetna with parks, shops, galleries, a brewery, bars and restaurants. Willow has a few food options and other tour services and campgrounds, but it’s close enough to Talkeetna to group them together. Here are a few additional things you can add to your time in the Willow/Talkeetna area to make the most of your visit:

hiking – between state parks and forest lands, there are lots of trails
fishing – from salmon to trout, there are plenty of options for rivers, lakes and guided trips (I like Montana Creek)
check out a sled dog farm – Dream a Dream Sled Dogs is great
jet boat tours – the Susitna River is a major waterway worth exploring
Spencer Glacier – not far from Talkeetna, you can visit via the Alaska Railroad
Kayaking tour or rentals – there are lots of great paddling spots around Talkeetna and Willow, particularly XY Lakes and Willow Creek

Dining in Talkeetna

Talkeetna is THE place to find restaurants in this part of the MatSu Valley. It’s pretty much the last big stop until Denali National Park, so options are limited as you head northward. I always like to set realistic expectations for anyone visiting a place for the first time, so if you’re visiting Talkeetna in peak summer season, know that you may have a wait and restaurants may have rotating/seasonal staff that may not be fully settled into their restaurant jobs. Be patient and just enjoy the experience of being in Alaska. Having said that, here are our top picks for dining in Talkeetna:

Kahiltna Bistro – good local food with a nice patio set up, a bit away from the crowd of downtown
Mountain High Pizza Pie – awesome pizza and more
Flying Squirrel Bakery Cafe – the best breakfast and baked goods in Talkeetna; long wait but worth it
Talkeetna Roadhouse – I’d call it the nicest place to eat in Talkeetna (and it’s delicious)
Talkeetna Spinach Bread – very popular airstream food truck with bread, snacks and more
Denali Brew Pub – burgers, salads, beer and more
Wild Alaska – interesting burritos and more, including salmon burritos

Exterior of Flying Squirrel Bakery Cafe Talkeetna Alaska 1

Where to Stay in Talkeetna or Willow

You don’t have to stay in downtown Talkeetna to have a great visit to the area. You’ll find plenty of options from vacation rentals to cabin resorts, lodges to roadside motels in the area. While the Talkeetna Wilderness Lodge is a favorite of my family, there are plenty of flexible options for any travel style here.

More ideas for your visit to the Talkeetna / Willow area:

I hope you’re excited to experience a jet boat tour on the Susitna River from Talkeetna. Between the beautiful views and sense of Alaskan adventure, I know you’ll love it. If you have any questions about visiting Talkeetna, more boat tours in Alaska, or planning your Alaskan road trip please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to help with travel planning for an Alaska Trip!