Talkeetna, Alaska is located north of Anchorage and south of Denali National Park. The town was established in 1919 to be the Engineering Commission Headquarters during the construction of the Alaskan Railroad.
The railroad still passes through Talkeetna today, bringing many passengers and visitors to this community from Anchorage and Fairbanks. In 1964, the road from Anchorage to Talkeetna was completed and dependence on the railroad was drastically reduced.
If you are driving between Anchorage and Fairbanks, Talkeetna is located on a “spur road”—this means it is a road that goes in to the town and nowhere else. The spur to Talkeetna is 17 miles long. You may also travel to Talkeetna by airplane, of course.
Airport
The web site Airnav.com lists 405 public use airports for Alaska, the most of any of the 50 United States. The town of Talkeetna has two airports, in fact, but only one is listed at Airnav.com.
The original, unlisted airport is a grass runway which appears to be an extension of a side street. As you cross the main street you will notice wires with markers on them, and the two-story hotel building at this intersection has a windsock on its roof. This strip is still used by some folks who want to land right in town.
Talkeetna Airport (PATK) is east of town. Its runway 18/36 is 3,500 x 75 feet of nice asphalt for your landing pleasure. There is a public parking area available for five dollars a night, and the FSS is located next to this parking area.
You may buy fuel from at least two of the FBOs at PATK; however, one FBO owner came out screaming as we pulled our aircraft by his fuel pumps—apparently he thought we were going to park our airplanes for the night on “his” ramp. The other FBOs were great to work with during our stay.
For a town of just 700 residents or so, Talkeetna is a busy airport. It is the base of operations for taking mountain climbers up to the base camp for Mount McKinley and other nearby peaks. This concept started with the late Don Sheldon, and you may read more about this type of flying in James Greiner’s book, “Wager with the Wind.”
The main airport is two blocks from Talkeetna, and it’s about three blocks from town from the public parking area—but if this is too far for you to walk, you may want to consider using the grass strip.
Attractions & Activities
Talkeetna is the starting point for most of the climbers going up Mount McKinley, and climbers from all over the world come here to take on this great feat. Anyone planning on scaling Mount McKinley must take a mountaineering course offered in Talkeetna.
For you real outdoors enthusiasts that are in great shape, you may take a flight from Talkeetna’s airport (elevation 375 feet) up to Kahiltna Glacier Base Camp at 7,200 feet, then take a stroll up Mount McKinley at 20,320 feet. Plan on at least 23 days and $6,300 for this little journey.
Now, if you are more into my idea of adventure and climbing, the historic walking tour around town is very nice. Be sure to set aside some time at the National Parks Office where they keep track of how many climbers are on the mountain, how many have made it to the summit this year, and how many were forced to turn back.
These interesting statistics are not only tracked, but often talked about in town. There’s also a feature film on Mount McKinley, and “climbing” that way is enough for me. Oh, and don’t forget to ask the National Parks staff if you can see a “Clean Mountain Can.”
Besides the wonderful views of Denali/Mount McKinley—which only 30 percent of visitors each summer actually see the top of, due to clouds and weather—there are many other fun activities in and around Talkeetna.
Located where three rivers converge and with clear tributaries just up the river for salmon to spawn, fishing is of course an excellent activity. You will find numerous guides in the area. I have fished with Todd Kingery of Fishbone Charters and enjoyed the trips greatly. Kingery will do his best to put you on the fish and help you get them to the boat or to shore so you may enjoy your catch.
For those of you that would like to get on the river but not fish, I recommend Mahay’s Riverboat Service, which offers jetboat tours. They have tours ranging from mild (with some great educational stops about the Athabascan Indians who originally inhabited the area) to wild (taking boats into Class V—the grade considered “extremely difficult”—rapids).
You may want to set up a sightseeing/rafting trip on one of the rivers, and marvel how each river has its own unique color due to the glacial silt in the water. With hundreds of miles of shoreline to go past, you’ll likely see numerous types of wildlife. Or, perhaps a nice hike is in order. Clearly, outdoor activities are the main attraction in Talkeetna.
In the winter you may enjoy cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, or dogsledding. If you are visiting in March, you may fly out from Talkeetna to a remote checkpoint to see how the Iditarod race is really run.
Eats & Treats
If you are looking for the type of food your grandma used to make, this is the town for it. We counted five or six restaurants in Talkeetna and all of them were independently owned (i.e., not a chain). One of our favorites was the Talkeetna Roadhouse—it has wonderful food, but if you are looking for a quiet table for two… well, forget it.
With its large tables and packed house, the rule is to sit where you can find a seat. We had the four people in our party, two more from the local community, a couple from Germany, and someone from Finland at our table. Talk about a fun meal—and learning about different parts of the world over a bowl of soup and a pasty was a great way to spend the time.
The West Rib Pub & Grille is another wonderful place to eat, and if you are really hungry you can try their Seward’s Folly, which was depicted on the Travel Channel’s show “Man v. Food.” This burger has two one-pound caribou patties, one pound of ham, 12 slices of bacon, six slices of American cheese, six slices of Swiss cheese, lettuce and pickles on a sourdough bun… and it comes with a pound of French fries.
There was enough food in this one sandwich to feed my entire group! If you enjoy this burger on your own, please check your weight and balance before your next takeoff.
Accommodations
There are a number of places to stay while visiting Talkeetna; here are the three places I like to stay when I’m visiting Talkeetna.
The Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge is the premier lodge in the area. It offers spectacular views of Denali (when it is visible) and wonderful amenities. Fine dining is available on the premises. Their concierge will help you set up any sightseeing tour or activity you may want to take part of during your stay.
Talkeetna Denali View Lodge & Cabins is a wonderful lodge/bed-and-breakfast located about nine miles south of Talkeetna in a quiet natural setting. The owners, Tom and Renae, are happy to pick you up at the airport if needed. Tom is also a pilot. This is where I stay with my tour groups when we visit Talkeetna. Tom and Renae would also be happy to help you set up any other activities or tours you might like to accomplish while visiting this wonderful part of Alaska.
Swiss-Alaska Inn is located right in the town of Talkeetna. With 20 modern rooms and a rustic restaurant, they will take care of your traveling needs. This inn is so close to town you can walk from the airport to the inn and then walk downtown in a few minutes.
Transportation
There is one taxi company, the Talkeetna Taxi, if you need to get around. Their rates are simple and fair, and they have two minivans. I recommend that you make arrangements before you get to Talkeetna. I could not find a courtesy car at any of the FBOs, and you cannot rent a car in town.
Instructor Moment
Flying in Alaska is very challenging, but has great rewards: isolated places to fly, and spectacular views on a clear day. The weather in Alaska may change quickly, and maintaining situational awareness of the weather around you—as well as where you can land—is vital to a pilot’s survival.
Before traveling to Alaska, start looking at your weather options while at home. One of the best ways to note the weather where you are going is to use the webcams set up for pilots throughout the state. You may view the list of aviation camera sites and start comparing the reference pictures of the area to what you can see at the present time giving you visibility and cloud bases to help you make your decisions. (For the URL, see Resources at the end of this article. —Ed.)
In many parts of Alaska, there is no radar, and relying on XM WX satellite weather is not an option, so learning to read the clouds and winds, along with proper prior planning is very important.
I recommend a trip to Alaska for every pilot that likes adventure and would like to see a great state, but please, do it safely. Do not put your passengers, your rescuers, or your own life at any more risk than necessary. Take care and fly safe.
Maj. Joe Kuberka started flying in 1978 and attained a BSPA in Aviation Administration at the University of North Dakota. Kuberka flew B-52 bombers and KC-135 tankers as an Air Force pilot, taught basic airmanship at the USAF Academy and earned a Master of Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 1994. Kuberka has over 8,000 hours with private, commercial, instrument, instructor, multi-engine and glider ratings. After a 20-year career in the Air Force, Kuberka developed a self-flying, guided mountain air tour. Visit his web site at www.bluegooseaviation.com. Send questions or comments to editor@www.piperflyer.com
