Visit Alaska’s Funkiest Little Town: Talkeetna
Funky and Historic
Talkeetna, also known as Alaska Funkiest Town is small historic village in the Alaskan Matanuska-Susitna Borough on the way to Denali National Park. The town has a population of just over 1,000 people but is one of the coolest little towns we’ve come across. Talkeetna is located in prime location as 3 rivers, the Talkeetna, Susitna, and Chulitna merge and meet at the towns edge.
Great restaurants, stores and shops, hiking, flight seeing, rafting, boat tours, kayaking, fishing, winter sports, and a panoramic view of Mount Denali and the Alaskan Range make Talkeetna a must visit when traveling through Alaska especially on your way to Denali National Park.
Live music in the park is a town staple especially during the summer months when tourism is high. A small campground located at the north end of the town is a first come first serve location and typically packed during this time of year.
How to get to Talkeetna:
Talkeetna is located 2.5 hours north of Anchorage and a pretty easy drive to get to the town. Take the Glenn Highway from Anchorage towards Wasilla. Once in Wasilla c you will continue on the George Parks Highway until you reach Talkeetna Spur Road. The road leads you to the sign for the town exit which leads you right into the heart of the time downtown streets.
From Wasilla, you could also cut through Hatcher Pass during the summer months for an even more scenic drive.
Our Visit to Talkeetna:
After traveling through Hatcher Pass on our way to Denali National Park, we had to make a stop in Talkeetna. We had heard great things about Alaska’s Funkiest Town so we had to check it out. Our first stop was Denali Brewing Company, located a few miles out of town heading towards to Talkeetna. While planning our Denali adventure, we enjoyed a few drinks, bought some souvenirs and polished off an absolutely delicious Margarita Pizza. We planned on getting our families some souvenirs but they ere sold out of the shirts our rents would want (So we ended up purchasing them at the Denali Brewing Store located on the Main Street in Talkeetna).
We then headed into the town center to check out Talkeetna scene. The town was pretty busy the day we visited, with streets filled with travelers, the restaurants were filled and families were enjoying the day! It was nice to see everyone enjoying the outdoors. After walking into some some of the cooler shops we walked down to the end of town to catch a view of Mount Denali and the Alaskan Range in the distance.
The spot where we stopped was the intersection of the three rivers and off inn the distance with a clear view was North Americas tallest peak. It was such a breathtaking site that I felt I never wanted to leave that tiny plot of earth. We took in the scenery, stopped in some stores, then made our way towards the National Park.
Denali Brewing Company:
A few miles before entering the village of Talkeetna, you will come across Denali Brewing Company. Denali Brewing is one of Alaskas premier craft beer breweries and honestly, one of the places for drinks, food, and ambiance. Their award winning beer, ciders, and spirits make Denali Brewing a hot stop along the way to Denali and Talkeetna.
Enjoy some outdoor and indoor seating while enjoying your drinks, grab souvenir from their very large gift shop, and be sure to order some food. Denali Brewing serves a wide range of food on their men but they are definitely known for their pizzas. My personal favorite was there margarita pizza which almost personal size and one person can easily down one.
Denali Brewing also has a shop where you can find all the items that the brewery itself might be out of located right in Talkeetna. so if you miss something don’t worry they have a spot for you to grab what you need. Denali Brewing is an absolute must when heading to Talkeetna.
Our personal favorite beer at Denali Brewing is easily the Twister Creek IPA and the Purple Haze. Both of those beers were great choices and we definitely enjoyed them.
Summer Activities in Talkeetna:
Hiking:
Talkeetna is a great destination for hiking on the road to Denali. Miles of trails with views of the three rivers, Denali, and the Alaskan Range make Talkeetna a hot hiking spot for travelers. My personal favorite hike if the 6.5 mile moderate Curry Ridge Trail in Denali State Park.
Fishing:
Talkeetna is an amazing spot for fishing in Alaska. Fishing tours and boat rentals can be found all throughout the town, and surrounding areas. Talkeetna is one of the few places where fisherman can catch all 5 pacific Salmon Species.
River Activities:
Talkeetna is a hot bed for river fun. Company’s within the town offer rafting trips, kayaking, and speed boat tours. Opportunities to travel miles of river are there for the taking as there is plenty of it to go around.
ATV Riding:
Talkeetna offers guided and on your own ATV tours. You can ride along the hundreds of miles of Denali State Park trails or take a guided tour around the historic town and surrounding areas.
Flightseeing:
Flightseeing is common summer activity for locals and tourists. Tours and charters for access to Denali National Park and the Alaskan Range are premier in the Talkeetna area. From here you can take a flight tour around North Americas highest peak.
Winter Activities in Talkeetna:
Winter Activities in Talkeetna are just as popular as summer activities.
Snowshoeing:
Grab a pair of snow shoes and head out to the many miles of trails in the Talkeetna area. Snow shoe rentals can be found in a few different locations in the town and access to the trails are gained form right in the town.
Talkeetna Dog Sledding:
Dog Sledding, one of Alaska’s longest activities is a very common activity during the inter months. Many companies offer the tours and they are a great way to experience the Alaskan winter like native Alaskans back in the day.
Ice Fish:
A few different local companies offer ice fishing rentals and tours during the winter months. Once the rivers freeze, grab a pole and head out to the river for some of ht best ice fishing that Alaska has to offer.
Nordic Skiing:
Cross Country Skiing in Talkeetna is as common during the winter, as hiking is in the summer. Head out on the many miles of designated trails specifically designed for skiing.
Watch the Northern Lights in Talkeetna:
Views of the northern lights from Talkeetna are visible from pretty much everywhere. Take a short drive out of town to experience the wonders without the glow of the city lights or grab table at a local restaurant and eat some sinner as you watch the lights.
Winter Zipline Tours:
Denali Zipline Tours is a company that offers winter zipline tours in the Denali area. Located right in Talkeetna the tours give you access to the Alaskan wilderness from above.
Snowmobiling:
Snowmobiling and snow machine riding are common in Talkeetna. Take a ride along the same ATV trails accessible in the summer. Take a short across the rivers for miles of trails at the nearby Trapper Creek.
