Talkeetna

Talkeetna - State of Alaska / Frank Flavin

The town of Talkeetna is tiny and funky, just as you would imagine life in a small-town. The town of Talkeetna is located 115 miles north of Anchorage in the Mat-Su Valley.

Talkeetna is known as the inspiration for the fictional community of Cicely on the TV show Northern Exposure. When you visit, you'll see that Talkeetna is full of artistic, outdoorsy and creative people. In Talkeetna you can find log cabins, a roadhouse and clapboard storefronts lining the dirt streets. Main Street is the only paved road in town, not including the highway.

Talkeetna drew gold miners in 1896 to the Susitna River. Talkeetna was a riverboat steamer station, supplying miners and trappers in nearby mining districts. The town of Talkeenta's popular peaked at over 1,000 during World War I and then declined after the Alaska Railroad was completed. The town has bounced back as it's the area residents and visitors visit to enjoy Denali (aka Mt McKinley), Mount Foraker, and Moose's Tooth.

Visitors of Talkeenta can enjoy stunning views of Denali (aka Mt McKinley) on clear days. The National Park Service office processes expeditions to Denali during the summer and also offers a small display with video program for those thinking of scaling the peak.

The Historical Society Museum is a small complex that offers four restored buildings showcasing climbers that made the first ascents, climbing routes and a relief model of Denali. Flightseeing tours from a local airstrip offers scenic flights of the mountain and the Alaska Range; an awe-inspiring trip which can also include a glacier landing.

Talkeetna is an outdoorsman's dream. Riverboat tours and jet boat trips tour up Talkeetna Canyon, Devils Canyon, the Chulitna River and Tokositna River. Enjoy fishing, bird watching and majestic views of Denali. In town there is a brewery and a few shopping galleries.