Few places in the world can equal the scale and beauty of Mt. McKinley and the Alaska Range. On this two-hour narrated Talkeetna River Natural History Float Trip, you will see spectacular vistas of this magnificent scenery. Explore the lower end of the famous Talkeetna River, which is steeped in history and the Alaskan pioneering spirit.

You will participate in a brief safety lecture at the river's edge before launching and floating down six to eight miles of pristine river. The Talkeetna River is a glacier-fed waterway teeming with salmon and other wildlife. Our guides are versed in describing the flora, fauna, and scenery along the way. We will look for bears, eagles, fish, beavers, moose, fox, and waterfowl during this float. We will stop to visit two active Bald Eagles’ nests, see beaver dams, look for bear tracks, and float past an old miner’s cabin… all before joining the mighty Susitna River for the loop back to Talkeetna.

On the Susitna River, there is a stunning view of Mt. McKinley (20, 320′) and the entire Alaska Range. On clear days, the view is amazing. There will be plenty of opportunities to take photos! For a small additional fee, we have a photographer available to take pictures of you, the raft, and your guide – with a stunning backdrop of Mt. McKinley!

*Duration: 2 Hours

*There must be at least 4 people to go out on the tour. If this booking minimum is not met, we will call you to reschedule.

*We provide complimentary transportation from Talkeetna (please note that we drive an hour north from Talkeetna to our boat launch.)

*FAQs:

- How should we dress?

Layers are always the best bet for any Alaskan adventure! Even on our warm and sunny days the weather can quickly change and become chilly! If you layer up you can adjust as quickly as our weather does! T.R.G. will provide rubber over boots, rain gear, and PFDs.

- What should we bring on the float?

Your camera and smiles! Other than that we suggest you leave your personal belongings in our office where they will be safely stored until your arrival back in our office!

- Will we see wildlife?

We certainly hope so but no guarantees as it is wild! Floating on our rivers provides an excellent opportunity for wildlife sightings as we are quietly going with the flow, so no engine noises to scare away anything that may be just around the river bend.

- How do we find your office?

Talkeetna is a dead-end town!! From the Parks Highway, you will want to turn at the Talkeetna Spur Road and turn off at Mile 98. Once on the Talkeetna Spur Road, you will continue straight into town, about fifteen miles, and at our one and only stop sign you will take a left onto Main Street. We are located at 13529 Main Street, the yurt on the right-hand side, and if you miss us, don’t worry since the town is a dead end you’ll just turn around and try again!!

- How far is Talkeetna from Anchorage? How far from Denali National Park?

Between construction and traffic in Alaska during the summer months, we always suggest giving yourself an extra 30 minutes whenever driving. Traveling to/from Anchorage give yourself 2.5 hours. From Denali National Park we suggest a 3 hr window of drive time.

- How do I get to and from the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge?

The Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge has a shuttle that operates every hour to Downtown Talkeetna from the main lobby. The shuttle stop is a short walk to our office on Main Street. The shuttle will pick up at the same drop-off location and depart back to the Talkeetna Lodge every half hour.

If you would like to arrange a pickup you may do so at the time of making your reservation.

- How do I get to and from McKinley Princess Lodge?

The McKinley Princess lodge is approximately 50 minutes north of Talkeetna. In order to arrive 15 minutes before your float trip for check-in please make sure you are taking a shuttle time that departs 1 hour and 30 minutes before your trip time.

Welcome to Talkeetna River Guides! Your local family-owned raft company!

Whether you are an experienced adventurer or a family traveling with children, TRG‘s scenic float trips fit a broad spectrum of tastes. Few places in the world rival the scenic beauty of Denali (known also as “the Great One” in the Tanana Athabascan dialect) and the glacier-fed river valleys of the southern slopes of the Alaska Range.

Located just 120 road miles northeast of Anchorage, the quaint, historic town of Talkeetna sits near the confluence of three mighty rivers, the Susitna, the Chulitna, and the Talkeetna. TRG operates out of a yurt on Main Street.

Other activities in the area include hiking in Denali State Park, flightseeing amidst the spectacular peaks of the Alaska Range, and remote wilderness exploration in the unspoiled reaches of Denali National Park and the nearby Talkeetna Mountains — just to name a few.

We are a family mixed of born and raised Talkeetnans and two decades plus Talkeetnans so you can trust that we love where we live and love what we do! Living in Talkeetna year-round means that when you support our family-owned business you are also supporting our local Talkeetna economy. The minute you step into the yurt you will be welcomed by a staff that has most likely been with T.R.G. for more than a decade and probably their kids too! We aren’t joking about a family-run operation! We pride ourselves on trying to find the balance of preserving what is so special and important about Talkeetna while also sharing it with those from around the world! We value and appreciate our communities support and our aim is to be a business that Talkeetna can stand behind and be proud of!

Customers will receive a 90% refund with 48 hours or more notice of cancellation--10% will be held for processing fees. There is no refund if cancellation is less than 48 hours. Contact us by phone to cancel or inquire about a cancellation. No-shows will be charged the full price.