Page 139 - Vacation Country Travel Guide

SOUTH CENTRAL ALASKA Petersville Road National Parks or south into the Matanuska Valley.
Beginning at Mile 114.8 of the George Parks The highlight of an Alaskan vacation, awe inspiring
This region is teeming with Gold Rush Highway #3 at Trapper Creek, the 40-mile Petersville air tours to Denali are provided by several local
history in areas like Petersville and Road heads through rugged terrain toward the flight services based at the state airport and can
Trapper Creek. It is also home of the Petersville mine area. The road winds through the include glacier landings. Talkeetna also offers world
“largests” with Anchorage, the largest forested, swampy flats of the Chulitna basin past class fishing charters for salmon and trout, safe and
city in the state and Denali (formerly several accommodating roadhouses. Four-wheel comfortable, narrated naturalist jet boat tours and
Mount McKinley) , the largest mountain drive is generally recommended after the first 10 to 20 exciting rafting on the local rivers.
in North America. Wrangell-St. Elias miles and the road is not plowed in winter, presenting The Walter Harper Talkeetna Ranger Station,
National Park is the country’s largest ideal snowmobiling adventure. If you can get in as far located 150 miles south of the Denali National Park
national park and rich in wildlife and as the mines, you’ll be a rugged hike away from the entrance, offers informative programming during the
towering mountain peaks. Reaching the Kahlitna Glacier and the remote southern reaches of summer about the history of Denali. Climbers are
coastline, Southcentral Alaska is where Denali National Park. required to attend an orientation here to obtain their
the largest tidewater glacier, Columbia Inquire at the Talkeetna Visitor Information Center or permit before scaling the mountain, and Talkeetna
Glacier flows into the icy blue waters of in Trapper Creek about conditions. Be sure to respect is the staging area for the 1000 or so climbers who
the Pacific between Whittier and Valdez. all private property signs in the mining area. attempt the ascent each year.
This is also where more than half of the Situated at the confluence of three wild and
state’s residents live. scenic rivers, the Susitna, Chulitna and Talkeetna,
the village of Talkeetna dates to 1896 when a gold
Talkeetna rush to the Susitna brought prospectors to the area,
Kantishna Location: At mile marker 99 on George and it became the site for a riverboat steamer station
Parks Highway #3, turn east on the Talkeetna
Location: 90 miles inside Denali National Park Spur Road for 14 miles; 120 miles north of by 1910. During construction of the railroad north to
Nenana in 1916, the population peaked near 1000,
& Preserve, past Wonder Lake on Moose Creek. Anchorage; 240 miles south of Fairbanks. then decreased following the 1918 flu epidemic and
Population: summer 800, winter 400. Visitor completion of the railroad. Talkeetna continued as a
Situated within Denali National Park, Kantishna is Information: Talkeetna Chamber of Commerce, supply center for area miners until 1940 when many
host to an old roadhouse that now acts as a tourist PO Box 334, Talkeetna, AK 99676; kiosk of the richest mines petered out. The railroad still
destination within the park. This area was a gold located next to the PO; Phone: (907) 414-0376; runs through town today, and miners still work in the
mining area from 1905-1944. The recorder’s office Website: www.talkeetnachamber.org. Talkeetna Peters Hills area.
still stands as a reminder of past days of glory. Take Historical Society Museum; Phone: (907) 733- The village survived as gold prospectors, fur
a tour to Kantishna Roadhouse for food, gold panning 2487. traders, riverboat pilots, aviation pioneers, railroad
and more. workers and outdoor enthusiasts sought its services.
Nestled at the base of Denali, the historic village Historic log buildings add to the rustic ambience
GEORGE PARKS HWY 3 SOUTH of Talkeetna enjoys an outstanding panoramic of Talkeetna, providing great photo opportunities.
view of the Alaska Range and makes an excellent Sample espresso, buffalo burgers, sourdough hot
Cantwell basecamp for exploring north into Denali State and cakes or a mountain sized ice cream cone as you stroll
Location: Cantwell is located on the George
Parks Highway #3 at the west end of the Denali
Highway #8; 211 miles north of Anchorage and
28 miles south of Denali National Park entrance.
Population: 166
AT CANTWELL JCT. GEORGE PARKS HWY
3 & DENALI HWY 8 EAST TO PAXSON
Paxson
Location: Junction of Richardson Highway
4 and the Denali Highway 8. 344 miles from
Anchorage, 135 miles from Cantwell, 179
miles from Fairbanks, 186 miles from Valdez.
Population: 33.

Paxson is an excellent place to begin exploration
of the many lakes, trails and river systems in the
area. It is a bird watcher’s paradise, with more that
140 species of birds in its locale. In addition to
campgrounds, the traveler will find lodges, bed &
breakfasts and restaurants in the area.

GEORGE PARKS HWY 3 SOUTH
Trapper Creek
Location: Mile 114.9 George Parks Hwy #3 at
the junction with Petersville Road.
Trapper Creek is the southern gateway to Denali
National Park and Preserve, offering spectacular
views and year round services.

AT TRAPPER CREEK
JCT. GEORGE PARKS HWY 3
& PETERSVILLE ROAD

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