Adventure cruises departing from Talkeetna

Explore Alaska on a jet boat adventure! The river tours are narrated by certified Coast Guard captains and qualified naturalists. You’ll be within 60 miles of Denali, the highest mountain in North America, offering some of the best views of this elusive peak on clear days. Each river tour includes a tranquil ¼-mile nature walk to the adventure site, where you’ll visit a Dena’ina Indian camp, the area’s first indigenous settlers, and an authentic trapper’s cabin.

Choose from four different circuits. The Wilderness Excursion, a two-hour exploration covering 20 miles of the Susitna River. The Chulitna Gorge Journey is an extended 3.5-hour version of the 2-hour circuit. For the ultimate Alaska whitewater experience and a bit more excitement, opt for the Devil’s Canyon Adventure. You can also combine a jet boat adventure with a ride on the Alaska Railroad flag-stop train with the River, Rail, and Trail circuit.

The adventure cruises

DEVIL’S CANYON ADVENTURE

Daily departure at 9:30 AM

Discover the unforgettable beauty of this vast, remote wilderness on this 5-hour river adventure. A 130-mile round-trip river excursion through the Denali State Park and into the wild river gorge of the Devil’s Gorge in the national park will provide a safe, dry, and comfortable way to experience whitewater and venture where few have gone.

A deli lunch is included in this full-day adventure.

Highlights:

• Nature walk, where you’ll learn about the lives of the region’s early settlers.
• Visit an authentic trapper’s cabin with its original furnishings and discover how trappers lived in the Alaska Bush in the early century.
• Exhibit of fur from the region and demonstration of trapping methods.
• Learn about edible plants used by Native Americans for cooking and medicine, and what is still consumed today.
• Observe bald eagles nesting, beavers, and salmon.
• Spot moose, black bears, and grizzlies wandering along the shoreline.

CHULITNA GORGE JOURNEY

Daily Departure

Explore different rivers during this 3.5-hour, approximately 50-mile jet boat adventure, which includes the Chulitna River Gorge and a unique braided river – one of the few such extensive systems in the world! Travel in the comfort of fully enclosed jet boats. This tour is an extension of the 2-hour wilderness excursion, featuring a ¼-mile nature walk to an authentic trapper’s cabin and a Dena’ina Indian camp.

This tour includes a locally baked cookie and beverage.

Highlights:

• Navigate the Chulitna River Gorge and discover an Alaska braided river, with numerous channels separated by small, often temporary islands.
• Enjoy some of the most beautiful views in the state.
• Spot bald eagles and nesting beavers, or occasionally catch sight of a black bear or grizzly wandering along the shoreline.
• Visit a Dena’ina Indian camp, the region’s first indigenous settlers, and explore an authentic trapper’s cabin, home to the area’s first white settler.
• Learn about edible plants used by Native Americans for cooking and medicine and discover what we still consume today.

WILDERNESS EXCURSION

5 Daily Departures (2-hour Duration)

Witness the splendor of Denali and the vast Alaska Range from a spectacular viewpoint on the Susitna River aboard the technically advanced jet boat! Folklore, artifacts, and panoramic views combine to make this 20-mile Alaska River adventure unforgettable.

Highlights:

• Observe bald eagles nesting in the region.
• Enjoy a tranquil ¼-mile nature walk to a Dena’ina Indian camp, the area’s first indigenous settlers.
• Visit an authentic trapper’s cabin with its original furnishings and discover how trappers lived in the Alaska Bush at the turn of the century.
• Exhibit of fur from the region and demonstration of trapping methods.
• Discover edible plants used by Native Americans for cooking and medicine, including some still consumed today.

RIVER, RAIL & TRAIL

1 Departure 5 Days a Week (3-4 hour Duration)

This excursion includes a train ride, a visit to Curry, a jet boat tour, and a 1/4-mile nature walk on the adventure site. Guests should check in no later than 12:45 PM at the Mahay office and board the train around 1:00 PM accompanied by a Mahay naturalist who will be their guide throughout the tour. Light refreshments will be served at Curry, and guests are encouraged to bring their own food for the train journey.

Highlights:

• Discover local history along the way.
• Board the Hurricane Turn train, one of America’s oldest flag-stop trains.
• Visit the historic town of Curry, a midway stop between Seward and Fairbanks during the two-day steam train journey and a highly popular resort town in the early 1900s.
• Tour the historical town site, once home to the grand Curry Hotel.
• Board a jet boat, enjoy a refreshment and beverage.
• Cruise down the Susitna River for a nature walk.
• Learn about the region’s early settlers, trappers, and the Dena’ina Indians.
• Explore some of the local flora and fauna.