Hit up Talkeetna for local outdoor fun over spring break

Spring break might be the time many Alaskans usually leave the state for a few days of sun. But as Alaskans continue to weather the COVI D-19 pandemic, nothing, including Spring break, is as it usually is.

Yet just because COVID concerns and related travel restrictions continue to keep near home, that doesn’t mean the fun needs to end. And while a short drive up the Parks Highway for a day or overnight in Talkeetna might sound more like a summer adventure, tourism officials and business owners there are hoping Valley residents will also take the time to visit now before break-up and experience the winter fun the town has to offer.

“As a community we’re just trying to get the word out,” said Bill Rodwell, president of the Talkeetna Chamber of Commerce and owner of Talkeetna Cabins.

To give us a view into what Talkeetna can give late-winter visitors, the Chamber provided us with a night in a cabin, dinner at the Denali Brewpub and plenty of ideas for ways Spring break visitors can make the most of Talkeetna’s trails and recreation spots.

Overnight or day trip?

Talkeetna’s downtown and trails are a mere 90-minute drive from Palmer and still well within the Mat-Su Borough, but feels like a whole different region thanks to the amount of snow on the ground. The relatively short drive means visitors can easily head up for a day of skiing and dinner, or make an easy weekend or overnight of it by booking one of the many cozy local cabins.

At Rodwell’s Talkeetna Cabins immediately off Main Street, visitors can book one of the cozy three bed, one bath cabins ($150 per-night) or the larger log house cabin ($290 per-night). The cabin rates include two people, while the log house includes four. Additional people are $20 each, with children eight and under staying free. The cabins are comfortable and uber-clean — we saw not even a speck of dust on the logs — and equipped with full kitchens, making it easy to pack groceries to eat in.

That $150 cabin price also means that for $50 more than the rate at many of the state’s rustic public use cabins, visitors can have drive-up accommodations with heat electricity, wifi and real beds. If hiking or skiing into a winter escape hauling all of your own fuel, food and bedding isn’t right for your family, a visit to the Talkeetna Cabins could fit the bill instead.

Spring break recreation ideas

Talkeetna has a parade of winter recreation offerings, including a skating rink near the elementary school, a sledding hill adjacent to the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, which will be open for Spring break in early March — and miles upon miles of groomed ski and multi-use trails.

Those trails, said Paul Beberg, typically host about 700 visitors this time of year for the annual Oosik race. But like so many fitness events over COVID, the Oosik has gone virtual this year. While that means a dramatic reduction in visitors bringing their skis and dollars to Talkeetna for the event, it also means people can participate over time instead of on a single day and on any course they want.

“People want to feel like a part of the community, so that gives them a little bit of a chance to connect and just get out there, have a goal and do it,” Beberg said.

Proceeds from the Oosik support the Denali Nordic Ski Club and its trail grooming projects over the season. Racers can register and compete any time before March 31. More information is available on DenaliNordicSkiClub.org.

Visitors can find plenty of trail information on the ski club’s website. But those unfamiliar with the area’s ski trails, including beginner skiers and those skiing with kids, might want to start their adventure at the Comsat Trailhead off S. Comsat Road. There skiers can find miles of both groomed and multi-use trails. All told, Beberg said, the region has about 50k of trails.

For a fun ungroomed ski or fat bike ride, take on the rolling 5.2k X-Lake Trail. The Marten Loop 3.14k ski-only groomed trail is also an excellent, shorter option.

Berber also noted that March is statistically the best time to catch a clear view of the mountain, so make sure to pause at the overlook as you travel into downtown Talkeetna after your ski.

Food and drinks for the visit

You’ll find Talkeetna’s infamous Flying Squirrel Bakery Cafe on your way into town before you reach the Comsat Trailhead. Baked goods (try a giant cookie with coffee), sandwiches (try the Fancy Grilled Cheese, $8.85) and wood fire pizza ($20 to $27.05, depending on toppings) served Friday and Saturday all hit the spot. Dining is take-out only due to the pandemic.

If visiting downtown Talkeetna or staying in the Talkeetna Cabins, walk over to Mountain High Pizza Pie or hit the Denali Brewpub for drinks around the outdoor fire and sit-down service inside. Beyond their in-house brews, the menu also includes a variety of burgers, sandwiches and plated dinners, plus kid-friendly options and fantastic desserts. For an appetizer, we recommend skipping the Bavarian Pretzel Bites and instead going for the Roasted Cauliflower Dip with the pretzels ($14.50). Pair that with the Twister Creek Burger ($16) or, for something unexpected, try the Short Rib Dinner, a surprisingly delicious curry. For dessert, guests of drinking age should try the Drunken Bread Pudding ($12), while the kids or those looking for something less boozy will love the Chuli Stout brownie ($8).