Talkeetna to Hurricane Train
- ahschneid
- Aug 18
- 5 min read
We arrived at Talkeetna on Thursday 14 Aug 2025 and stayed at Talkeetna Camper Park again. We walked into town the morning of the 15th before our train ride at 1pm. We checked out the local museum where we learned about the whole pets running for mayor. Back in 2002, there was lots of fighting among the mayoral candidates and someone said they were going to write in their cat’s name on the ballot. The cat won! So since 2002, Talkeetna has had no human mayor and the city council makes decisions. This year the museum needs a new ramp to the entrance, so anyone can vote for $1 which goes toward the new ramp.
We also walked into the Ranger Station and learned about what's involved in climbing Mt. McKinley. Climbers have to apply and pay $440 to attempt it, and there are "stations" on the way up where climbers can set up tents. There were two female rangers working that day. They have both attempted to reach the top of Mt. McKinley but only one made it to the summit. They're both older now, so this was a few years ago.
Talkeetna Alaska - 15 August 2025
Talkeetna Historical Society
Talkeetna Alaska - 15 August 2025
Talkeetna Alaska - 15 August 2025
Inside Walter Harper Talkeetna Ranger Station
Talkeetna Alaska - 15 August 2025
Inside Walter Harper Talkeetna Ranger Station
Talkeetna Alaska - 15 August 2025
Inside Walter Harper Talkeetna Ranger Station
Talkeetna Alaska - 15 August 2025
Inside Walter Harper Talkeetna Ranger Station
We went on the Talkeetna to Hurricane Gulch train ride that afternoon. We were riding through an area where there are no roads. There are 24 residents along the train route, with 7 of them being year-round. The Hurricane Train is a “flag stop” train, meaning it will stop to pick you up if you flag it down. It is the last of this kind of this train in the United States. We didn’t see any wildlife on our train ride and we were a little surprised at all the activity along the route. Of course it was still “summer” when we rode the train, so people camped to go fishing or just be in the wilderness. The train stopped at an artist/author (Shannon Cartwright) of children’s books gallery along the way and let everyone off the train. We also were invited to get off the train at a little plateau to see the fish in the water below. The train stopped on the bridge over Hurricane Gulch and it was an awesome view. We got lots of pictures. The Hurricane Train is very laid back and a “fun train” as our narrator, Mary, emphasized. We had a great time on the train and could walk back home after our ride. Our campground backed up to the train depot.
Hurricane Turn Train - RT (1pm-7:15pm) Talkeetna AK - Hurricane Gulch Bridge Cantwell AK
15 August 2025
Hurricane Turn Train - RT (1pm-7:15pm) Talkeetna AK - Hurricane Gulch Bridge Cantwell AK
15 August 2025
Hurricane Turn Train - RT (1pm-7:15pm) Talkeetna AK - Hurricane Gulch Bridge Cantwell AK
15 August 2025
Hurricane Turn Train - RT (1pm-7:15pm) Talkeetna AK - Hurricane Gulch Bridge Cantwell AK
15 August 2025
Hurricane Turn Train - RT (1pm-7:15pm) Talkeetna AK - Hurricane Gulch Bridge Cantwell AK
15 August 2025
Hurricane Turn Train - RT (1pm-7:15pm) Talkeetna AK - Hurricane Gulch Bridge Cantwell AK
15 August 2025
Hurricane Turn Train - RT (1pm-7:15pm) Talkeetna AK - Hurricane Gulch Bridge Cantwell AK
15 August 2025
Hurricane Turn Train - RT (1pm-7:15pm) Talkeetna AK - Hurricane Gulch Bridge Cantwell AK
15 August 2025
Hurricane Turn Train - RT (1pm-7:15pm) Talkeetna AK - Hurricane Gulch Bridge Cantwell AK
15 August 2025
Narrator Mary calls this the world's largest fire pit...
Hurricane Turn Train - RT (1pm-7:15pm) Talkeetna AK - Hurricane Gulch Bridge Cantwell AK
15 August 2025
Hurricane Turn Train - RT (1pm-7:15pm) Talkeetna AK - Hurricane Gulch Bridge Cantwell AK
15 August 2025
Old telegraph poles along the railroad...
Hurricane Turn Train - RT (1pm-7:15pm) Talkeetna AK - Hurricane Gulch Bridge Cantwell AK
15 August 2025
Hurricane Turn Train - RT (1pm-7:15pm) Talkeetna AK - Hurricane Gulch Bridge Cantwell AK
15 August 2025
Hurricane Turn Train - RT (1pm-7:15pm) Talkeetna AK - Hurricane Gulch Bridge Cantwell AK
15 August 2025
Shannon Cartwright's Gallery
Hurricane Turn Train - RT (1pm-7:15pm) Talkeetna AK - Hurricane Gulch Bridge Cantwell AK
15 August 2025
Shannon Cartwright's Gallery
Hurricane Turn Train - RT (1pm-7:15pm) Talkeetna AK - Hurricane Gulch Bridge Cantwell AK
15 August 2025
Hurricane Turn Train - RT (1pm-7:15pm) Talkeetna AK - Hurricane Gulch Bridge Cantwell AK
15 August 2025
Hurricane Turn Train - RT (1pm-7:15pm) Talkeetna AK - Hurricane Gulch Bridge Cantwell AK
15 August 2025
Hurricane Turn Train - RT (1pm-7:15pm) Talkeetna AK - Hurricane Gulch Bridge Cantwell AK
15 August 2025
Fun train has a sasquatch along the way in the event of no other wildlife...
Hurricane Turn Train - RT (1pm-7:15pm) Talkeetna AK - Hurricane Gulch Bridge Cantwell AK
15 August 2025
Hurricane Turn Train - RT (1pm-7:15pm) Talkeetna AK - Hurricane Gulch Bridge Cantwell AK
15 August 2025
Hurricane Turn Train - RT (1pm-7:15pm) Talkeetna AK - Hurricane Gulch Bridge Cantwell AK
15 August 2025
Hurricane Turn Train - RT (1pm-7:15pm) Talkeetna AK - Hurricane Gulch Bridge Cantwell AK
15 August 2025
Hurricane Turn Train - RT (1pm-7:15pm) Talkeetna AK - Hurricane Gulch Bridge Cantwell AK
15 August 2025
Hurricane Turn Train - RT (1pm-7:15pm) Talkeetna AK - Hurricane Gulch Bridge Cantwell AK
15 August 2025
Hurricane Turn Train - RT (1pm-7:15pm) Talkeetna AK - Hurricane Gulch Bridge Cantwell AK
15 August 2025
Hurricane Turn Train - RT (1pm-7:15pm) Talkeetna AK - Hurricane Gulch Bridge Cantwell AK
15 August 2025
Hurricane Turn Train - RT (1pm-7:15pm) Talkeetna AK - Hurricane Gulch Bridge Cantwell AK
15 August 2025
Hurricane Turn Train - RT (1pm-7:15pm) Talkeetna AK - Hurricane Gulch Bridge Cantwell AK
15 August 2025
Morning we were leaving Talkeetna Alaska - 16 August 2025
Mt. Denali
Morning we were leaving Talkeetna Alaska - 16 August 2025
Morning we were leaving Talkeetna Alaska - 16 August 2025
Mt. McKinley
Our next stop on the 16th of August is Homer Spit.
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