Denali scenic flight from Talkeetna with glacier landing

The Ruth Glacier's Great Gorge is one of the deepest on earth, and you fly straight into it.

A scenic flight from Talkeetna to Denali National Park with a ski-equipped aircraft, live pilot commentary on headset, and a landing on glacier snow. The tour runs about two hours with a 30-minute glacier landing option that adds time to the flight. A National Park pass is required for landing flights; annual and senior passes are accepted. Pickup is included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Scenic flight and glacier landing

• Check in at Talkeetna State Airport
• Board ski-equipped aircraft
• Listen to pilot's commentary
• Fly over Talkeetna and Susitna valley
• View Great Gorge of Ruth Glacier
• Explore seven major glaciers
• Optional glacier landing and sightseeing

The Experience

You check in at the Talkeetna State Airport 45 minutes before departure, bring sunglasses and a light jacket, and board a ski-equipped aircraft with your own headset. The pilot talks you through the geological history and wildlife as you climb above Talkeetna and cross the river systems of the Susitna valley. Within minutes the landscape shifts — icefalls and snow peaks rise ahead, and the scale becomes something you can't quite process from the ground.

The flight takes you over seven major glaciers that blanket the south side of the Alaska Range. The Ruth Glacier dominates: a 4,000-foot-thick river of ice filling the Great Gorge, one of the deepest gorges in the world. You see the scale of it from directly above, which is the only way to see it whole. If you've added the glacier landing, the pilot descends onto the snow itself. You step out onto the ice, feel the cold, and stand in a silence that has no reference point in ordinary life. The landing adds 30 minutes to the total time.

Glacier overboots are provided. Infants can ride in a pram or stroller, and service animals are allowed. The flight itself is suitable for all fitness levels — you sit the whole time. If you're landing on the glacier, bring a National Park pass (annual or senior passes work); if you're flying without landing, no pass is required.

What’s included

• Ski-equipped aircraft with individual headset.
• live pilot commentary on geological history and wildlife.
• glacier overboots.
• pickup included.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Talkeetna Air Taxi

Is this one for you?See Denali's full scale and glaciers from the air—the view locals call the trip's highlight—then land on the ice itself instead of viewing it from above.

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Top questions

What's the Ruth Glacier and why is it such a big deal on this flight?

The Ruth Glacier is a 4,000-foot-thick river of ice that fills the Great Gorge, making it one of the deepest gorges in the world. The flight takes you directly over it so you see the full scale and the ice formations from above — something you cannot experience any other way.

Do I need a National Park pass to book this tour?

A National Park pass is required only if you choose the glacier landing option. Annual passes and senior passes are both accepted, so you don't need to buy an additional pass if you already have one. Flights without the landing do not require a pass.

How much time does the glacier landing add to the flight?

The glacier landing adds 30 minutes to the total flight time. The full tour with landing runs about two hours from start to finish, including the 45-minute check-in before departure.

What should I bring on the flight?

Bring sunglasses, a light jacket (especially in summer), and plenty of camera memory. Glacier overboots are provided by the operator, so you don't need to bring your own.

Can I bring children or infants on this flight?

Yes. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and infants are required to sit on an adult's lap during the flight. Service animals are also allowed.