Montana Creek Campground

Flight seeing is a fantastic experience and is highly recommended. Even a short trip will enable you to see the Talkeetna Mountains, the Susitna River, the Alaska Range, and the majesty of Mt. McKinley. Longer trips will enable you to fly right up to the glaciers of Mt. McKinley, or if you wish (and depending upon weather and time of year), to actually land on a glacier, walk around, sip champagne, and take photographs. These flights all depart from Talkeetna, a 30-minute drive from Montana Creek Campground.  For more information, contact:

Fishing attracts many people to Montana Creek, which is well known for its king and silver salmon and trout fishery. If you are just passing through and have no fishing equipment with you, the Tackle Cache can meet your needs with sales or rentals.  We can also freeze and store your fish for you.  If you have questions about fishing regulations in this stream, you can get a free copy of the fishing regulations at the Tackle Cache or click on our link to the Sport Fishing Regulations for on-line access to this information.  (After reviewing information on that site's home page, select Southcentral, Susitna Drainage, then Unit 2, where you can scroll for information regarding Montana Creek.)

Enter a fishing derby.  King salmon that you catch from Montana Creek (and other are streams) are eligible for the Mat-Su King Salmon derby. You can pre-register at the Tackle Cache. There are weekly and daily prizes.  Contact the folks at the Tackle Cache for more information.  Remember, if you don’t register, you can't win!

On  August 9 and 10, the Big Lake Aurora Lion's Club is sponsoring the Kids' Fishing Derby for kids less than 16 years old.  The entry fee of $15 is for both days of the derby (6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday).  There are lots of day prizes and over-all prizes, including bicycles, fishing gear, and toys donated by The Whales Casino Supply Company; hats and t-shirts donated by themasterangler.com; and free mounting of the largest humpy caught (donated by Harter's Taxidermy of Fairbanks).  All proceeds will go to "CampAbilities", an organization supported by the Lion's Club to provide camping opportunities for handicapped children.

Walking trails will take you west, to the mouth of Montana Creek, where it flows into the Susitna River. It’s a short, pleasant walk to the midpoint, where the trail goes under the railroad tracks. From there, the trail is unimproved. You can also stroll on other trails to view the wildflowers or berries in season.  

Hike to Montana Creek Falls.  The Luthman Trail is one of the most beautiful day-hikes to be found in the entire upper Susitna Valley.  The trail is four and a half miles long (one way) over gently rolling terrain until the last half-mile, which is steeper and offers more strenuous hiking. This hike should be considered "extreme" hiking, because prior floods removed pedestrian bridges built by the Upper Susitna Seniors several years ago.  Several stream crossings must be made, some on fallen logs, but others are more easily accomplished by wading across.  Be aware that this stream can become swollen and dangerous at times of high water.  Close to the falls, the stream is forced into a narrow, raging stream tumbling over large boulders, and the only way to round the final bend and see the falls is to cross that part of the stream on a final log crossing.  Montana Creek Falls is a two-tiered fall.  To see the uppermost fall (which is the more spectacular of the two), climb the steep hill which begins where the trail appears to end.  This portion of the trail is so overgrown it is barely discernable, but a beautiful view awaits those who persevere!  Be certain to pack plenty of snacks, drinking  water, and lots of mosquito repellant.  To find the Luthman trail (named after the local homesteader who discovered the falls 30 years ago and, over the years, built most of the trail himself), drive north on the Talkeetna Spur Road to Mile 3.  Turn right on Yoder Road and cross Montana Creek bridge (approximately 2.6 miles).  Turn left immediately after the bridge and park in the trailhead parking lot.  (Shuttle service to the parking lot is available from our campground.  There is a fee for this service.)  Make noise as you hike; the trail is located in bear habitat and bears can be very dangerous.  Please let someone know where you are going and what time you are departing.

Take a scenic riverboat or rafting trip on the Talkeetna or Chulitna River.  

Go dog sledding! This wheeled version is a fun summer adaptation of a winter sport that is quite popular in this area. While there are several trainers, kennels, and racing teams in the area (some of which participate in the 1,000 mile Iditarod race and others), visit the Talkeetna Sundog Kennel for either a dog mushing trip or for a tour of their world champion sled dog racing kennel (phone 733-3355).

Rent a bicycle!  Lynn, at Busy Bikes (phone 733-2675) will deliver a rental bike to you at the campground if she is given enough notice.  Otherwise, you can rent one at her outlet in Talkeetna.  Call her for more information.

Enjoy our live music on July 4^th.  This annual free concert for our customers will present a variety of music over the years: country, folk, jazz, blues, steel drums, rock and roll, and so on.  This family concert begins in the afternoon and continues till early evening.  Be there, or be square!

Tired of RV or campfire food? Eat out! Every Tuesday at noon, our Upper Susitna Seniors prepare a delicious lunch for the public at their new senior center, 2 miles north on the Parks Highway (turn right on Helena Drive, just after the church). Prices are always reasonable, and all meals include the salad bar and beverage.  This is a great opportunity to chat with and hear the remarkable stories of some of the folks who founded and built this community, some of the original homesteaders who settled here long before the highway existed! Every Sunday, the public is also invited to brunch from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.  This event is a fundraiser for the seniors.  You will be seated, order off a menu, and be served by volunteers.  These meals  include salad and desert bars.  

In addition, our neighborhood eateries are all open 7 days a week:  

Those of you who are roughing it in style may want to rent a video.  The largest selection is at Som’s Sunshine Laundry and Video at Mile 2 on the Talkeetna Spur Road.

Go to church. The Montana Creek Baptist Church, 2 miles north on the Parks Highway, welcomes visitors of all denominations.  You can call the church if you need transportation (733-2591).  Services are on Sundays:  

  Go to a meeting.  AA and Al-Anon meet downstairs every Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. at Montana Creek Baptist Church.

Visit Talkeetna. Take the Talkeetna Spur Road (located 3 miles north on the Parks Highway). This makes a perfect day or afternoon trip. Be sure to stop at the Mt. McKinley viewpoint; it is absolutely the best place in the state from which to view McKinley -- if the mountain is "out". Then park in town and stroll through "beautiful downtown Talkeetna". The town is only a few blocks long, but is filled with many original and historical buildings and cabins. Be sure to visit the Talkeetna Museum, which is located in what was once the little red schoolhouse, to learn more about this old mining town. The Wax Museum of the North is fun to see, and is unlike any other wax museum you have visited. There is also a Museum of Northern Adventure, and the Talkeetna Historical Society Museum. Talkeetna is home to many craftspeople and artists, so be sure to stop in at the little shops to see what they’ve done. And if you're looking for Alaskan gifts or mementos, you’ll find those in Talkeetna as well.

Observe the aurora borealis (“northern lights”).  On clear nights in May, late August, and September, look up during the night.  (They are there year-round, but it is not dark enough to see them during the bright nights of summer in Alaska.)  Brightest around midnight, these wonderful patterns of light can sometimes be seen straight overhead.  More often, they’re located toward the north and can be obscured by the trees in the forested part of the campground.  If you feel like taking a late-night stroll, walk out to the open part of the campground for the best opportunity to see the lights.  They may appear (most often) as a rainbow-shaped pale green glow, pale green and/or pink waving curtain, or as (overhead) spectacular flat planes of light.  Occasionally, they’ll appear as a swirling, cloud-like mass.  They’re always exciting to see and are worth staying up or getting up for.  (And if they don’t make an appearance, you’ll still see our starry, starry night…)  

    Take our shuttle further upstream to fish, rafting back down to the campground (using your own equipment).  (Use of the shuttle will depend upon staff availability, and there is a charge for this service.)

    If you've read this far, you may want to work here!  We are looking for a person or couple that wants to trade seasonal site parking for their RV or tent and vehicle (electric hookup is available) for litter pickup and janitorial services (all materials and equipment will be provided).