Join John Muir Laws, Billie-Jo Reid, and friends on a 6-day/5-night nature journaling retreat in one of the most stunning areas of Alaska: the South Denali.

This trip is based in Talkeetna; the tiny, funky, town that serves as gateway to Denali's wilderness. A popular stop on the Alaska Railroad (and the final stop before climbing "the" mountain), Talkeetna (pop. 997) attracts visitors from all over to its fun-loving and artistic community.

Here, we'll spend five nights together in the heart of this little village, at the confluence of the Talkeetna and Susitna Rivers. Tucked just a block away from the town's walkable Main Street, we'll stay in modest and comfortable motel-style rooms, each with a private bath.

Our trip will include three outings led by Jack Laws and naturalists at Alaska Nature Guides. The first will be a day in Denali State Park, a secret gem just south of its better-known "sister". A wonderland of spectacular sights, inviting trails, and pure Alaska nature, Denali State Park is a favorite of locals, as it's actually closer to Denali than the national park. The same stunning scenery, lush forest, and abundant wildlife - but without the crowds and buses. With the best trail for Denali views, sketching opportunities abound...from majestic alpine vistas to delicate wildflowers and berries.

Our second adventure outdoors will see us checking out bikes from the local gear shop and peddling to Talkeetna Lakes Park. An easy, flat 6 mile RT ride on a paved path, we'll arrive at the trailhead then walk or bike around crystal-clear lakes and lush boreal forest. We'll look for loons and kingfishers on water, and moose and bears in the woods. The lush old-growth forest will be alive with songbirds, berries, and mushrooms, and your guide will share stories of how early Athabascan people thrived in this wild land.

The third outing will be another day spent in Denali State Park at Byers Lake. Enjoy magnificent views of the lake and surrounding mountains, and learn about the area’s animal and plant life. We may see nesting trumpeter swans, loons, eagles, or bears foraging for spawning salmon.

Before setting out on the day trips above, on our first morning together we'll explore the riverbank next to our inn, a nearby trail leading over the Susitna River, and perhaps some corners tucked in and around town. After lunch on our own, there will be an afternoon of open time when attendees will be free to rest or explore on their own. Although we won't be climbing North America’s highest peak, there’s adventure to grab hold of within walking distance of our rooms: Denali flight-seeing tours, heli-hikes, dog sled rides, and river fun (fishing and rafting). More activities include Talkeetna’s quaint shops, artist booths, museums, restaurants, and live music.

Outings each day take place in remote and rural Alaska, where travel on foot and bike is at times moderately strenuous. Trails are of variable length (3-6 miles) and involve elevation gains of 100-1100 feet. Trail conditions may include various combinations of pavement, dirt, gravel, water, mud, rocks, boulders, tree roots, and limbs and other forest debris, patches of snow, uneven footing, and abrupt changes in terrain. Participants will need to be able to walk or hike unassisted up to 6 miles/1100 feet gain and bicycle 6 miles on a mostly flat and paved path.

Round trip travel Anchorage <---> Talkeetna: there are a few ways to arrive at the retreat, but we're recommending the Alaska Railroad. The trip takes under 3 hours and arrives in TKA at 11am and departs for ANC just after 5pm. Participants traveling the railroad will have time to visit and sketch from rail cars! Storage for luggage is available on either end to facilitate check in and check out of the inn.

A bespoke group trip to rural Alaska is no casual endeavor. Our cancellation policy offers as much flexibility and security as is possible for all. A non-refundable deposit of $700 is required to reserve your spot with the balance of trip fees paid in equal installments over time. Trip fees are refundable (minus deposit) per this schedule:

120+ days before departure: 100% refund

91-119 days before departure 50% refund

61-90 days before departure 25% refund

Within 60 days before departure 0% refund

The deposit is non-refundable unless we (either attendee or organizer) can transfer your spot to another person. It is for this reason we suggest trip insurance to cover you, your things, and your experience.

If you're passionate about nature and art, and curious about Alaska, this is the summer trip you won't want to miss - leading right up to SOLSTICE. With almost 24 hours of daylight each day, there will be time for everything: connecting with nature in a still-wild place, embarking on adventures in the Upper Susitna watershed, seeing small-town life in Alaska, and sharing stories fireside next to the river.

We expect this trip to sell out quickly. A wait list will be available in case you'd like notification of space opening up. You can easily submit a question regarding the retreat by hitting the button in the upper right corner, "ask a question". We'll return your inquiry within one business day.

Attendees will arrive on June 14th by way of railroad, rental car, or Parks Connection Bus. We'll check in to the inn, get settled, and enjoy a meet-and-greet, followed by a catered dinner on site. After dinner, we'll relax by the fire or play a variety of lawn games.

After breakfast, we'll spend time on the Susitna River bank then wander across the water via footpath to the other side. We'll pack our sketch books and explore areas adjacent to the inn, including the riverfront park, the Chase Trail, and even nooks and crannies in the village.

Lunch will be on our own in town. Attendees will find a delightful mix of restaurants and food trucks, featuring everything from pizza to seafood, to sandwiches and curry bowls.

Afternoon is free time to rest at the inn, further explore the town, or book an adventure not on our itinerary. Options include rafting, flightseeing, heli-hiking, dog sledding, and fishing.

We'll load up after breakfast and take a one hour van trip to the state park. Here we'll explore Alaska’s spectacular wilderness on an exhilarating trek with an experienced naturalist guide. Denali State Park is famous for its hiking trails, wildlife, and magnificent views of nearby Denali. This 5 to 6-mile hike gains 1,100 feet in elevation, climbing from lush forest to alpine tundra and stunning panoramic views of Alaska Range peaks and glaciers.

Sketching opportunities abound, from majestic alpine vistas to delicate wildflowers and berries. Denali hiking - the views across the range - doesn’t get any better than this! A box lunch will keep us fueled as we spend an immersive day in Alaska's best kept secret.

After breakfast, we'll walk to or be dropped off at the local gear shop to select our trusty rides for the day. We'll hop on bikes and peddle the 3 miles to the Talkeetna Lakes Trailhead. From there, we can either walk or bike within the park; 1,040 acres featuring six lakes and over a dozen miles of well-maintained walking and biking trails.

This lush old-growth forest is alive with songbirds, wildflowers, berries, and mushrooms. We'll share stories about wildlife encounters, life in Talkeetna, and how the area’s Athabascan Native people thrived in this wild land.

Our final full day, we'll return to Denali State Park. This day will see a leisurely stroll, with plenty of time for observation and sketching. We'll enjoy magnificent views of the lake and surrounding mountains, and learn about the area’s animal and plant life. Guests may see nesting trumpeter swans, loons, eagles, or bears foraging for spawning salmon. Lunch is provided.

Returning to the inn, we'll freshen up and get ready for dinner. Our last group meal together, we'll enjoy a very special catered dinner: a private and leisurely meal at a local farm outside of town. We'll linger over plates and share fresh memories newly made.

After breakfast, we'll gather our things and check out of the inn. Attendees who arrived by rental car can head on out. Guests who arrived by bus or train will be shuttled to meet their rides. Guests with time to spend before boarding their transportation to Anchorage will enjoy luggage storage and the opportunity for one more spin around town.