WINTER 2018-2019 SCHEDULES | FARES | PACKAGES © Kevin Burkholder © Kevin R ALASKARAILROAD.COM | 800.544.0552 TDD/Hearing Impaired: 907.265.2620 | LEP Assistance Available WINTER ADVENTURE Christie Wyzykowski Christie © Route Map i Aurora Winter Train Schedules & Fares 1 Hurricane Turn Train Schedules & Fares 3 PACKAGES: The Aurora 5 The Borealis 7 Talkeetna Getaway 9 Talkeetna Pie-Making 11 Winter Escape 13 Denali in a Day 15 Arctic Circle Adventure 17 World Ice Art Championships 19 Optional Excursions 21 Terms and Conditions 25 FAIRBANKS WINTER ROUTES ALASKA RAILROAD FLAGSTOP SERVICE Tanana River The Alaska Railroad’s Aurora Winter Train travels from Anchorage through the Mat-Su Valley, stopping HEALY 348 in the charming town of Talkeetna, and continues LI NA ARK DE L P onward to the wilderness of Denali National Park NA IO E AT LI G before reaching its terminus in the Interior city of N NA N E A 304 D R Fairbanks. Travelers on this journey traverse the A K Alaska Range and enjoy stunning views of panoramic S A 284 vistas, wildlife, river valleys, and rocky gorges. On L HURRICANE A clear days, travelers may even see an incredible view 279 of Denali, North America’s tallest peak. 226 TALKEETNA Travelers may also choose to ride the Hurricane Turn Train the first Thursday of each month. The Hurricane Turn travels north from Anchorage past Talkeetna, to the backcountry where passengers may access hunting, skiing and remote cabins – or stay onboard ST to enjoy the views. RE FO L Susitna River WASILLA A N IO T A Both trains provide flagstop service along the 55-mile N H C A stretch north of Talkeetna to Hurricane. Knik Arm G U H ANCHORAGE C O K I N C O L E T POINTS OF INTEREST: MILEPOST 226 | TALKEETNA – Gateway to Denali MILEPOST 279 | DENALI – Photo opportunity Kenai River MILEPOST 284 | HURRICANE GULCH – The longest Kenai Lake bridge on the Alaska Railroad at 918 feet, and the Skilak Lake turnaround point for the Hurricane Turn Train MILEPOST 304 | BROAD PASS – The lowest pass across the Alaska Range – 2,300 feet S RD O RK FJ A I P MILEPOST 348 | DENALI NATIONAL PARK A L N A E N C K IO SURRE TION T RE A N BAY i ii AURORA WINTER TRAIN SCHEDULE AURORA WINTER TRAIN FARES NORTHBOUND, Saturdays | SOUTHBOUND, Sundays One way Adult Senior, Disabled & Children Sept. 22, 2018 - May 5, 2019 (Round trip is double) (12-64) (65+)/(2-11) NORTHBOUND, Tuesdays | SOUTHBOUND, Wednesdays Anchorage – Wasilla $65 $33 Nov. 20 - 21, 2018, Dec. 25 - 26, 2018, Anchorage – Talkeetna $77 $39 Jan. 1 - 2, 2019, Feb. 5 - March 27, 2019 Anchorage – Healy $141 $71 NORTHBOUND, Thursdays | SOUTHBOUND, Fridays Anchorage – Fairbanks $200 $100 Dec. 27 - 28, 2018, Feb. 7 - 8, 2019 & Feb. 28 - March 29, 2019 Wasilla – Anchorage $65 $33 NORTHBOUND SOUTHBOUND Wasilla – Talkeetna $77 $39 READ DOWN MILE STOPS READ UP 8:30 AM 114.3 Anchorage 8:00 PM Wasilla – Healy $141 $71 9:50 AM 159.8 Wasilla 6:25 PM Wasilla – Fairbanks $200 $100 11:25 AM 226.7 Talkeetna 4:50 PM Talkeetna – Anchorage $77 $39 11:50 AM 236.2 Chase 4:35 PM Talkeetna – Wasilla $77 $39 12:10 PM 248.5 Curry 4:15 PM Talkeetna – Healy $101 $51 12:23 PM 248.7 Deadhorse 4:03 PM 12:30 PM 257.7 Sherman 3:55 PM Talkeetna – Fairbanks $128 $64 12:40 PM 263.2 Gold Creek 3:45 PM Healy – Anchorage $141 $71 1:05 PM 268.4 Canyon 3:20 PM Healy – Wasilla $141 $71 1:14 PM 270 Twin Bridges 3:13 PM Healy – Talkeetna $101 $51 1:20 PM 273.8 Chulitna 3:05 PM Healy – Fairbanks $60 $30 1:40 PM 284 Hurricane 2:55 PM 3:55 PM 347.9 Denali 12:30 PM Fairbanks – Anchorage $200 $100 4:40 PM 358.7 Healy 11:45 AM Fairbanks – Wasilla $200 $100 5:55 PM 411.7 Nenana 10:20 AM Fairbanks – Talkeetna $128 $64 8:00 PM 470.3 Fairbanks 8:30 AM Fairbanks – Healy $60 $30 Fairbanks – Denali $76 $38 Onboard service: dining car and non-smoking cars. Baggage service provided in Anchorage and Fairbanks only. Wheelchair access provided in Denali - Fairbanks $76 $38 Anchorage, Wasilla, Talkeetna, Denali, Nenana, Healy and Fairbanks. Due to the nature of flagstop service, times may vary. For more information visit AlaskaRailroad.com/winter. The Alaska Railroad Corportation offers a Half Fare program for seniors (65+) and individuals with certain disabilities, allowing them to travel Aurora Winter Train runs on weekends, northbound on Saturdays, for half fare during the winter season. For more information about this southbound on Sundays, September 22, 2018 through May 5, 2019 program, please visit AlaskaRailroad.com/HalfFares. and select midweek dates (see above). © Mike Criss © Mike Dave Blazejewski Dave © 1 2 Richard B. Kelly Richard © HURRICANE TURN TRAIN SCHEDULE HURRICANE TURN TRAIN FARES October 4, 2018 - May 2, 2019 • First Thursday Senior, One way Adult Disabled & NORTHBOUND SOUTHBOUND (Round trip is double) (12-64) Children READ DOWN STOPS MILE READ UP (65+)/(2-11) 8:30* AM Anchorage 114.3 8:00 PM Anchorage – Wasilla $65 $33 9:50 AM Wasilla 159.8 6:25 PM Anchorage – Talkeetna $77 $39 11:25 AM Talkeetna 226.7 4:50 PM Anchorage – Hurricane $89 $45 1:40 PM Hurricane 284 2:45 PM Wasilla – Anchorage $65 $33 Wasilla – Talkeetna $77 $39 *On February 7 and March 7, the Hurricane Turn Train will depart at 9:30 AM. Due to the nature of flagstop service, times may vary. Baggage service provided Wasilla – Hurricane $89 $45 in Anchorage only. Wheelchair access provided in Anchorage, Wasilla and Talkeetna – Anchorage $77 $39 Talkeetna. No dining service onboard; please bring food with you. Hurricane Turn coupon books are available for $110. Each book contains 10 Talkeetna – Wasilla $77 $39 coupons; one coupon is valid for up to 20 miles of travel. Coupon books are valid for discounted adult fares only and may be used for points between Talkeetna and Talkeetna – Hurricane $51 $26 Hurricane. Adult coupons may be used for child, military, or senior fares; or, a separate child, military, or senior fare may be purchased instead. Hurricane – Anchorage $89 $45 Hurricane – Wasilla $89 $45 Hurricane – Talkeetna $51 $26 Anchorage/Wasilla - Hurricane (RT) $126 $63 Talkeetna - Hurricane (RT) $82 $41 RT= Round Trip 3 4 THE AURORA 7 nights Only available for departures on December 24, 2018, February 4 & 25, 2019 and March 4, 11, 18 & 25 2019 Monday through Sunday MONDAY – Arrive in Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city. FRIDAY – Take a guided tour of Fairbanks, Interior Explore the many downtown shops and restaurants. Alaska’s largest city. That evening, seek the northern Overnight in Anchorage. lights on a guided aurora lodge tour. Overnight in Fairbanks. TUESDAY – Board the Aurora Winter Train and travel north to Talkeetna, watching for views of Denali along SATURDAY – Enjoy a leisurely morning after a late the way. The day is yours to explore this small Alaskan night of aurora hunting. That afternoon, travel to town; opt to add on a flightseeing excursion of Denali Chena Hot Springs, where you can enjoy a soak as and the Alaska Range. Overnight in Talkeetna. well as another evening watching for the aurora. Overnight in Fairbanks. WEDNESDAY – Take a guided sled dog tour with an Iditarod champion kennel. Tonight offers another INCLUDES: Rail travel to Talkeetna and Fairbanks, opportunity to enjoy dinner along Talkeetna’s all accommodations, guided dogsledding, Chena charming Main Street. Hot Springs Aurora Tour, Fairbanks City Tour, Aurora Lodge Tour and transfers. THURSDAY – Continue your journey north aboard the Aurora Winter Train, departing Talkeetna in the late morning and arriving to Fairbanks that night. Along the way, travel along the edge of Denali National Park and traverse the Alaska Range. For tour price and booking details, visit: Overnight in Fairbanks. AlaskaRailroad.com/WinterTours 5 6 THE BOREALIS 8 nights Only available for departures on December 22, 2018, February 2, 2019 and March 2, 9, 16 & 23, 2019 Saturday through Saturday SATURDAY – Arrive in Fairbanks. Overnight in Interior Enjoy an evening exploring this small town’s charming Alaska’s largest city. Main Street. SUNDAY – Travel to Borealis Basecamp, an off-the- THURSDAY – Try your hand at Alaska’s state sport grid destination in a remote boreal forest. Stay in a on a guided dogsledding tour. Opt to add on one of comfortably appointed geodesic dome – complete with Talkeetna’s most renowned excursions: flightseeing clear, curved roofs to accommodate aurora viewing from Denali and the Alaska Range. Overnight in Talkeetna. the comfort of your warm bed. FRIDAY – The day is yours to explore Talkeetna before MONDAY – Enjoy a full day exploring Borealis departing aboard the Aurora Winter Train, bound for Basecamp; choose from guided dogsledding or Anchorage. Overnight in Anchorage. snowmobiling, or choose to add on fat tire biking or aurora photography course. Tonight brings another SATURDAY – Take a day to experience Alaska’s largest opportunity for world-class aurora viewing from your city and its surroundings. The excellent Anchorage private dome. Museum is well worth a visit for art and history lovers alike, or add on the Mountains and Musk Ox tour (page TUESDAY – Depart Borealis Basecamp for Chena Hot 22). Overnight in Anchorage. Springs, a popular Interior Alaska destination for visitors and locals alike. Overnight in Fairbanks. INCLUDES: Rail travel to Talkeetna and Anchorage, all accommodations, guided dogsledding, and transfers. WEDNESDAY – Board the Aurora Winter Train and travel south to Talkeetna, arriving in the late afternoon. For tour price and booking details, visit: AlaskaRailroad.com/WinterTours 7 8 TALKEETNA GETAWAY 1 night retreat – Talkeetna Weekends, late September 2018 – mid-May 2019 Select midweek dates available.