Accessing the River

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Judd Lake: You have 3 choices when planning a trip to the Talachulitna River. Judd Lake is the head water put-in for a 7 day or longer float trip. Most air taxis from Anchorage and Willow or Wasilla will put you in on this lake. The only public area where you can set your gear up is near the lake outlet where the water flows into the Talachulitna Creek. There is a lodge on the west side of the creek and the public land is on the east side. Some air taxis like to put you off on the upper west side by the creek coming into the lake. This is private land and without permission from the owner you'll be trespassing.

Mid-point: If you are looking for a 3-5 day float fishing trip and the conditions are right, the mid-point area has float plane access just below the river's mid-point lodges. The river can become too low for float plane access even in early July so this option can be iffy at best. Many a trip has been rerouted to another river or Judd Lake due to the mid Tal being too low. When you do go in at the mid point, stay on the gravel bar to the west as there is private land on the east bank.

Skwentna River: Access to the lodges and stationary camping on one of the gravel bars at the mouth of the Talachulitna River is via the Skwentna River, a glacial west/east flowing river with currents in the 5-7 mph range. The access is about 2.5 miles down river from the Tal's mouth requiring a boat or arrangments from one of the lodges or an air taxi that has access to a boat at the "Take Out", as it's called, to get you and your gear on the river. If you have your own boat or access to one, boating up to the Tal from Deshka Landing along the Susitna drainage is possible and done all the time. The hardest part is running the Skwentna River with all of its numerous braids. Local guides will take you in by boat if that fits your needs.