Talkeetna Mountains

{{Short description|Mountain range in Alaska}} {{Use American English|date=February 2026}} {{More citations needed|date=December 2009}} {{Infobox mountain | name = Talkeetna Mountains | other_name = Dghelaay tahwt’aene | image = Talkeetna Mountains 3.jpg | image_alt = Talkeetna Mountains, from the Parks Highway | image_caption = Talkeetna Mountains, from the Parks Highway | map = USA Alaska | highest = Sovereign Mountain | elevation_ft = 8849 | elevation_ref = | elevation_system = | prominence_ft = | prominence_ref = | listing = | coordinates = {{Coord|62|22|22|N|148|43|46|W}} | coordinates_ref =  | length_mi = | length_orientation = | length_ref = | width_mi = | width_orientation = | width_ref = | area_mi2 = | area_ref =  | etymology = | nickname = | native_name = | native_name_lang =  | translation = | pronunciation = | country = United States | state = Alaska | region_type = | region =  | district_type = | district =  | part_type = | part =  | range_coordinates = {{Coord|62|2|N|147|54|W|type:mountain|display=it}} | range_coordinates_ref = | range = | borders_on = | topo_maker = | topo_map = | biome =  | formed_by = | orogeny = | age = | type = | geology = }}

The '''Talkeetna Mountains''' (''Dghelaay tahwt’aene'' in Ahtna) ({{Coord|62|2|N|147|54|W|type:mountain}}) are a mountain range in Alaska. The Matanuska and Susitna River valleys, with towns such as Trapper Creek, Talkeetna, Wasilla, Palmer, Sutton, and Chickaloon, roughly bound the Talkeetnas in the westerly parts of the range. Sovereign Mountain rises to {{convert|8849|ft|m}} in the remote and heavily glaciated central part of the range.

== Appearance == The east side of the range fronts a broad, about {{convert|100|mi|km}} wide, lake-studded lowland of forests and swamps, across which rises the gigantic Mount Wrangell ({{convert|14163|ft|m}}) volcanic edifice. Alaska Highway 4 runs northward through this lowland. Hundreds of miles to the west Alaska Highway 3 runs along the western side of the Talkeetna range, with the Alaska Range directly west.

Alaska Highway 1, running along the southern front of the Talkeetna Mountains, lies mainly in a valley marking a tectonic divide between the Jurassic and Cretaceous rocks of the accretionary wedge, island-arc, and basement rocks in the Peninsular terrane (and other terranes forming the Talkeetna Mountains), and the Chugach Mountains in the Chugach terrane to the south. The range stretches as much as a hundred miles north to south.<ref>[http://www.peakbagger.com/range.aspx?rid=1040 "Talkeenta Mountains"]. Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 26 December 2009.</ref> Alaska Highway 8, seasonal and unpaved, passes over highlands rising to above {{convert|4000|ft|m}}, north of the Talkeetnas.

Hatcher Pass, a seasonal highway pass across the southwestern corner of the range, provides views into the glaciated interior of the range, and is the location of Independence Mine State Historical Park.

== Fauna == The majority of the land is state-owned, and it is home to many large mammals including grizzly/brown bears, black bears, moose, caribou, wolves, wolverines, and Dall sheep.<ref>[https://dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/planning/areaplans/susitna/pdf/talkeetna_overview.pdf "Talkeetna Mountains Subregion"]. Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Mining, Land and Water. Retrieved 26 December 2009.</ref>

==Notable peaks== [[File:Troublemint and Doublemint Peaks in the Talkeetna Range of Alaska.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Troublemint and Doublemint peaks]] * Sovereign Mountain (8849 ft.)<ref name=pb>[http://www.peakbagger.com/range.aspx?rid=1040 Peakbagger.com: Talkeetna Range] Retrieved 8 December 2012.</ref> * White Knight Peak (8450 ft.)<ref name=pb /> * Tyrant's Tor (8150 ft.)<ref name=pb /> * Mount Apollo (7950 ft.)<ref name=pb /> * Mount Monarch (7108 ft.)<ref name=pb /> * Granite Peak (6729 ft.)<ref name=pb /> * Lala Mountain (6620 ft.)<ref name=pb /> * Gunsight Mountain (6441 ft.)<ref name=pb /> * Mount Watana (6255 ft.)<ref name=pb /> * Sheep Mountain (6223 ft.)<ref name=pb /> * Government Peak (4781 ft.)<ref name=pb />

==Notable glaciers== [[File:Hikers crossing Penny Royal Glacier.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Penny Royal Glacier]] * Chickaloon Glacier * Talkeetna Glacier * [https://www.alaska.org/detail/mint-glacier Mint Glacier] * Snowbird Glacier * Bomber Glacier * Penny Royal Glacier

==Gallery== <gallery> File:Snowbird Glacier Hut.jpg|The Snowbird Glacier Hut File:Upper Reed Lake time lapse.ogv| Upper Reed Lake time lapse video File:Lower Reed Lake.jpg|Lower Reed Lake, on the popular Reed Lakes trail File:Mint Glacier Hut.JPG|The Mint Glacier Hut </gallery>

==See also== {{Commons category}} * Matanuska Formation

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Articles containing video clips Category:Mountain ranges of Alaska Category:Mountains of Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska