Alaska Fishing & Heli Skiing | Tordrillo Mountain Lodge

Kings & Corn: Alaska Fishing and Heli Skiing

There is nothing like June in Alaska. And we know we’re not supposed to pick favorites, but after 20 years of skiing corn snow in the morning and fishing for king salmon at night, it’s pretty difficult to not love Kings and Corn. For one month only, you can cast and carve your way through the day with summer heli skiing plus guided fly-in fishing for the legendary Alaska king salmon on the prolific Talachulitna River. Under the June midnight sun, the action doesn’t stop unless you want it to.

Skiing in June above susitna valley

Summer Heli Skiing in the Morning: Corn Snow Skiing

Corn snow, the result of melt-freeze cycles, is ideal for Alaska heli skiing and boarding—and it holds up well in our margaritas. Pebble-size kernels of softening ice have a soft carve-able surface and our guides are experienced harvesters who know how to predict the best timing for the best locations. Count on corn runs during the morning hours, or at the end of the day, after the cooling has refrozen the round crystals. One Kings and Corn highlight is experiencing a carve-able surface for t-shirt skiing in 75 degrees.

Cast a Line in the Afternoon: King Salmon Fishing

The weather can often dictate what activity we will pursue. Whether we’re skiing or fishing, we have you covered! Some days we will combine king salmon fishing and skiing on the same day. Other days, if the weather keeps us out of the mountains, we’ll launch heli rafting trips, landing you and your friends along the river and float sections of the Talachulitna river. Fishing along the way for kings, rainbow trout and grayling. Some sections even include splashy whitewater. When the daily activities wrap up, it’s back to the lodge for apps, drinks and dinner. If you haven’t had enough, there’s plenty of daylight to end your day behind the master craft, stand up paddling, canoeing or kayaking around the glassy lake. Listen for the loons as the sun sets around 1 a.m.!

a kid catches a king salmon on the talchalitna river

Summer in Alaska FAQs

  • When is the summer season at Tordrillo Mountain Lodge?

    The summer season runs from July through September. Our winter season is February through April, and our Kings and Corn season is June. Learn more about our dates and rates.

  • What are typical summer ski conditions in Alaska?

    Summer ski conditions are corn snow and weather is typically stable. Temperatures vary between 40 and 60 degrees F. Learn more about snow and terrain at Tordrillo Mountain Lodge.

  • What is the daily schedule for Tordrillo Mountain Lodge summer packages?

    Guests are picked up in downtown Anchorage on the morning of their arrival and driven to the float plane base. From there, they load up in our Turbine Otter floatplane and take a 35 minute flight to Tordrillo Mountain Lodge. Then, guests receive helicopter safety briefing and property orientation with the lodge manager and head out into the field for their first day of adventure! We fish both in the morning and the evenings, depending on the weather conditions of the day. Afternoon activities include massage, spa, water sports and après fish. Meals are served at the lodge in the morning and evenings each day.

    Expect long days and little sleep as the fun never stops under the midnight sun! After activities, guests return to the lodge, where there is time for spa services, a massage, and après fish before dinner. On the morning of their departure date, guests are flown back to Lake Hood, where guests are transferred to the Anchorage International Airport or an Anchorage location of their choice.

  • How warm does Alaska get in summer?

    During summer, daytime temperatures in Alaska can range from 60°F – 80°F. Nighttime lows can dip to 40°F – 50°F. It’s important to note that in May and September temperatures can be 5°- 10° cooler.

What Others Are Saying

“If you are unfamiliar with corn snow, it is a varietal not to miss — surrender to the call of the corn. Baked in the sun and refrozen multiple times, corn snow, when ripe and ready to ski, allows you to carve perfect “S” turns on its blank canvas. Your superhero powers take over and you execute one beautiful turn after another.”

— SNOW Magazine

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