Talkeetna Taste & Tour

An Immersive Talkeetna Food Tour And Agritourism Experience in Alaska’s Boreal Forest.

Step into one of Alaska’s most unique food experiences at our Birch Syrup Taste, Tour & Shop. Located just one mile off the Parks Highway on your way into Talkeetna, this immersive stop offers a rare look at how we harvest and craft one of the most complex syrups in the world.

On your guided tour, walk through our working birch operation and discover how sap is sustainably harvested each spring from the surrounding boreal forest. You’ll see our modern vacuum tubing system in action and learn how this delicate, low-sugar sap is transformed into rich, deeply flavored birch syrup.

The experience finishes with a tasting—where you’ll sample the full range of our Kahiltna Birchworks birch syrups, from bright and delicate early run to bold, caramelized late run.

After the tour, continue exploring in our retail shop. Enjoy our signature birch ice cream, browse our Alaska Gold birch caramels and small-batch confections, and discover a curated selection of Alaska-made specialty foods—from wild berry jams and fireweed honey to smoked salmon, roasted coffee, and chaga tea. You’ll also find handcrafted goods, functional art, and gifts that reflect the character of the North. And if you find something you love, we’re happy to ship it home.

Birch Syrup Tasting and Tour Details:

Tour Availability

  • May 15–September 15: Tours are offered daily between 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., generally beginning on the hour.
  • September 16–May 14: Tours are available by reservation only with at least 24 hours’ notice and are subject to staffing availability.
  • Duration: Approximately 35–45 minutes
  • Price: $15 per person; children 12 and under are free.

Reservations

Reservations are strongly encouraged during the summer season and required for parties of six or more and tour buses. From September 16 through May 14, all tours require a reservation. Please call 907-733-1409 at least 24 hours in advance.

Shop Hours

  • May–September: Open daily, 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
  • October–April: Open Thursday–Monday, 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Short on time? Visit our shop during regular business hours for complimentary samples of our gourmet Alaska birch products. No tour reservation is required to taste and shop.

Discover the joys and challenges of birch syrup harvest and experience Alaska in a way you never have before. Taste, learn, and shop—there’s no better way to experience the Last Frontier!

Taste, Tour, and Enjoy!

Red building with Kahiltna Birchworks sign and outdoor seating area.
Person wearing a face mask sitting at a counter in a cafe with an ice cream menu on the wall at the Kahiltna Birchworks shop.
Outdoor setting with a fire pit and garden area near a wooden cabin outside Kahitlan Birchworks shop.
Bowl of ice cream with birch syrup drizzle on a wooden surface

WE SERVE ICE CREAM!

Our local fan-favorite birch ice cream, crafted by Big Dipper Homemade Ice Cream, is a must-try treat! You can enjoy this unique flavor along with other delicious options, like Alaska Wild Berry. Top your ice cream with our signature syrups and brittles for the ultimate indulgence.

Relax on our inviting porch, surrounded by beautiful gardens, as you enjoy a truly Alaskan experience. It’s the perfect spot to savor the taste of the wild while taking in the serene beauty of Talkeetna

Alaska Made Gift Shop

At the heart of our shop is what we’re known for: exceptional, Alaska-made specialty foods—led by our signature line from Kahiltna Birchworks, the world’s preeminent producer of birch syrup.

Harvested each spring from the boreal forests surrounding Talkeetna, our birch syrup is one of the rarest and most complex syrups in the world. Taste the full range—from bright, delicate early run to rich, deeply caramelized late run—and experience the ingredient that has defined our craft for over 30 years. You’ll also find our Alaska Gold birch caramels, small-batch confections, and seasonal specialties that highlight the depth and versatility of birch.

And no visit is complete without trying our birch ice cream—crafted to showcase the rich, caramelized notes of our late run syrup. It’s a guest favorite and one of the most delicious ways to experience birch for the first time.

Beyond our own products, we’ve curated a selection of Alaska’s best food makers. Discover wild-caught smoked salmon, locally roasted coffee, handcrafted chocolates, fruit preserves, and chaga tea—all sourced from producers who share a commitment to quality and place.

For something truly unique, explore our line of birch sap beverages—a refreshing expression of Alaska’s spring harvest and a glimpse into the future of birch.

Whether you’re tasting your way through the shop or picking out gifts to bring home, everything we offer is rooted in Alaska and built around flavor, craftsmanship, and story. And if you find something you love, we’re happy to ship it anywhere.

Shelf displaying various birch syrup bottles and products in a store setting
Garden bed with stone and wooden border filled with plants and vegetables, surrounded by a natural landscape.

LOCATION AND HOURS

Come visit our shop!

Visit our Taste, Tour & Shop at 38139 S. Talkeetna Spur Road in Talkeetna, Alaska, conveniently located just one mile from the Parks Highway. We offer ample parking and easy access for cars, buses, and RVs.

Shop Hours

  • May–September: Open daily, 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
  • October–April: Open Thursday–Monday, 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

From May 15 through September 15, tours are offered daily between 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., generally beginning on the hour. From September 16 through May 14, tours are available by reservation only with at least 24 hours’ notice and are subject to staff availability.

For questions or tour reservations, call 907-733-1409 for our Talkeetna location or 907-754-2700 for our Palmer Birch Factory during regular business hours. We can’t wait to welcome you!

FROM OUR CUSTOMERS…

Great tastings and short informative videoTrip Advisor Review

Pulled off because we saw the sign and ended up shipping $160 of delicious items back home. Great little shop where the products are locally grown, harvested and made. We tasted lots of good items. They also have a short video that explains the process of collecting the birch sap and the process for making the syrup and other items. Nice little find along the side of the road into Talkeetna.

Stopped on a WhimTrip Advisor Review

I had never heard of birch syrup before, so on our way into Talkeetna, we decided to stop and check it out. We noticed the white buckets hanging from the trees on the way in. Interesting shop and lots of things to taste. With their offer of flat rate shipping, we purchased several local things to ship home, including the syrup. Well worth the stop.

Taking our friends to see AlaskaTrip Advisor Review

Thank you, Michael and Josey, for a great presentation. Thanks for teaching about the difference between first and last run flavor. Your product is amazing. This is a MUST SEE if you're in the area. Love all of the Alaskan products for sale.

Nice Gardens and Good Ice Cream!Trip Advisor Review

I've been driving past this place for years and never knew that they had fresh made ice cream in unique flavors, including their own birch syrup flavor! You've got to try it if you have any sense of adventure. They also have all sorts of birch syrup samplers in addition to other Alaskan souvenirs. The garden and bench area outside is cool and shaded and a nice place to hang out while you eat your ice cream. It's definitely worth a stop for some ice cream on a hot summer day if you're headed to or from Talkeetna.

Great tastings and short informative videoTrip Advisor Review

Pulled off because we saw the sign and ended up shipping $160 of delicious items back home. Great little shop where the products are locally grown, harvested and made. We tasted lots of good items. They also have a short video that explains the process of collecting the birch sap and the process for making the syrup and other items. Nice little find along the side of the road into Talkeetna.