Our Mission
Our goal is to present you with a unique and untouched piece of one of Alaska’s treasures.
Being in the foothills of Denali (formerly Mount McKinley), amidst the untamed wilderness this “Last Frontier,” has enabled us to provide this amazing piece of Alaska. Our goal is to present you with, both a depiction of Alaska’s rustic past and the beauty of how it stands today.
Our History
Steve Mahay founded Mahay’s Riverboat Service in 1975 after homesteading off the grid and living off the land for five years. Back then he had a 16’ Jon boat with a 20 hp outboard motor and set up a sign “guide for hire” in town. With his vision for river travel and savvy business sense, his one boat operation grew to what it is today. He was the first person to ever successfully navigate the Devil’s Canyon in a jet boat, as well as the first and only person to navigate the Talkeetna Canyon. Video below by Evan Swenson
Currently, our fleet consists of six inboard jet boats which have all been custom-made for us in Tacoma, Washington & Lewiston, Idaho. Our staff currently consists of 20-25 employees. The business has immensely grown due to the fact that we pride ourselves in offering nothing but the best in equipment, a professional and highly trained staff and personalized service.
Our Operation
We are based out of the village of Talkeetna where the Susitna, Talkeetna and Chulitna Rivers meet. From our location we access over 200 miles of remote wilderness.
Due to the diversity of our waters, our inboard jet boats have been custom-designed for safety and comfort by Steve Mahay. We operate 24’, 27’, 33′, 44’ and 47′ boats that travel at an average cruising speed of 35 mph.
Perfectly suited for our shallow braided rivers, these boats require only inches of water to operate, allowing us to access many tributary streams that may seem impassable.
Our guides are licensed captains by the U.S. Coast Guard and our vessels are Coast Guard inspected. Our guides bring to you years of local experience insuring you a safe and professional trip.
Please visit the link to read a current write up about Steve Mahay by Hudson Lindenberger
