Loading map...
MCG → ANI
Which side of the plane to sit from McGrath Airport (Mcgrath) to Aniak Airport (Aniak)?
Right Side of the Plane
The Right Side provides a front-row seat to the intricate oxbow lakes and dramatic meanders of the Kuskokwim River, backdropped by the Horn Mountains.
Kuskokwim River Meanders
Stunning views of the river's serpentine path, featuring complex loops and silt patterns.
The Horn Mountains
Sharp, rocky peaks that rise prominently to the northwest of the flight path.
Oxbow Lakes
Dozens of horseshoe-shaped lakes formed by the river's historical shifting course.
Remote Fish Camps
Look closely for small clearings and docks along the riverbanks used by local subsistence fishers.
Sit on the right for the most dynamic views of the river's geometry. In winter, the frozen river looks like a massive white highway. Keep your eyes peeled for the Horn Mountains roughly halfway through the flight, which provide the most dramatic elevation contrast on the route.
Kuskokwim Mountains
Expansive views of the rugged mountain ridges that define the interior Alaskan landscape.
Vast Boreal Taiga
Continuous stretches of spruce and birch forest stretching toward the southern horizon.
Oskawalik River Basin
Aerial perspective of remote tributaries flowing from the high country into the main valley.
Alpine Tundra
Views of the high-altitude vegetation zones that change color dramatically with the seasons.
Morning flights offer the best lighting for photography on the left side, as the sun illuminates the eastern slopes of the Kuskokwim range. During autumn, look for vibrant yellow and orange patches in the valley floors indicating changing willow and birch leaves.
Distance: 254 km (158 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 25 min
Departure: MCG (62.95289993, -155.60600280000003)
Arrival: ANI (61.58160018920898, -159.54299926757812)
Route Type: Domestic
Thank you for booking your travels through our travel partners. The commissions from your bookings keep this site running.