Ski, Snowboard and Snowshoe Trails

Nordic skiers can kick it up along hundreds of groomed ski trails while snowshoers break ground through snow-laden forests and extreme skiers and snowboarders tackle some of Alaska's most diverse and challenging backcountry terrain.

ALASKA TRAIL AND BACKCOUNTRY TERRAIN HIGHLIGHTS

Crevasse Moraine Trail, Wasilla
Moderate/difficult trail network across ridges and depressions formed by glaciers.
Activity: cross-country skiing, skijoring
Access: Loma Prieta Drive, Palmer-Wasilla Highway
Winter Trails: Groomed 10K cross-country trail system with 13 interconnected loops of varying terrain.
Info: Matanuska Susitna Borough, www.matsugov.us

Nancy Lake State Recreation Area, Willow
Nearly 40 miles of maintained trails cover gently rolling terrain, forested hills and open swamps.
Activity: Snowmachining, dog mushing, cross country skiing and snowshoeing
Access: Winter Trailhead, mile 2.2 on the Nancy Lake Parkway
Winter Trails: 10 miles restricted to skiing plus 30 miles maintained for multi-use trails including Red Shirt Lake Trail, Lynx Lake Loop Trail, Bald Lake Trail, Parkway Trail, Jano Pond Loop and Rhein Lake Loop
Info: Alaska Department of Natural Resources

Hatcher Pass Recreation Area
Largely unspoiled, Hatcher Pass is known by locals as a winter recreation Mecca with an extended season and plenty of powder prime for cross country and alpine adventures.
Activities: snowshoeing, skiing, sledding, Snow Cat skiing, sledding backcountry snowboarding and alpine skiing, telemark skiing, dog mushing, skijoring, snowmobiling (in specified areas)
Access: Wasilla-Fishhook Road or Palmer-Fishhook Road
Winter Trails: Downhill ski from Skeetawk Ski Area or Mile 16 Trail; cross-country ski at Independence Mine, Reed Lakes, Craigie Creek, Gold Mint Trail and Government Peak Recreation Area; Skijor along Archangel Road; snowmachine routes from Motherload Lodge or Archangel Road.
Info: Alaska Department of Natural Resources

Matanuska Peak Trail, Palmer
Moderate/difficult, steep hiking trail that traverses the south slope of Lazy Mountain with a vertical rise of 5,670 ft. in just over four miles.
Activities: snowshoeing, backcountry skiing
Access: south end Smith Road, Old Glenn Highway
Info: Matanuska Susitna Borough, www.matsugov.us

Lake Lucille Park Trail System, Wasilla
Ski or snowshoe across gentle terrain, through open fields and heavily wooded forests.
Activities: cross-country skiing, skijoring, snowshoeing
Access: North end of Endeavor Road, Wasilla
Winter trails: 2.5 km of trails built around the perimeter of the park and connecting Lake Lucille on the north side of the park.
Info: Matanuska Susitna Borough, www.matsugov.us

Talkeetna Trails
Follow a peaceful 10k loop through historic downtown Talkeetna and back.
Activity: snowshoeing, cross-country skiing
Access: Mile 12.1 of the Talkeetna Spur Road, east on Comsat Road. 
Winter trails: River Trail and Old RCA Trail, Larson Lake Trail,Ridge Trail.
Info: Matanuska Susitna Borough, www.matsugov.us

Trapper Creek - Petersville Trails
A multi-use winter trail system with more than 50 miles combined trail through swamps and a black spruce forest, beneath the shadows of Denali and the Alaska Range
Activities: Snowmachining, dog mushing, cross-country skiing and skijoring
Access: Milepost 121.5 Parks Highway, Milepost 11 Petersville Road or Milepost 11.5 Petersville Road
Winter Trails: East-West Express Trail, Safari Lake Trail, Kroto-Bunco Trails
Info: Matanuska Susitna Borough, www.matsugov.us