Visitor Guide
Come Experience Alaska with us! View Mat-Su Valley's Visitor Guide.
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Find lodging, dining, activities, attractions and more in each region of the Mat-Su Valley. More Info
Ski, Snowboard and Snowshoe Trails
Nordic skiers can kick it up along hundreds of groomed ski trails while snowshoers breakground 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 skiing from Government Peak and Mile 16 Trail; cross-country ski at Independence Mine, Reed Lakes, Craigie Creek and Gold Mint Trail; 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 Mount McKinley 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
Helpful resources
So you're planning a trip to Alaska and need some help getting started. You've come to the right place! More Info
Maps and more
Find Alaska Highway maps and mileage chart for distances between destination points within the Mat-Su… More Info
Great outdoors
Discover more about boating, rafting, fishing, flightseeing and how to get into the backcountry of… More Info
Denali Flightseeing
Alaska's majestic scenery appears magnified from a Cessna window and the vantage point makes for good… More Info
glaciers
You can see a glacier just about anywhere in Alaska. But in the Mat-Su Valley, you can actually get out… More Info
Alaska Rafting
Uncover hidden jewels only accessible by boat. Hover in rapids through canyons, see glaciers calve fall… More Info
Dining in Mat-Su
Fine dining to cafes and everything in between. Don't be surprised if your portions are Alaska-sized.… More Info
Yahoo Mat-Su! Where Alaska comes to play
The Mat-Su Valley is your place for adventure. From flightseeing Mount McKinley to rafting the Matanuska River, excitement is right around every corner. Spectacular views abound, from mountains to glaciers to wildlife. Conveniently located 35 miles north of Anchorage, your Alaska experience begins when you get to the Mat-Su Valley. Spend a day exploring Hatcher Pass, test your luck fishing or take advantage of the bountiful hiking. The Mat-Su Valley - where Alaska comes to play!
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You'll find a wide variety of lodging options to fit your preferences and budget. Choose from comfo...
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View our online vacancy report.
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Looking for an event to attend? Our calendar of events will give you many options to choose from.
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Alaska adventure is everywhere in the Mat-Su Valley! Summer and winter you will find a wide variety...
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Three mountain ranges... 2,000 miles of trails... thousands of lakes... hundreds of miles of rivers...
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Choose from fine dining to down home cafes and everything in between. Many of these restaurants use...
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Mark the occasion of your Alaska visit with a special keepsake that tells the story of your adventu...
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Alaska winters are spectacular in the Mat-Su Valley. Alpenglow sunsets over Denali, winter ice fish...
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Check out our brand new Visitors Guide!