Mat-Su Valley Blog

At this time of year, we often get asked, "Is Hatcher Pass open?" The answer is YES! And to be honest, it's a great time to visit one of Alaska's most scenic places. Hatcher Pass remains open year-round, although with a few caveats. The road over the pass closed on Oct. 1, so you can't drive from...

With the end of summer comes a new season - aurora watching. And the season got off to a great start, as amazing displays of the northern lights have been seen in the skies over the Mat-Su Valley for more than a week. The northern lights are a natural phenomenon that have to be seen to truly be...

Alaskans love summer, for good reason. But don't sleep on fall - there's a ton of great activities going on in the Mat-Su Valley in late September and early October. Here are five of our favorite things to do once summer is over, but winter is still a month or two down the road: 1. Take a hike....

The Knik River Valley is one of the Mat-Su Valley's hidden gems, and the recreation opportunities are endless. The Knik River Valley is accessible by Knik River Road, off the Old Glenn Highway. At the end of the road is Knik River Lodge , which has amazing views of the Chugach Mountains and Knik...

There is a crispness in the air, as summer says good-bye to the Valley. Now is a great time to explore the Valley and take a scenic drive that bursts with color. One of our favorite drives is the Glenn Highway National Scenic Byway, from Palmer north all the way to Lake Louise. It truly lives up to...

Giant cabbages, big name concerts and racing pigs - the Alaska State Fair enters its final weekend of 2018, and the schedule is jam packed with entertainment. The headlining concerts include Bishop Briggs on Friday, country sensation Luke Combs on Saturday, comedian Jim Gaffigan on Sunday and...

The 2018 Alaska State Fair starts Aug. 23, and that means 12 days of concerts, exhibits, contests, fair food and overall fun! Throughout the entire fair, there are events held daily. Kids will love the Age of Dinosaurs exhibit in the Sheldon Events Center (there are shows at 2, 5 and 7 p.m. daily)...

Don't have a weekend to devote to hiking? That's not a problem in the Wasilla and Palmer area, as there are several great hiking opportunities just minutes from town. Here are our five favorites: 1. Hatcher Pass. This is an easy choice! There are countless ways to explore Hatcher Pass, and there are...

Reserving a public-use cabin in the Mat-Su Valley just got easier and more convenient. The Alaska State Parks are now offering online reservations for all Mat-Su area public-use cabins, as well as spots at two popular campgrounds. The new system was put in place a few weeks ago. The public-use...

Getting there is half the fun when it comes to any destination along the Glenn Highway, which leads north out of Palmer. The Glenn Highway has been designated a National Scenic Byway for good reason - the views along the way are absolutely breathtaking, including mountains, glaciers and rivers. It's...