Mat-Su Valley Blog

Temperatures are climbing and the snow will start melting soon. We're still waiting for ice to clear from the lakes and buds to appear on the trees. Summer is so close we can almost taste it. With their eye fixed on the warmer months ahead, residents in The Mat-Su are hard at work planning...

The Knik River Valley is one of The Mat-Su'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 Alaska Glacier Lodge, which has amazing views of the Chugach Mountains and Knik...

Every spring, thousands of migrating raptors are funneled through a passage between The Mat-Su's great mountain ranges in the Glacier View area. Fields of lingering snow reflect that brilliant northern sunlight upward, casting a glow on the passing birds of prey that fill the skies from March well...

As the winter daylight continues to lengthen, some of us can't help thinking about warmer days ahead and summer adventures to be had. There is still plenty of snow, though, and the lakes remain quite frozen. If, like me, you have a passion for paddling Alaska's scenic waterways, the lingering winter...

Communities across the United States have participated in Audubon's Christmas Bird Count for over a century. Wherever your travels take you during the holidays, there's likely a Christmas Bird Count you can participate in. This holds true in The Mat-Su. Conducted by the local Mat-Su Birders club,...

At this time of year, we often get asked, "Is Hatcher Pass open, even though there's not much snow in Wasilla?" 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 that leads...

Every year ski enthusiasts purchase their season passes to the Skeetawk downhill ski area. It's that much fun! One of Skeetawk's challenges, as with any resort, has been occasional insufficient snow conditions. Even in a region like The Mat-Su, where great snow is a defining feature, sometimes a...

It's just like clockwork. Autumn colors return to The Mat-Su Alaska and the fall bird migration begins. As soon as snows appear in our Glacier View area, massive flocks of snow geese take to the skies and start heading southward. This is just one of many bird species that spend their summers in...

Temperatures are climbing and the snow is melting, but we're still waiting for ice to clear from the lakes and buds to appear on the trees. Summer is so close we can almost taste it. With their eye fixed on the warmer months ahead, Mat-Su Valley residents are hard at work planning activities and...

When people tell us about the adventures they'd like to have in Alaska, it's amazing how often they assume the activity is not for them because they've never done it before. That shouldn't make an activity feel unapproachable, though! Remember that ice climbers, white water rafters, backpackers,...