Mat-Su Valley Blog

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...

In your conversations about epic Alaska road trips, the Mat-Su is bound to come up. Navigated by three of the state's major highways, this region calls to every road trip adventurer out there. And it doesn't get much better than a trip along the Glenn Highway National Scenic Byway. Getting there is...

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,...

The world's longest snowmobile race officially kicks off next week in Big Lake, as the Iron Dog roars to a start. Pro Class racers hit the trail starting on Saturday, Feb. 15, followed by the Expedition Class. Pro Class racers will line up at the starting chute and depart in 2-minute intervals, with...

If you get a chance to stand on top of the Butte (a fairly easy, short hike just outside of Palmer), try to imagine how different your vantage point would have been way back when it was surrounded by glacier ice. Glaciers carved out the Mat-Su Valley long ago. Though they've obviously receded quite...

If you have always wanted to experience the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race from a musher's perspective, the Iditarider auction is the perfect thing for you, but you better act fast - the bidding ends in two weeks. The auction, sponsored by the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, allows people to bid on the...

I recently took a canoe trip down the Little Susitna River (Little Su) in the Mat-Su Valley. Getting out into nature always recharges my batteries and the Mat-Su Valley has "chargers" to spare when it comes to natural beauty. I'm often hiking the trails or photographing the abundant wildlife around...

Even during the summer, you can still have a dog mushing experience during a visit to the Mat-Su Valley. From visiting with Iditarod champions to petting newborn huskies, Iditarod and dog mushing is a year-round event in Alaska. Dog mushing is Alaska's official state sport, but more than that, it's...

Outside there are clear signs of warmer days ahead, but there is still plenty of snow and the lakes remain quite frozen. Those with a passion for Alaska's scenic water bodies and peaceful streams can find this time of year just a tad frustrating. The days may be warming up, but the raft is still...

The first two weeks of August brings the peak of the silver salmon season in the Mat-Su Valley, a great time to have some fun on the water and have some fresh salmon fillets for the grill. Silvers - also known as coho salmon - are popular because they provide a lot of action on the river, and they...