Mat-Su Valley Blog

If you’re planning a trip to Alaska, chances are Anchorage is on your radar. But just an hour north of the city lies one of Alaska’s best-kept secrets: The Mat-Su—a massive, wild playground packed with glaciers, alpine passes, charming towns, and off-the-beaten-path adventures. Here are 7...

Summer is officially here, and everyone is looking to get out and enjoy the sun. The Mat-Su Valley has countless ways to enjoy the great outdoors, but here are seven of our all-time favorites. 1. Head to Hatcher Pass. There may not be a more beautiful - and accessible - spot in Alaska! Whether you...

The Glacier View region contains one of the Mat-Su Valley's greatest gems. Matanuska Glacier is the largest road accessible glacier and there are a variety of ways to explore it from a highway side overlook with interpretive signs all the way to a winter trek into one of its frozen drainage tunnels....

This summer, get out and enjoy some of your favorite hiking trails and win as part of the Soles in the Backcountry event from AKtive Soles Performance Footwear in Palmer. The event runs through September and features many popular hikes, outdoor adventures and this year, a vertical challenge. To...

After a long and crazy winter, the weather is starting to turn, the snow is melting and our thoughts are naturally turning to summer adventures. Alaska summers seem to go way too fast, so we are making a checklist to make sure we get out and don't miss a thing this summer! With that in mind, here's...

Independence Mine in Hatcher Pass opens to the public on Friday, June 18, kicking off a summer of activity in one of the Mat-Su Valley's most iconic locations. Salmon Berry Travel and Tours, a leading Alaska-owned tour operator based in Anchorage, is operating the recreation area this summer for a...

A hidden gem in the Valley's trail system is also one of it's newest - Settlers Bay Coastal Park, just eight miles from Wasilla. The 295-acre Settlers Bay Coastal Park features something for nearly every outdoor recreationalist - hiking trails, mountain biking, views of the Chugach Mountains and the...

Right beside one of the busiest highways in Alaska, the Glenn Highway, you'll find peace and serenity at Reflections Lake, which is one of the Mat-Su Valley's hidden gems. The lake is located at the Knik River Access ramp just north of Palmer on the Glenn Highway. Despite it being right beside the...

Thanks to the Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation, a wide range of Mat-Su area trail maps are available in a convenient smartphone app. OuterSpatial is available for both iOS and Android platforms. It is a national app, but delivers localized content based on user's location. For the Mat-Su Valley,...

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....