Mat-Su Valley Blog

With the end of summer comes a new season - aurora watching. The season has gotten off to an early start, as aurora were spotted in late August and periodically through September already. The northern lights are a natural phenomenon that have to be seen to truly be appreciated. When the darker...

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...

The Mat-Su Valley is a recreational boater's paradise, with opportunities to paddle a kayak or canoe around almost every bend in the road. A fast-growing national trend, stand-up paddleboarding, is also a great way to enjoy the lakes of the Mat-Su Valley. There are several state recreational areas...

The Nancy Lakes State Recreation Area is one of the crown jewels of the Alaska State Parks system and offers visitors a multitude of outdoor recreation opportunities, from canoeing and kayaking to fishing, birding, wildlife viewing and hiking. The area is located off the Parks Highway (Hwy. 3) near...

Visitors can now get a live look-in on what's happening in Denali State Park, thanks to a new webcam at Kesugi Ken Campground. The camera went live last week, and will allow visitors to see the Alaska Range and Denali on a clear day, from the campground's parking lot. You can view the webcam HERE....

With summer right around the corner, it's time to start planning road trips. The Mat-Su Valley is an ideal destination for RVers looking for scenic wonder and camping opportunities. There are several companies that rent RVs in Anchorage, so even if you don't own one, there are still opportunities to...

Byers Lake, tucked into Denali State Park, is an outdoor enthusiast's paradise, as it offers amazing hiking, canoeing, kayaking and camping opportunities year-round. The lake, located at Mile 147 Parks Hwy, (Highway 3), is in the heart of Denali State Park, and getting there is half the fun, as the...

(Photo courtesy of Lifetime Adventures/Dan McDonough) One of nature's most impressive displays - the northern lights - have been out in full force in the skies above the Mat-Su Valley already this winter. Ribbons of color have been dancing in the sky from Talkeetna to Lake Louise since early...

We always joke that in Alaska, summer turns to winter and includes roughly 47 minutes of autumn. But a trip up the Glenn Highway National Scenic Byway last weekend proved that wrong - and proved that in Alaska, fall colors can put on quite a show. Our trip started in Palmer and headed up to...

This week, the Alaska Great Land Trust held a celebration after buying the Butte, a popular hiking destination, ensuring the area remains open to public use. That's great news, because it is a gem in the Mat-Su Valley. If you haven't hiked the Butte yet, make your plans now - you won't be...