Mat-Su Valley Blog

The sun is returning and the temperatures may be easing, but there is still time to get some sweet runs in at the Valley's favorite recreational ski areas! Skeetawk, the first triple-chair lift ski area in the Mat-Su Valley, is open through April 20 for the season, giving skiers and snowboarders two...

The Oosik is hosted by the Denali Nordic Ski Club and is one of the most fun and funky races in Alaska. The course changes every year, but there are three divisions - 10- 25- and 50-kilometers. While competitive skiers definitely participate every year, it's the recreational skiers that have given...

The 2025 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race officially starts Monday, March 3 in Fairbanks. Traditionally, mushers depart for Nome from Willow in the Mat-Su Valley every year, but insufficient snow in some sections of that route this year have convinced race officials to relocate the race start. This is...

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...

The Last Frontier Pond Hockey Classic is back in Big Lake, with more than 150 hockey teams playing February 21-23 for Alaska's largest outdoor hockey event. On the ice near Burkeshore Marina in Big Lake, 20 outdoor rinks will host 10 divisions of four-on-four hockey. The event is hosted by the...

Looking for a fun way to spend an evening, with breathtaking views of the Chugach Mountains and the fresh air of the Matanuska Valley? Look no further than Hermon Brothers Field, where the Mat-Su Miners take the field in the Alaska Baseball League. The Miners open their season on Monday, June 5. The...

Photo courtesy of Sooner Country Photography Some of the top professional bull riders in the country are coming to Palmer this Memorial Day weekend as part of a jam-packed lineup of rodeo events on the Alaska State Fairgrounds. The PRCA is back with the Xtreme Bulls tour, with some of the country's...

This year, the famous Oosik Ski Race is going virtual, giving Nordic skiers an opportunity to participate anywhere in the world, with the same fun the Talkeetna race provides every March. Due to the pandemic, this year's race won't be held in person in Talkeetna. But that doesn't mean the spirit of...

The Nordic ski season is well under way at Hatcher Pass and Government Peak, where groomers have already been out, creating great early-season conditions. Last week's snow has stuck around at the higher elevations, giving skiers an early opportunity to enjoy the backcountry. According to trail...

Nordic skiers looking for groomed trails and spectacular views don't have to venture further than Hatcher Pass. Each year, Hatcher Pass receives the first snow of the year in Southcentral Alaska, which opens up many winter recreation opportunities. Nordic skiing enthusiasts flock to the area each...