Mat-Su Valley Blog

The 2026 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race officially starts Sunday, March 8 in Willow, as mushers depart for Nome, 1,100 grueling miles away. This is officially called the Iditarod "Restart" because there is a ceremonial start in Anchorage on Saturday, March 7. That day does not count in the standings...

The 64th annual Willow State Winter Carnival kicks off this weekend, with a jam-packed schedule of events celebrating the season. Known as the dog mushing capital of the world, Willow is a great weekend destination in The Mat-Su where visitors can take dog sledding tours and get a taste of the...

Downtown Wasilla is the place to be this Fourth of July, as it promises to be a sea of red, white and blue as the annual parade floats wind their way through the town. It's one of the largest parades you'll see each year, and there's plenty of fun to be had. The parade begins at 11 a.m. sharp and...

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...

Pink salmon are far from the most desired salmon in Alaska's streams, but they also provide a great opportunity to get out and test your hand fly fishing in Susitna Valley streams. Last week, I was joined by a college friend from 25 years ago who wanted to do some Alaska salmon fishing. We loaded up...

This weekend is the final one for the 2020 Willow Winter Carnival, and it actually gets started bright and early. The Willow 300 Sled Dog Race began Thursday and will conclude around 6 a.m. at Sheep Creek Lodge. Hosted by the Willow Dog Mushers Association, it is one of the state's premier...

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...