Mat-Su Valley Blog

The 2020 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race officially gets started 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...

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...

Winter heats up the last weekend of January and the first weekend of February in Willow, where the Willow Winter Carnival features events for everyone in the family. For more than 50 years, the carnival has been a highlight on the calendar. The carnival begins with a bang as fireworks light up the...

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...

The Willow State Winter Carnival kicks off this weekend and continues again next weekend, with a packed schedule of events. The carnival is now in its 57th year and is a highlight on the winter calendar. The carnival kicks off with a literal bang on Friday night, as Gorilla Fireworks is putting on a...

Even though temperatures are hovering in the upper 70s, you can still have a dog mushing experience during your 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. The Iditarod Trail Headquarters is...