At Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site, discovery begins with an important distinction: there are public viewing opportunities for the glacier, but no direct access to it. The Edge Nature Trail leads through the forest to viewpoints on a 20-minute walk. The area is located at milepost 101 beside the Glenn Highway Scenic Byway. In summer, hiking, glacier trekking and river rafting are also available; seasonal conditions apply.
Experience the trails and landscapes outdoors
The trails in Matanuska-Susitna Borough vary in shape and route. Bearberry Bluff is a 1.1-mile unpaved singletrack loop through the forest; conditions are seasonal. The non-motorized Morgan Horse Trail connects Lazy Mountain Recreation Area and Maud Road and is open year-round. Trail conditions there are also seasonal. Bear and Fox Trails connect to a network of about 33 miles within the Matanuska Greenbelt. This offers distinct options: a single loop, a trail between two named endpoints, and a larger trail network.
A day or annual parking pass is required for several Borough trails. Check the requirements before setting out, as pass requirements can change. In winter, skiers, snowboarders and snowmobilers are the main users of Summit Lake State Recreation Site. The April Bowl Trail starts there and climbs to a smaller alpine lake. Summit Lake itself is a small glacial lake with a depth of 20 feet.
At Matanuska Lakes State Recreation Area, lakes lie in ancient glacial crevasses between moraine ridges formed by glaciers 30,000 years ago. Several lakes are stocked with trout and grayling, including Matanuska Lake, Canoe Lake, Irene Lake and Long Lake. At Willow Creek State Recreation Area, you can fish for salmon, rainbow trout, grayling and Dolly Varden. Fishing regulations and conditions are seasonal. Willow Creek also offers Class I–II whitewater rafting and options for day or overnight trips; river conditions vary.
Museums, mining history and special insights
In Talkeetna, the Talkeetna Historical Society Museum tells the story of its building, too: it is housed in the original Territory of Alaska Talkeetna School building, which opened in the 1936/37 school year. The Mountain Exhibit depicts Denali and the surrounding peaks of the Alaska Range as a room-sized model and presents the history of mountaineering. The K'esugi Ken Interpretive Center also focuses on Denali and the Alaska Range, with information about Denali State Park.
The regional history presented at the Palmer Museum spans its origins as a meeting place between Ahtna and Dena'ina territories, the fur trade, railroads and gold mining, through to the Matanuska Colony Project of 1935. Agricultural equipment is displayed outdoors, while changing temporary exhibits explore Palmer's art, history and culture. A single competition also has a lasting place in the history of the Alaska State Fair: at the Giant Cabbage Weigh-Off, Palmer farmer Scott Robb set a world record in 2012 with a 138.25-pound cabbage.
At Independence Mine State Historical Park, visitors can pan for gold with a pan and shovel. Check current park rules and conditions before your visit. The Assay Office features exhibits on sample analysis, retort processes and other mining techniques. These methods of examining and processing ore offer another way to explore the history of gold mining. The park also conveys what life and work were like at one of Alaska's largest gold-mining camps.
Other facets of the region's story can be found at Iditarod Headquarters, which explores the history of the Iditarod race and the world of sled dogs, and at Musk Ox Farm. The farm is dedicated to humane musk ox husbandry, qiviut production and public education. Another historical perspective comes from the Dena'ina and Ahtna people, who traveled through the Borough's river valleys for millennia to fish, hunt and trade with others.
Travel planning
The Denali Star Train connects Anchorage, Wasilla, Talkeetna, Denali and Fairbanks. Schedules are seasonal and may change. The Alaska Railroad station in Talkeetna offers ticket sales and baggage service; staffing and seasonal services may change. Check the schedule and available station services before your trip.
Explore more destinations: Willow, Talkeetna, Palmer, Wasilla, North Slope Borough, Nome Census Area, Denali, Southeast Fairbanks Census Area.
Return to the main travel overview: Alaska.
