Matanuska-Susitna Borough: Glaciers, Trails and Culture

Glacier views, forest trails and layered history shape the experience of traveling in Matanuska-Susitna Borough. At Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site, there are public viewpoints of the glacier, but no direct access to it. The site is adjacent to the Glenn Highway Scenic Byway at Milepost 101. The Edge Nature Trail leads through the forest on a 20-minute walk to viewpoints overlooking the glacier. Access conditions may change with seasonal conditions; check them before your visit.

Landscape and Trails

The lakes in Matanuska Lakes State Recreation Area 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.

Bearberry Bluff is an unpaved, 1.1-mile loop singletrack through the forest. Trail conditions vary by season. The non-motorized Morgan Horse Trail is open year-round and runs between Lazy Mountain Recreation Area and Maud Road; conditions here can also vary by season. The Bear and Fox trails connect to a network of about 33 miles of trails within the Matanuska Greenbelt.

Seasonal Activities

In winter, Summit Lake State Recreation Site is used mainly by skiers, snowboarders and snowmobilers. The April Bowl Trail also begins at the same recreation site and climbs to a smaller alpine lake. This offers two distinct nature experiences: a winter focus at Summit Lake and a route to another mountain lake.

At Willow Creek State Recreation Area, you can fish for salmon, rainbow trout, grayling and Dolly Varden. Fishing regulations and conditions vary by season. Willow Creek offers Class I–II whitewater trips as well as day or overnight trips; river conditions vary. Check current conditions and fishing regulations before your trip.

Museums and Historical Insights

For thousands of years, Dena'ina and Ahtna people traveled through the borough’s river valleys to fish, hunt and trade with others. In Talkeetna, the Talkeetna Historical Society Museum is housed in the original building of the Territory of Alaska Talkeetna School, which opened in the 1936/37 school year. The Mountain Exhibit features a room-sized model of Denali and the surrounding peaks of the Alaska Range and provides information about the history of mountaineering. Iditarod Headquarters explores the history of the Iditarod race and the world of sled dogs.

The regional history associated with the Palmer Museum stretches from a meeting place between Ahtna and Dena'ina territories through the fur trade, railroad and gold mining to the 1935 Matanuska Colony Project. The museum also features changing temporary exhibits on Palmer’s art, history and culture; agricultural equipment is displayed outdoors. A record set at the Alaska State Fair’s Giant Cabbage Weigh-Off is also part of the region’s history: in 2012, Palmer farmer Scott Robb set a world record there with a 138.25-pound cabbage.

At Independence Mine State Historical Park, visitors may pan for gold using a gold pan and shovel. Check rules and conditions before your visit. The Assay Office features exhibits on assaying, retort processes and other mining techniques. The park also offers a glimpse of what it was like to live and work in one of Alaska’s largest gold-mining camps.

Getting There and Planning Your Trip

The Denali Star Train connects Anchorage, Wasilla, Talkeetna, Denali and Fairbanks. Schedules are seasonal and may change. The Alaska Railroad depot in Talkeetna offers ticket sales and baggage service; staffing and seasonal services may vary. If you are planning a train trip, check the schedule and depot services in advance.

A day-use or annual parking pass is required for several trails in Matanuska-Susitna Borough. Requirements may change, so check whether a pass is needed before your trip.

Explore more destinations: Wasilla, Talkeetna, Willow, Palmer, Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Juneau, Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, Denali.

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