My Essential Alaska Travel Resources :
There are plenty of travel companies out there, but these are my favorite websites and resources for planning an unforgettable trip to Alaska. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. For flights, I recommend using Hopper to compare the cheapest dates to travel to Alaska. Car rentals, arguably the best way to see Alaska, are best through Discover Cars! I always use Expedia's easy-to-use platform to compare the best rates. To keep cell service if you're traveling internationally, I use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required), and NordVPN to stay safe while connecting to different wifi. For fun things to do, I recommend Viator or Get Your Guide to find the best tours in the area. Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance. Lastly, my Alaska packing list for your travels to the Last Frontier.
Where to Stay in the Matsu Valley
Getting to the Matsu Valley is fairly easy, especially for those flying into Anchorage - you'll just need to head North on Highway 1. On the way you'll drive past Eagle River, which is another great spot to base if you're looking for some outdoor activities (my personal favorites are the Eklutna Lake & Eagle River Nature Center areas). The views along the way are stunning, and there's a chance you could see some moose! Plus, there's lots of great places to eat in the Matsu Valley during your visit.
Once you get to the Palmer & Wasilla area, chances are you'll be looking for a place to stay, especially if you're wanting to base in the Matsu Valley area for more than just one day. My favorite place to stay in the area is Meier Lake Resort - it's the most peaceful and relaxing resort my husband and I have been to. Their cabins are dry but they have a beautifully renovated shower house, an incredible private lake (with the mountains as a backdrop), and fun onsite amenities like their sauna, bonfire pit, kayaks, paddleboards, and paddle boats. Plus, their onsite restaurant & cocktail bar - Alaskana Social Club - is the perfect place for a delicious meal or beautiful cocktail on weekends. Watch my visit to Meier Lake here.
Another option, if you're on a tight budget, is staying at the Hatcher Pass Lodge - a.k.a. the iconic red cabins in Hatcher Pass. These cabins are adorable, at the base of Hatcher Pass, and have beautiful views. However, they are dry cabins with no showers, are a bit outdated, and when we stayed we had a lot of dead bugs in our room. The sauna & cold plunge in the river made for a fun experience though!
My Favorite Tours in the Matsu Valley :
- Matanuska Glacier Tour - Knik Glacier Helicopter Tour - Knik Glacier River ATV Tour - Local Palmer Farm Tour
11 Best Things to Do in the Matsu Valley
1. Explore Hatcher Pass
This is easily one of the best places to explore if you're looking to spend some time outside. You can go explore Independence Mine, head out on one of the many hikes in the area, enjoy the cool alpine lakes, or visit the adorable Hatcher Pass Lodge and have a meal with an amazing view.
2. Visit the Reindeer Farm
A great family friendly activity is to head out to the Reindeer Farm! You can explore the farm on your own pace, meet and feed the reindeer, and even stop to see many of the other animals on the farm (like the adorable highland cows or moose). They have different types of tours throughout the year, and various leveled tours depending on how much interaction you want with the reindeer. If you visit in the Spring, you might even meet some of the adorable new calves! 
3. Or the Musk Ox Farm
Just 15 minutes down the road from the Reindeer Farm you can find Alaska's Musk Ox Farm, another family friendly activity that's free for kiddos under the age of 5. Here, you'll be lead on a guided tour of the working farm (that produces qiviut - the under fur of a musk ox that's claimed to be 8x warmer than wool), and you can also explore the Musk Ox Museum & gift shop onsite!
4. Enjoy the Painted Picnic
One of newest activities in the Matsu Valley area is enjoying a Painted Picnic experience! You get to bring a picnic from home, and enjoy a fun painting class of the beautiful views that the Valley is famous for. Halfway through you can explore the Bison Ranch and enjoy your picnic! This is one of the best date ideas in my opinion in the Valley! 
5. Hike Matanuska Glacier
Hiking the Matanuska Glacier is one of my favorite glacier experiences in Alaska. My husband and I have gone twice now, once in the Summer and once in the Winter, and both times have went with Glacier Tours. If you're visiting, the easiest way to visit the Matanuska is on this all inclusive tour with round trip transportation from Anchorage. On the tour you'll be led on a round trip hike out onto the glacier itself, complete with crevasses, glacier pools, and stunning running waterfalls. If you're lucky, you'll even be able to fill up your water bottle with fresh glacier water and try a "straight from the source" glacial mud mask! 
6. Explore the Knik River Valley
Depending on which season you're visiting, the Knik River Valley might just become your new favorite spot. The Fall and Spring months in Alaska are notorious for the amazing aurora shows you could see, and truth be told this valley area is my go-to spot for Northern Lights viewing. The sky is expansive, clear, and quiet, making it perfect for aurora viewing. Even in the summer months, the views are absolutely stunning here! 
7. Or Explore the Knik Glacier
If you keep heading deeper into the valley, you'll make your way closer to the Knik Glacier. Although you can reach the glacial lake via ATV trails (and locals tend to take their fat tire bikes out in the winter), the easiest way to visit this glacier is via a guided tour. Because the glacier has receded about 3 miles in the last 30 years, you can't get as close as the Matanuska, but with the unique way of getting there (army truck & boat ride), it's a very unique experience on it's own. 
8. Try Four Wheeling & ATVing
Another unique opportunity in the Matsu Valley area is to try Four Wheeling, ATVing, or Snow Machining! Depending on the season, you can choose which adventure you'd like to experience then head out on a guided tour. These types of tours allow you to explore more of the back country of Alaska that you might not get to experience - including in places like Hatcher Pass. Last fall I went out on a heated & fully enclosed UTV tour and the fall colors were just stunning! Hands down one of my favorite activities to experience the Matsu Valley in the Fall!
9. Hiking
Not too surprisingly, there's also plenty of hiking trails in the Matsu Valley. Naming them all would be quite the list, but here's some of my favorite short hikes in the area. Wherever you're choosing to hike in Alaska, I always recommend carrying bug spray, renting bear spray (and knowing how to use it and reviewing bear safety tips. I also recommend downloading a map trail in case you don't have service. If you're not sure where to go, I recommend just driving out to Hatcher Pass and seeing where you want to go from there, a lot of these hikes will be a bit busier, especially in peak tourist months! 
10. Go Horseback Riding
There's a few companies in the area that offer horseback riding! Alaska Horse Ranch has lessons for newbies and guided riding tours near Big Lake, and Alaska Horse Adventures offers tours near the Knik Glacier Valley! Either way, this is a unique way to explore and see more of the Matsu Valley, and you might even see some wildlife during your tour!
11. Visit the Alaska State Fair (& Other Events)
The Matsu Valley is home to multiple fun annual events in Alaska - from the Scottish Highland Games to the Palmer Colony Days. However, my favorite (of course) has to be the Alaska State Fair! Held at the end of every August, here you can try fair versions of delicious Alaska foods - like crab cakes, king crab legs, salmon quesadillas, and of course, Talkeetna Spinach Bread. You can even see the giant vegetables (like a 2,051 pound pumpkin) and other random oddities like the rat races.
Watch my Hatcher Pass Adventures here!
Other Alaska blog posts you might be interested in :
-> 15 Easiest Alaska Glaciers to Visit -> Where to Rent Bear Spray in Alaska -> 7 Best Tours in Alaska
Pin this Guide to the Matsu Valley for later!
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Hi, I'm Deborah! In 2021 my husband Tyler convinced me to move to Alaska. After living here for a year (then leaving to take a year long world trip) we realized there was no place we loved more. So now we're back - and I'm here to share all my best tips and hidden gems to make Your Alaskan Adventures the best they can be. \\\ My blog is free to read, but some links may be affiliates. This means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase — at no extra cost to you. Learn more here. \\\ |
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