Welcome to Wasilla and Palmer, Alaska!
Whether you are visiting family or friends, exploring on your own, or here for business; you’ll find lots to do in and around Wasilla and Palmer.
Located 45 miles north of Anchorage in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, Wasilla and Palmer offer endless opportunity for outdoor exploring. And if you really want to feel like a local be sure to call it the Mat-Su Valley!
We have listed some of our favorite things to do. Hours of operation and access to some outdoor areas vary in Alaska depending on the seasons so be sure to check directly before you head out on your adventure.
In Wasilla and Palmer
| Hatcher’s Pass | Visit Independence Mine – an abandoned gold mine with many historic buildings Take a drive and enjoy the scenery Blueberry picking Summit Lake State Recreation Area – picnic by the lake |
| Short hikes | Boardwalk trail Reflections Lake Scout Ridge Loop Thunderbird Falls MatSu College Nature Trail |
| Longer hikes | Nancy Lakes Recreation Area Hatcher’s Pass Matanuska Lakes Bodenburg Butte Matanuska Experimental Farm |
| Other fun things | Reindeer Farm Musk Ox Farm Pyrah’s U Pick farm Iditarod Headquarters – pet a husky puppy and take a ride on a dog sled Sled Dog Experience Alaska Live Steamers – fun small train ride through the forest Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center |
| Museums | Palmer History Museum Wasilla History Museum Museum of Alaska Transportation and Industry – amazing collection cars, trucks, trains, etc. that were used to build Alaska. |
| Golf | Settler’s Bay Palmer Golf Course Wasilla Golf Course |
| Kayaking | Kayak rentals available from several vendors |
Day Trips (Drive times from Wasilla/Palmer area)
| Seward 3 hours drive | Alaska Sea Life Center Kenai Fiords National Park – cruise Exit Glacier kayaking |
| Whittier 2 hours drive | Drive through the tunnel Single building for all residents Glacier and Wildlife Cruises |
| Anchorage 45 minutes drive | Moose’s Tooth Breweries Alaska Native Heritage Center Alaska Museum of Science and Nature Anchorage Museum Alaska Botanical Garden Alaska Zoo |
| Girdwood 1.5 hours drive | Hikes:H and tram hike – 6 miles Byron Glacier – 1.4 miles Ski resort – gondola to restaurant at top Crow Creek Gold Mine – history and botanical walking tours, gold panning adventures |
| Talkeetna 1.5 hours drive | Base camp for Denali climbers Historic small village Birch Syrup factory Denali Brewing Company |
| Glaciers | Matanuska (Wasilla) – guided tour, walk on the glacier Knik (Wasilla) – accessible only by helicopter Portage Glacier – accessible by boat (Anchorage) Byron Glacier – hike (Anchorage) Exit Glacier (Seward) – hike |
| Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center 1.5 hours drive | Refuge for orphaned and injured animalssee big animals up close |
| Eklutna 45 minutes drive | Kayak on the lake Eklutna Village – history of Russian Orthodox in Alaska, cemetery, spirit houses |
Multi-Day Trips (drive times from Wasilla/Palmer area)
| Denali 3 hours drive | Visitors center Drive 13 miles in to Savage River – 2 mile hike Ranger led hikes Buses – all buses require reservations well in advance. See the Denali National Park website for options Non-narrated transit buses – hop on, hop off. $33 – $42 depending on distance into the parkNarrated Tour buses – $85 – $222 Camp or get motel or cabin nearby |
| Fairbanks 5 hours drive | See the sun at midnight Fountain Head Auto Museum Museum of the North Running Reindeer Ranch Pioneer Park Riverboat Discovery Tour – dogsled kennels, Native Alaska village, Bush pilot presentation HikesCreamer’s Field Boardwalk trail 2 miles Chena Riverwalk through downtown Fairbanks TableTop Mountain – scenic drive – 3 mile hike |
| Chena Hot Springs 6 hours drive | Hot springs Aurora Ice Museum Cabins/motel |
| Homer 5 hours drive | Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies Pratt Museum – local history and culture Alaska Islands and Oceans visitor center Homer Spit Bear Creek winery Kayaking Seldovia Ferry |
