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Alaska's Matanuska - Susitna (Mat Su) Valley
Tours,
Day Trips and Excursions
About
Palmer, Wasilla and the Mat-Su Valley
The Mat-Su or The Valley, as it's known
by locals, is just 45 minutes from Anchorage
an on the route to Denali National Park.
The region was carved by glaciers and is
bounded by the Chugach and Talkeetna
mountains as well as the Alaska Range.
Many small towns dot the Glenn Highway, a National
Scenic Byway, which follows the Matanuska River from
its source at the lengthy Matanuska Glacier. The
river offers exciting whitewater rafting accessible from the highway,
and the glacier is one
of the easiest to access in the state.
The fertile farmland
in this area of Alaska was first colonized in the 1930's under a U.S.
Government "New Deal" agricultural experiment.
Today, the area is know as Alaska "breadbasket"
as rich soil and long
daylight hours allow local farmers to grow record
setting vegetables, including 100 pound
cabbages and 40 pound beets! These
impressive giants are on display at the
Alaska State Fair in Palmer in August.
Nearby Wasilla is the home of the Iditarod Trail Sled
Dog Race, known as the Last Great Race on Earth.
Many Iditarod mushers call this are home. Other attractions include Independence Mine
State Historical Park, as well as a reindeer and
musk ox farm.
Guided Adventures in Alaska's Mat - Su
Valley
Please note that all
prices listed include
any taxes and fees!
EKLUTNA LAKE ATV TOUR
Tour
440
 
4-Hour
Tour: $185 per person (ages 16
and up)**
2nd rider (sharing an ATV): $120 per
person (ages 8 and up)
** minimum of 4 adults required!
The Eklutna ATV Tour takes you
into the heart of the Chugach Range and begins just 50
minutes north of Anchorage. Ride the shoreline of beautiful Eklutna Lake for eight
miles. After crossing the East Fork Bridge, you will pass
Serenity Waterfall and follow the Eklutna River to the base
of the "Mitre" towering more than 5,000 feet above. From
here you can take the one-mile
hike to view Eklutna Glacier or just relax and search the
mountain meadows for the mountain goats and Dall sheep that call
this rugged area home.
Safety and raingear is provided. Please
bring and wear your own boots for this tour! Minimum 16 years old to operate an ATV.
Duration: 4 hours.
Departure location:
Eklutna Lake
Trailhead (near Mile 26 of the Glenn
Highway).
Departure times:
10am, 2pm (subject to change).
Departures:
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday ONLY, May
1 - September 30, 2010.
CANCELED IN 2010 DUE TO FOREST FIRE.
KNIK GLACIER AIRBOAT ADVENTURE
Tour 441
$119 adult, $56
child (2-12 years)
You will travel
seven miles up the Knik River (approximately
1/2 hour) in a fully enclosed airboat,
passing the occasional iceberg, waterfalls
and some of Alaska's most spectacular
scenery. You navigate around the icebergs
keeping a safe distance before you get up
close to Knik Glacier. This 25-mile river of
ice is over 5 miles wide and hundreds of
feet thick. You will pull ashore for a
two-hour visit to Glacier Camp, where you
can listen to "white thunder" as icebergs
the size of 5 story buildings may tumble
into the lake. Your Alaskan guide knows
where to look for wildlife; black bear,
moose, Dall sheep, and eagles have been
spotted in the area.
Hot drinks are served from the camp kitchen.
Take a hike or kayak around the beautiful
icebergs (optional). Afterwards, return by
airboat.
Duration: 4 hours
Departure location: Knik
River (15 miles east from Mile 30 of the
Glenn Highway).
Departure times: 10am, 2pm, 6pm.
Daily departures: May 15 - September 15, 2010.
MATANUSKA GLACIER HIKE Tour 444
$85 per person (age 12 years and
older only)
Hike on the
largest road accessible glacier in Alaska,
the Matanuska Glacier! Your expert guide
will outfit you will all your gear before
leading you on an exploration of this
massive glacier. The ice formations have
many safe routes through spectacular views
of crevasses, caves and surface ponds.
Duration: 4
hours total, including transfers and approx.
2.5 hours hiking time.
Departure location: Matanuska
Glacier (off the Glenn Highway)
Departure times:
9:30am or
2:30pm. Daily
departures:
May -
September, 2010, depending on glacier
conditions.
GLACIER
RUN RIVER RAFTING Tour 442
$94
adult, $50 child (5 - 11 years)
This unique Alaska rafting trip starts near
its source, the Matanuska Glacier! This
particular fork of the Matanuska River
eventually meets up with the Lion Head fork so
that both trips end at the same location. If
your looking for a trip with awesome views and
an easy float with just a dash of light
whitewater then this one is it! Class II and
III rapids.
Duration: 2.5
hours.
Departure location:
Matanuska
Glacier (off the Glenn Highway)
Departure time:
10:30am. Daily departures:
June 10 -
August 20,
2010.
LION HEAD RIVER RAFTING Tour 443
Rafting only:
$100 per person (age 12 years and
older only)
Rafting plus Matanuska Glacier
Hike:
$185 per person (age 12 years and
older only)
Enjoy an exciting whitewater trip next to
the 27 mile long, glacially fed Matanuska
Glacier. The main rapids are several miles long
and are the result of a squeeze play between the
glaciers lateral moraine and "Lion Head", a
massive basalt rock wall from an ancient
volcanic plug. A perfect trip for first-timers
or experienced river runners! Oar rafts with
paddle assist or full paddle rafting available.
Class III and IV rapids.
Duration:
3.5 to 4 hours.
Departure location:
Matanuska
Glacier (off the Glenn Highway)
Departure time:
9:30am or 2:30pm.
Daily departures:
June 1 -
August 31,
2010.
Helicopter Tour with
glacier DOG SLEDDING
Tour 447
$369
per person
(2
person minimum required, 3
person maximum)
Board a deluxe touring
helicopter and fly over the deep
blue Lake George as you make
your way to the massive Colony
Glacier. Land at a fully
operational sled dog camp on the
glacier. Iditarod veteran Sven
Haltmann will introduce you to
his canine athletes as he hooks
up a dog team to authentic
sleds. Sit in the sled or stand
on the runners as you mush for
several miles over the snow.
Afterwards, your helicopter tour
continues as you fly low through
the Knik Glacier
Gorge.
Included: 30
minute helicopter flight and 90
minutes at the sled dog camp.
Duration: 2
hours.
Departure Time: 1:00pm
Daily Departures:
May 1 - September 15, 2010. Tour is
weather dependent.
IDITAROD SLED DOG RIDE AND KENNEL TOUR
Tour 256
$ per person (1
participant)
$ per person (2
or more participants)
Learn about dog sledding with a visit to the
Dream a Dream Dog Farm, owned and operated
by veteran Iditarod and Yukon Quest sled dog
race mushers Vern and Susan Halter. Tour the
kennel, learn about the Iditarod Sled Dog
Race, and meet real Alaskan sled dogs and
their puppies! Then, depart the kennel on a
sled dog ride onto a true wilderness trail.
Stand or sit in a specially designed ATV
cart as the excited dogs take you into the
backcountry. This is a truly exhilarating
experience!
Note:
All participants are required to fill
out a waiver form prior to tour.
Duration:
1.5 to 2 hours.
Departure location:
Willow (Mile 65
of the Parks Highway)
Departure times:
9am, 11am, 3pm.
Daily
Departures: April 15 to September 15,
2009 (contact
us to inquire about tours after
September)
Click to view great activities and short trips in other
Alaska locations:
Anchorage
| Denali
|
Fairbanks
| Girdwood
| McCarthy
- Kennicott
|
Palmer
- Wasilla
|
Seward
|
Talkeetna
Homer
| Kenai
| Kodiak
| Cordova
| Valdez
Haines
| Juneau
| Ketchikan
| Skagway
| Sitka
| Wrangell
top
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