Summer Activities
It doesn’t get any better than an Alaskan summer! Miles of trails to explore and scenery that will always take your breath away. With the midnight sun shining, there is plenty of time to squeeze in all the activities to do around Hatcher Pass.
Hiking and Trail Running
Trails, trails, and more trails. Hatcher Pass is the gateway into the Talkeetna Mountains and there are plenty of trails to help you explore these mountains. All ability levels can find something that suits their needs. Some of the more classic trails that you’ll hear about are: Gold Mint, Reed Lakes, Gold Cord Lake, and April Bowl. There is also Blueberry Knoll, Government Peak, and Marmot. And of course there are plenty more trails that the locals do. Ask your host for information on distances, elevation, trail conditions, and more. Alaska trails can be a bit more, shall we say, rustic, so make sure you are always prepared and understand where you are going.
Check out the interactive trails map and download the app provided by Mat-Su Trails and Park Foundation.
Independence Mine State Historical Park
We would not have the great access and recreation area in Hatcher Pass without the discovery of gold in the Talkeetna Mountains. Hard rock (lode) gold was first discovered in the Willow Creek valley by Robert Lee Hatcher in 1906. Independence Mine and other surrounding mines were in production throughout the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s until World War II when gold prices fell. Independence Mine operated a little longer as it had the valuable strategic metal tungsten, found in the mineral scheelite. Independence Mine finally closed its doors in 1951. In the mine’s peak year it produced over 34,000 ounces of gold, worth over $17 million dollars today! Walk on mostly paved pathways among the remaining mine buildings to learn what it was like to be a miner.
For more information on visiting Independence Mine, visit Alaska State Parks.
Biking
Whether you are looking for pavement or trail, Hatcher Pass can satisfy any cyclist. The “Hatcher Pass Hill Climb” is a favorite ride for local cyclists which follows the Fishhook road up through Hatcher Pass to Independence Mine State Historical Park. The ride is approximately 12 miles one way from Hatcher Pass Cabins with a vertical gain of just over 2,700 feet.
The mountain bike trails are continually expanding around Hatcher Pass. Government Peak Recreation Area (GPRA) has almost 9 miles of single-track trails plus over 6 miles of wide nordic trails open in the summer. Explore 8 miles back on the Gold Mint trail on your bike, though it can get challenging past mile 4 or ride to the end of Archangel Road to find yourself near the alpine in the Talkeetna Mountains. Get lost in the miles and miles of ever expanding, connected trail systems of Crevasse Moraine, Mat-Su College, Mat-Su Experiment Farm, and Matanuska Lake State Recreation Area.
Local bike shop Backcountry Bike and Ski in Palmer can help you with all your biking needs including tune-ups, rentals, and trail condition information.
Berry picking
Have you ever tried a fresh, perfectly ripened berry right off the bush? They’re so much better than anything you get in the store! Come August and September, pickers from all over come with their buckets combing the hills for blueberries, heading to their secret spots in the hopes of finding that plentiful. Later in the season, after a couple frosts, the deep red lingonberries (or low bush cranberries) are ready to be harvested. Raspberries and strawberries are another favorite that can be found in the wild. A successful picker can be recognized by their blue tongue, purple fingers, and purple-stained pants. Ask your host for ideas on where to find some berries. If you’re lucky, she just might share where one of her secret berry patches are with you!
Scenic Views
If you are just too plum tuckered out from all your other activities you have been doing in Alaska, then maybe just a scenic drive through Hatcher Pass is what you need. The drive up and over Hatcher Pass is definitely worthwhile, particularly on a nice day. Both sides of the pass are unique with mountain views for days. Typically, depending on snow conditions, the road over the pass to Willow will open around July 4th. Also note that only the Palmer side is paved, the road up to the pass and over to Willow is a gravel road.