Alaska
Hiking & Horseback
Riding
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Some of our favorite hiking areas: Thunderbird Falls - Just off the Glenn Highway is an easy 2 mile round trip hike to the Falls. Elevation gain 300 feet.Eklutna Lake area has a number of hikes and is within the Chugach State Park, 20 minutes South of the Agate Inn. East Twin Peak trail is 8 miles, 7-8 hours long, with elevation gain 4,150 feet. The hike is easy, but yet strenuous with dall sheep and views overlooking Eklutna Lake (12 miles long). Eklutna Lake to Eklutna Glacier trail is 24-32 miles, fairly easy along the side of the lake. The trail is also used by mountain bikes and four-wheelers. During weekdays there are few people on the trail. Bold Peak Valley is a side trip off the Eklutna Lake trail. It is approximately 20 miles round-trip from the parking area. Elevation gain is 3,000 feet. Bike and kayak rentals are available at the lake from Lifetime Adventures (907-746-4644). Hatchers Pass area has numerous alpine trails. Reed Lake trail is considered an alpine classic hike with lakes, waterfalls, granite spirals. It is 8 miles, 5-7 hours with elevation gain of 1,600 feet. Mint Glacier trail is 24 miles, 12 hours long, elevation gain 2,000. Independence Mine has a number of short trails, 1-3 miles with elevation gain of 100 to 1,000 feet. Summit Lake area has a number of short 1-2 mile trails. Craigie Creek trail on the Willow side of Hatchers Pass is 3 miles long, 1-3 hours with elevation gain of 950 feet. Horseback Riding  We have a number of hiking guides and horseback riding adventures within a short distance
of the Agate Inn.
In Palmer, with panoramic views of the Matanuska Valley, Kim's Scenic Tours offers guided horseback rides. (907) 745-4000. D&S Alaskan Trail Rides offers summer horseback rides and winter sleigh rides (907-745-2208). For information about area horse shows contact Marilyn Weber (907-745-7700). For more information on trails in the Mat-Su Valley: U.S. Government. National Park Service , Public Information Office, 605 W. 4th Ave., Suite 105, Anchorage, AK 99501 (907-271-2737)Alaska State Parks, Department of Natural Resources, 3601 C Street, Suite 1200, Anchorage, Alaska 99503-5921 (907-745-3975) Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Parks and Outdoor Recreation Division, P.O. Box 1608, Palmer, Alaska 99645 (907-745-9636) The Borough has a Trails Inventory book, 137 pages, which sells for $10. There are a number of books on area Trails. One of the best is 55 Ways to the Wilderness in South Central Alaska published by The Mountaineers, 1011 S.W. Klickitat Way, Seattle, WA 98134. ISBN 0-89886-106.3 ($10.95). This book should be available at any book store. Mountaineering Club of Alaska, 1106 W. 54th Ave. Anchorage, AK 99510. Single membership is $10/year, includes monthly newsletter: Scree. MCAK also maintains a trail hut system. |
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