Old Glenn Highway
MP 0
| Intersection with Glenn Highway MP 29.3
| Lat N 61⁰ 28.396’ Long W 149⁰ 15.624’ Elevation 47’
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MP 8.5
| Knik River Public Use Area
| Access: Drive 8.5 miles on the Old Glenn Highway, and then go straight onto Knik River Road instead of bending to the left and going over the bridge. Drive to Knik River Road MP 1.4, and turn left into the dispersed recreation area (it’s easy to miss the road that goes down to the gravel bar). You can hike or ski along the river, depending on conditions. Camping is allowed, but there are no facilities of any kind. Motorized use is allowed. (If you are coming from Palmer, turn east on Arctic, which turns into the Old Glenn Highway. Drive 9.9 miles and turn left onto Knik River Road after crossing the bridge.)
Lat N 61⁰ 30.493’ Long W 148⁰ 59.657’ Elevation 42’ Valerie’s Rating: ❷ | Links:
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MP 8.5
| Pioneer Ridge – Austin Helmers Trail
| Access: Drive 8.5 miles on Old Glenn Highway, and then go straight onto Knik River Road instead of bending to the left and going over the bridge. Drive to Knik River Road MP 3.8, and turn right into the parking lot. (If you are coming from Palmer, turn east on Arctic, which turns into the Old Glenn Highway. Drive 9.9 miles and turn left onto Knik River Road after crossing the bridge.) Mat-Su Borough parks daily use fee or Annual Pass.
Lat N 61⁰ 29.664’ Long W 148⁰ 55.651’ Elevation 62’
Distance: 4.5 miles one way (new brochure says 12, but can’t be correct) Elevation Gain: 6248’ Difficulty: Difficult Best Months: Summer | Links: Borough Report Trail Conditions
Downloads: Pioneer Ridge-Austin Helmers Trail (Old Brochure)
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MP 11.5
| Reindeer Farm
| Access: Turn west on Bodenberg Loop (the first loop coming from the south; the second loop is at MP 12.4). Drive .7 miles and make a right-hand turn into the parking lot. If you are coming from Palmer, turn east on Arctic, which turns into the Old Glenn Highway.
Lat N 61⁰ 32.445’ Long W 149⁰ 03.454’ Elevation 70’ | Links:
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MP 12.4
| West Butte Trail
| Access: Turn left at MP 12.4 into the second access to Bodenberg Butte Loop (the first entrance is at MP 11.5 Old Glenn Highway). Drive .4 miles and turn left on Mothershead Circle, then drive .1 miles and turn into the parking area. Walk back onto the road; the actual trailhead is about 300 feet further up the road. (If you are coming from Palmer, turn east on Arctic, which turns into the Old Glenn Highway, and drive 6 miles to Bodenberg Butte Loop.) Mat-Su Borough parks daily use fee or Annual Pass.
Lat N 61⁰ 33.141’ Long W 149⁰ 03.289’ Elevation 129’
Distance: 1.5 miles Elevation Gain: 880’ Difficulty: Moderate/Strenuous Best Months: Summer, Fall
The new brochure lists this trail as “Easy to Moderate,” but though the tread is good, it is very steep and you either need to be in shape or take it slowly. Expect this trail to be very windy at the top. You can also climb up the south side of the Butte from Bodenburg Loop Road, but it’s straight up and very dusty. Valerie’s Rating: ❸ | Links: Borough Report Trail Conditions
Downloads: West Butte Trail (Old Brochure)
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MP 14.5
| Plumley-Maud Trail
| Access: Turn east onto Maud Road and drive 1.8 miles to the end of the pavement. The trail starts just past that, on the right. If you are coming from Palmer, turn east on Arctic, which turns into the Old Glenn Highway. Lat N 61⁰ 35.074’ Long W 148⁰ 59.137’ Elevation 283’
I would not hike these – they really are ATV trails. However, if you continue to close to the end of the unpaved section, there is a parking lot to the right at Jim Lake, and in winter, there can be excellent Nordic ice skating in the area; that is a “5” when the ice is good. Valerie’s Rating: ❶ | Links:
Borough Report Trail Conditions
Downloads:
Knik River Public Use Area Access Brochure
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MP 15.6
| Matanuska Peak Trail
| Access: Turn north onto Smith Road, and drive 1.4 miles until it dead-ends at a small parking lot. (If you are coming from Palmer, turn east on Arctic, which turns into the Old Glenn Highway, and drive 2.8 miles.) No fees, no restrooms.
Lat N 61⁰ 35.962’ Long W 149⁰ 00.011’ Elevation 515’
Distance: 4.1 miles Elevation Gain: 5670’ Difficulty: Strenuous Best Months: Year-round | Links: Borough Report Trail Conditions
Downloads: Matanuska Peak Trail (Old Brochure)
Matanuska Peak Trail (New Brochure)
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MP 16
| Lazy Mountain Trail and Winter Trails, Lazy Moose Trail, & Morgan Horse Trail
| Access: Turn north on Clark-Wolverine Road, and drive .7 miles. Turn right on Huntly. Curve right at the “Y”, drive for 1.2 miles to the dead-end at the trailhead. (If you are coming from Palmer, turn east on Arctic, which turns into the Old Glenn Highway, and drive 2.4 miles.) Parking for 25+ cars. Mat-Su Borough parks daily use fee or Annual Pass.
Lat N 61⁰ 36.665’ Long W 149⁰ 00.945’ Elevation 679’
Distance: 2.5 miles or 3 miles (two routes, see links) Elevation Gain: 3720’ Difficulty: Strenuous (Lazy Mt. Trail), Moderate-Strenuous (Lazy Moose Trail) Best Months: Year-round, depending on which trail.
The Lazy Mt. Trail is pretty much straight up, but the newer Lazy Moose Trail has nice switchbacks The southern exposure of both trails makes them two of the first snow-free trails in the area. Please don’t cut switchbacks – if you prefer going straight up/down use the Lazy Mt. Trail option rather than eroding the Lazy Moose Trail. Morgan horse trail also starts from this parking area. 4km of groomed X-C ski trails in winter. Valerie’s Rating: ❺ | Links: Borough Report Trail Conditions
Lazy Mountain Area Trails Conditions
Downloads: Lazy Mountain Recreation Area Trails (New Brochure)
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MP 17.3
| Matanuska River Park Trail System
| Access: Turn north into the recreation area. (If you are coming from Palmer, turn east on Arctic, which turns into the Old Glenn Highway, and drive 1.1 miles.)
This is a nice campground with a small trail system, which can be used year-round (the roads are groomed for X-C skiing in winter). The trail provides river views and access, and most of it is also used as a mountain bike single-track. Take a map with you, as it could get confusing with all the loops.
Lat N 61⁰ 36.406’ Long W 149⁰ 05.349’ Elevation 233’
Distance: Varies, 2.5 miles total single-track trails Elevation Gain: Minimal Difficulty: Easy-Moderate Best Months: Year-round Valerie’s Rating: ❸ | Links: Borough Report Trail Conditions
Downloads: Matanuska River Park Map (Old Brochure)
Matanuska River Park Trails (New Brochure)
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MP 18.4
| Intersection with Glenn Highway MP 42.1 at Arctic/Bogard |
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