ATV your way to adventure

MAT-SU — With thousands of miles of trails in the Mat-Su Valley, an ATV trip is the perfect way to get into the backcountry and enjoy the Alaska wilderness.

Before you go, however, make sure the trails you head out on are open for motorized use, and remember to be kind to your environment — pack out what you pack in and be respectful of the vegetation and wildlife you will encounter.

One gem of a trail ride is the Knik River area, up to Knik Glacier. Breathtaking views abound on the 20-mile ride from the Jim Creek area to the glacier’s overlook.

“What an amazing trip. We encountered a moose with her newborn calf, saw some amazing sights and got right up close to the glacier. Definitely a memorable experience,” said Mark Alger, who went on a guided trip with Alaska Backcountry Adventure Tours on Tuesday.

Along the route, there are several water crossings, trails that follow the river and some that get back into the wooded areas, and a fantastic overlook of the glacier which is perfect for a sack lunch or campfire dinner.

Other fantastic ATV opportunities abound in the upper Susitna and Matanuska valleys, as well as throughout the Willow area. With easy access at large pull-outs, loading and off-loading ATVs is convenient.

Locally, there are several guides who can tailor trips to experience levels, length of trip and desire of their clients. From half-day trips to overnight excursions, hiring a guide is a great way to enjoy the ATV experience if you don’t own your own machine. For a list of operators, you can visit the Mat-Su Convention & Visitors Bureau’s website at alaskavisit.com.

At the same website, as well as on the Mat-Su Borough’s website (matsugov.us), there are links to trail maps and brochures, which the borough produces. These are great resources to find out if trails are designated as multi-use or nonmotorized only, as well as general routes.

Casey Ressler (casey@alaskavisit.com) is the marketing and communications director at Mat-Su CVB.