Lake Louise

W ant to know where you can really get away from it all -- and still have the options of hot running water and gourmet meals? A day-long or weekend getaway to Lake Louise should fit the bill.

Known for its lake trout and grayling fishing, Lake Louise boasts comfortable lodges and cabins with great food and hospitality -- or a 60-site campground for the autumn adventurer.

Located on the eastern border of our borough, Lake Louise (both the lake and the community) is accessed via a 19-mile gravel road that branches off at Mile 159.8 of the Glenn Highway.

This well-maintained road to Lake Louise State Recreation Area is just long enough to keep the crowds away, but visitors will tell you it is worth the trip.

What makes an adventure to Lake Louise so special? In addition to fabulous lake fishing, the area is also known for its peacefulness, particularly this time of year, as summer is retreating and the activity of winter has not quite begun. The tranquility of the lake provides a perfect backdrop for a quiet stroll along the beaches, a nature hike or even a hunt for fossils, which are plentiful.

And although it may be too late for blueberries this year, the area cranberries should provide plenty of picking through September.

Fall at Lake Louise is spectacular. The red, orange, gold and rusts prevalent in the ground cover are accented by the blue of the lake and mountains on the horizon. And the glimpses of the Tazlina Glacier in the distance are a thrill to even the most sourdough of Alaskans. There are four major mountain ranges visible from the area -- Wrangell Mountains, Chugach Mountains, Alaska Range, and the Talkeetna Mountains.

This is also an excellent time of year to spot wildlife and birds. Moose, bear, caribou, and wolves are regular visitors. The Nelchina caribou herd (numbering 30,000) calls Lake Louise home.

Impressive, too, are the number of birds found at Lake Louise, including the beautiful trumpeter swans.

In addition, Lake Louise has the only fresh-water nesting ground in Alaska for cormorants.

For the motorized recreationalist, the clear waters of Lake Louise (and adjoining Susitna Lake ) cover 37 square miles. From boating (rentals are available) in the summer to snowmachining in the winter, motorheads will be pleased with this destination as well.

Cross-country skiing and dog mushing are popular in the winter here as well.

For those with just the "final destination" in mind, Lake Louise is about a three-hour drive from the core area of Palmer and Wasilla. But, the drive to Lake Louise is worthy of a few stops along the way.

This corridor of the Glenn Highway offers sweeping views of the Matanuska River, access to the Matanuska Glacier and charming, rustic roadside lodges and restaurants, so you may want to plan for some additional time both coming and going.

The article was provided by the Matanuska-Susitna Convention & Visitors Bureau.