Trails add to appeal of area

Recently, more than $150,000 was awarded to Mat-Su organizations for trail improvements from the state Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation’s Recreational Trails Grant program. This is welcome news, as trail enhancements — as well as the creation of new trails — add to the Valley’s appeal in the tourism industry.

Visitors to Alaska revel in the beauty of the area, with wilderness experiences being at the top of their wish lists for their vacation. Trails play a role in that — whether they are nonmotorized hiking and skiing trails, or motorized trails they can use to get to the backcountry.

Trails have an economic impact in the local tourism industry as well. Better trails, new trail systems and accessibility attract more visitors to them, which in turn prolongs their stay in the Valley.

For example, if tourists are looking for a hiking experience, they may spend extra time in the Mat-Su Valley during their Alaska vacation because of the excellent trail systems and the bevy of options available to them here. That helps generate more room nights in local hotels and bed and breakfasts, which in turn benefits the Mat-Su Borough in the form of bed tax revenue. When you factor in spending on other items such as meals and gas, the economic impact of having a top-tier trail system can truly be felt locally.

Motorized trails are important as well, and as an organization the Mat-Su Convention and Visitors Bureau hasn’t taken a formal position on this political issue because we see the importance of both user groups. Snowmachine tours in the winter and four-wheeler tours in the summer are also important to the tourism industry, as they give visitors access to a part of Alaska they may never get to experience again. They add to the economic impact of tourism in the Mat-Su Valley as well.

The grants awarded to the Mat-Su Valley were $50,000 to the Alaska State Parks Mat-Su office for a new trail connecting from Fishhook Road to multiple trails in the Hatcher Pass area (parallel to the Archangel Road Ski Trail); $49,835 to Mat-Su state parks office for the design and construction of a 1.25-mile summer mountain biking and winter skiing trail in the Hatcher Pass area; $43,765 to the same office for construction of a trail near the Nancy Lake Parkway in Willow, from the park boundary to the winter trail head; $4,623 to Mat-Su Trails Council to clear brush on a trail located near Archangel Road; and $4,556 to Mat-Su Trails Council to reconstruct 800 feet of trail along Archangel Road that was destroyed by stream erosion.

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