Winter Staycation: Sledding in the Mat-Su Borough

WASILLA— The Matanuska-Susitna Borough is home to a wide variety of sledding trails for all ages and occasions. Local families can choose locations that are groomed regularly at recreational parks, off the beaten path or right around the corner.

Below are five go-to sledding locations that are easily accessible for families.

1) The Crevasse-Moraine Trailhead

This is among the most frequented sledding spots in the core Valley area due to its ease of access, central location, and highly versatile and groomed sledding hill that caters to all age groups.

The sledding hill is located near the parking lot. According to the Borough website, the hill offers “extreme fun when padded with heavy snow.”

There’s a pavilion area at the base of the hill with large lights stretching up to the top. There’s steps built into the side to aid the climb back up, making it easy for parents to choose their level of intensity based on their child’s age.

Beyond the sledding hill, Crevasse-Moraine contains almost 7 miles of trails built on ridges and depressions left behind by glaciers, giving the area its name. The looping trails with numerous options to choose from offers varying levels of difficulty from novice to expert, depending on the activity.

2) Matanuska Greenbelt

Crevasse-Moraine’s trails connect to an extensive trail system called the Matanuska Greenbelt. The Greenbelt connects numerous trails and recreational sites including the Matanuska Lake, UAF Extension Farm, and Mat-Su College Trailhead.

Popular summer activities across the Greenbelt include, hiking, biking, running, and horseback riding.

The trails are groomed for cross-country skiing during the winter months. Most loops offer both classic and skate skiing. Winter Horseback riding is also permitted.

According to the Borough website, the Greenbelt is utilized by local high school cross country ski and running teams throughout the year, and to be advised for trail closures.

Leashes are required for dogs. This non-motorized trail system is popular among equestrian riders and there’s designated trails with frequent signage.

3) Hatcher Pass

Hatcher Pass is one of the most popular sites for outdoor recreation among locals throughout the year. There’s numerous groomed trails with expansive nature beckoning for those who want to leave the beaten path beckoning around every corner, giving the area a diverse set of options for just about every outdoor activity.

Hatcher Pass is a go-to winter destination for Valley snowboarders and skiers. It also sees its fair share of family sledding trips each season. The central location is ideal for Wasilla and Palmer residents since it sits between the two communities, but the trip is still fairly close to the farther reaching communities like Big Lake and Sutton.

4) Government Peak Recreation Area

The Government Peak Recreation Area is highly utilized by winter hikers, fat-tire bikers, skiers, and snowboarders. The trail system is diverse and expansive enough to accommodate all sorts of winter activities, including sledding. Sledders should exercise caution and stay aware of their surroundings while looking for their ideal hills.

5) West Butte Trail

The West Butte Trail offers an iconic hike that most locals use to show off the area with their visiting relatives. The area has numerous avenues to navigate through, making it easy to find a sledding hill off the beaten path.

The Borough called it the “The Matauska-Susitna Borough’s most popular hiking trail” on their website, making the following statement, “If there’s one hike you want to take visitors, this is it. It’s a short hike, but gets your heart in the attic fast. The brief work has lasting rewards: an epic view— Knik Glacier, the face of 6,398-foot Pioneer Peak, and farms of the Valley floor. Turn to the northwest and take in the Talkeetna Mountains. Turn southwest and see the silhouette of Sleeping Lady or Mount Susitna. When the summer night glows golden and pink, many hikers are standing tall on top of the rock of the Butte grabbing selfies with sweeping heroic backdrop.”

Valley sledders are advised to keep an eye out for cross country skiers, fat tire bikers, and all others recreating on the trail when selecting a hill.

If a sledding hill is located at a state or Borough recreational site, be sure to pay any required parking fees. Parking fees can be paid instantly without the need of cash at the Borough website.

For more information about local parks and trails in the Borough, visit their website at matsugov.us/trails

To search for Hatcher Pass and other state run parks and trails, visit dnr.alaska.gov/parks/units/hatcherpass/hatcherpass