Outdoor Diversions on the Glenn Highway

Alaska's Matanuska Glacier (AK) [1]

Getting a good dose of nature isn't hard when you visit the Glenn Highway. From winter sports to summer pastimes the byway provides plenty of places where scenery and activity come together. Chugach State Park is accessible from the byway, and places like the Palmer Hay Flats or Matanuska Glacier provide opportunities to spot wildlife or get a closer look at a glacier. With the Chugach and Talkeetna Mountains surrounding the byway, travelers enjoy many opportunities for hiking and exploring these ancient landforms. Geology buffs will want to check out the Talkeetna Mountains. These mineral-rich formations store fossils and rocks to intrigue explorers.

Alaskan natives revere winter as the high point of the recreation season. So get outside and enjoy the snow or just sit inside by a fire and socialize. In a place where snow engulfs the land for a large part of the year, the winter recreation has been perfected. The lodges and roadhouses along the Glenn Highway are the perfect place to stop in the winter and enjoy cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing. In the area around Eureka, the skies are open and the mountains are far away. You may want to do some stargazing here or watch for the Northern Lights. You'll never see so many stars.

Long Lake State Park (AK) [2]

Even in Alaska, the snow eventually melts and summer activities become available to travelers and residents. Alaska is the land of the midnight sun in the summer when the long, sunny days make up for the nights of winter. Many people come just to see the wildflowers and watch for wildlife. During March, April, and early May, the air is filled with birds migrating and moving. A stop at milepost 118 provides an excellent opportunity for raptor viewing. The melting rivers and streams are another source of activity for anglers and whitewater enthusiasts. If you prefer to recreate within city boundaries, enjoy cycling and roller blading along Anchorage's award-winning trail system.