COMPASS
WEST U.S.
Independence Mine State Historical Park
The magic of Mat-Su
Along Hatcher Pass Road, visitors
can find some of the best hiking trails
in Alaska, including the Gold Mint Trail
and Reed Lakes Trail. Gold Mint fol-
lows the glacial-fed Little Susitna River
and goes past a number of waterfalls.
Reed Lakes takes hikers to two high-
altitude lakes, including its namesake,
and offers spectacular views of jagged
mountains and the Mat-Su Valley below.
For more information, reach out to
Ressler at [email protected] or go
to alaskavisit.com.
Discover The Huntington
Group Tours Available | Pasadena Adjacent | huntington.org
Reed Lakes Trail
36
January 2018
Tucked between Anchorage and Denali
Willow. Originally used by Alaska gold-
National Park, Alaska’s Mat-Su Valley is
rush miners in the 1930s and 1940s, the
home to nature-based attractions, his-
area is now a popular recreational spot.
torical sites and quaint cities.
“Hatcher Pass Road is one of the
“The Mat-Su Valley is a region the
most scenic drives you’ll ever take,” he
size of West Virginia, and we’re just 35
says. “You are surrounded by alpine
miles north of Anchorage,” says Casey
meadows, the Little Susitna River,
Ressler, marketing and communications
granite peaks and vast wilderness. It’s
manager for the CVB. “[The area] is
the Alaska people dream of, and it’s
filled with Denali adventures like flight-
extremely accessible.”
seeing and riverboat trips in Talkeetna,
In addition to taking in the great
Matanuska Glacier (Alaska’s largest
views along the way, groups can visit
road-accessible glacier), fishing, outdoor
Independence Mine and do some hik-
recreation and more.”
ing. Positioned at the 3,886-foot su