Winter Activities in the Palmer / Wasilla Area
Palmer / Wasilla Winter Sample Itinerary
4 Day Winter Vacation from Anchorage
See how to incorporate this area into your vacation!
The small towns of Palmer and Wasilla lie just 45 minutes north of Anchorage. In a short drive, you'll find a wealth of winter activities to fill your day (or days!).
Discover local trails on a snowmobile tour, or opt for a longer backcountry trip that launches nearby. Go winter flightseeing on a helicopter tour, or even get dropped off for some heli-snowshoeing! Tryout out skiing or snowboarding in the Talkeetna Mountains. Or visit a kennel in nearby Willow for a dog sledding adventure with Iditarod Mushers.
Most visitors will reach this area by driving in the winter. It is possible to access via the Alaska Railroad's Aurora Winter Train, but service is limited to weekends and some weekdays during February and March.
Scenic Drives View All
Guides to the Hatcher Pass, Old Glenn Highway and the Parks Highway
In the Talkeetna Mountains between the towns of Willow and Palmer, Hatcher Pass is a local favorite for recreation or a scenic drive. Hike in alpine tundra dotted with wildflowers and ptarmigan, ski fresh, deep powder, or visit Independence Mine Historical State Park.
Skiing & Snowboarding View All
Ski or snowboard in this community set in the Talkeetna mountains
Skeetawk is derived from the Dena’ina word Shk’ituk’t, which means “where we slide down” — a perfect description for this community ski area set in the Talkeetna mountains, 90 minutes north of Anchorage and 25 minutes from downtown Palmer. Hatcher Pass has always been a place backcountry skiers flocked to, but Skeetawk makes the great terrain available to even more snowsports lovers.
Snowmobile Tours View All
Owners Matti and Dan cannot think of a better way to appreciate Alaska than sharing it with others. Matti was born and raised in Palmer, Alaska and has been on snowmachines most of her life. Alaska Backcountry Adventures offers “mild to wild” experiences and prides itself on providing a customized experience for all levels of ability. It offers the widest variety of expeditions on the latest and greatest equipment.
Hop aboard an eco-friendly snowmobile in Girdwood and ride on groomed trails beneath massive, 7,000-foot glaciated peaks or visit the dazzling blue ice of Spencer Glacier. Or, head north of Anchorage for a trail ride through mid-alpine black spruce forests. No experience necessary, all gear provided, and warm beverages and snacks included.
Ice Skating View All
These frozen channels wind for miles across the Palmer Hay Flats State Game Refuge off the Glenn Highway in the mouth of the Matanuska and Knik river valleys, just 35 miles north of Anchorage. Either travel the streams or explore extensive pond networks on the flats.
Helicopter Flightseeing View All
Year round helicopter flightseeing with options of glacier landings
For outstanding viewing and incredible access to remote places, there’s nothing like flightseeing by helicopter. Join Alaska Helicopter Tours – a locally-owned, highly-respected helicopter tour and charter company – for excursions that reveal hidden sites just minutes from Anchorage. Spot wildlife from the air, stand on a glacier or land on a remote airstrip.
Experience the thrill of heli-flightseeing year-round by flying with the experienced pilots from Heli Alaska, out of Wasilla. Just 40-minutes north of Anchorage, you’ll take off from a dock and be on your way to see Alaska from the air, looking down on glaciers, tundra, and wildlife. Many tours even include a glacier landing to explore these ancient rivers of ice on foot.
Glacier trekking, kayaking, ice climbing, and other activities are even more special when combined with a spectacular helicopter ride through Alaska’s dramatic scenery. Thanks to key partnerships with other experienced Alaskan tour operators, Palmer based Outbound Heli Adventures is able to coordinate seamless outings of a lifetime! And, they pride themselves on offering the most amount of flight time with their excursions.
Parks & Trails View All
Guided Hikes & Cross Country Skiing
Set off with a small group and an experienced guide for an unforgettable exploration of the Mat-Su Valley area on foot. Nestled between the Chugach Mountains to the south and the Talkeetna Mountains to the north, there are craggy, snow-capped peaks and rushing rivers everywhere you turn: a classic Alaskan setting that comes packed with a rich history. Opt for a half-day or full day hike, or choose a hike & brew or a town tour to learn the ...more
Dog Mushing View All
Tours just north of Palmer / Wasilla in Big Lake and Willow, approximately 1.5 hours from Anchorage.
Summer or winter, visit a family-run champion kennel, meet friendly dogs and an experienced musher for a ride along private trails with views of Denali. Opt to ride in the sled or mush your own. Or, for a truly authentic adventure, go on a training run for the Iditarod! Large groups and special events welcome when organized in advance.
Winter or summer, experience the thrill of running Iditarod sled dogs and even have a chance to drive! Meet the sled dogs and hear first-hand just what it’s like to run the Iditarod.
Experience the excitement of racing champion sled dogs at the Alaska Mushing School, just 75 minutes from Anchorage. Get a professional’s insight into the mushing lifestyle as you ride behind a team of energetic sled dogs on trails connected to the famous Iditarod route. Bundle up and ride in comfort, or brave the cold and drive the team yourself!
Sightseeing Tours View All
For outstanding viewing and incredible access to remote places, there’s nothing like flightseeing by helicopter. Join Alaska Helicopter Tours – a locally-owned, highly-respected helicopter tour and charter company – for excursions that reveal hidden sites just minutes from Anchorage. Spot wildlife from the air, stand on a glacier or land on a remote airstrip.
Winter in Alaska is a magical time, with fewer visitors and a serene, snow-covered landscape. If you’re here from mid-September to mid-May, you can take it in from the comfort of the Aurora Winter Train, which runs between Anchorage and Fairbanks. It’s an easy and memorable way to travel north and experience the aurora borealis, or even do a weekend getaway to Talkeetna.
Short on time and want to see another side of Anchorage and the gorgeous surrounding area? Take a small-group tour with Escaping Anchorage, whose owner, Brittney, creates personalized adventures featuring beautiful scenery and real insights.
Wildlife View All
See reindeer and musk ox up close
The folks at this non-profit farm outside Palmer were doing sustainable agriculture long before it was cool before most people used such a term. Located 45 minutes from Anchorage, the Musk Ox Farm provides a fascinating look at the animal reintroduced to Alaska in the 1930s.
In the agricultural Matanuska Valley just north of Anchorage, you can pet a reindeer or feed fresh willow to a bull moose. Set on a 200-acre plot in Palmer, the Reindeer Farm has been in the Williams family for three generations. During the one-hour tour, you’ll hear interesting, funny, and insightful stories about these wild animals while walking around the property. If you want to see the baby reindeer, come in June!
Cross Country Skiing View All
In the Talkeetna Mountains between the towns of Willow and Palmer, Hatcher Pass is a local favorite for recreation or a scenic drive. Hike in alpine tundra dotted with wildflowers and ptarmigan, ski fresh, deep powder, or visit Independence Mine Historical State Park.