Palmer, Alaska
Mat-Su Valley: 21 places to camp, 19 trails, 10 fishing spots, 9 bars and breweries, 18 sights, 5 bike routes
Palmer suits a camping trip in the Mat-Su Valley, with campgrounds and dispersed sites spread around town. Hatcher Pass Summit and Hatcher Pass Lodge are among the sights, and the 11 mile Matanuska Peak Trail and the 5 mile Lazy Mountain give hikers a choice of lengths. Finger Lake State Recreation Site's 41 sites and Matanuska River Park's 85 sites are among the places to stay.
Drive from Anchorage: 50 min · from Fairbanks: Full day, 5h58
Today in Palmer
Camping near Palmer
- Anchorage North KOA (Palmer), 43 sites
- Archangel Valley Dispersed Camping
- Big Bear Campground & RV Park, ~40 sites
- Finger Lake State Recreation Site, 41 sites
- Fox Run Lodge & RV Campground
- Gold Mint Trailhead Camping
- Government Peak Recreation Area, 11 sites
- Hatcher Pass Road Dispersed
- Homestead RV Park, 60 sites
- Jim Creek Campground, 26 sites
- Jim Creek Recreation Area (Butte)
- Jonesville Coal Hills (Sutton)
- Kings River Bridge Pullout (Glenn Hwy)
- Knik River Gravel Bars (PUA)
- Matanuska Lakes State Recreation Area, 12 sites
- Matanuska River Park, 85 sites
- Mint Hut (MCA)
- Mountain View RV Park, 106 sites
- Purinton Creek Trailhead (Glenn Hwy)
- Snowbird Hut (MCA)
- The Springer RV & Campground, 34 sites
Trails near Palmer
- Bee Tree Loop, 1.6 mi
- Bodenburg Butte, 1.5 mi
- Carle Wagon Trail, 4.6 mi
- Fireweed Loop, 3.6 mi
- Kepler, Triangle, and Klaire Lakes Loop, 2.8 mi
- Knik Glacier via Jim Creek, 24 mi
- Lazy Moose & Morgan Horse Trail, 5.5 mi
- Lazy Mountain, 5 mi
- Long Lake Loop, 4.3 mi
- Low Traverse and Meadows Loop, 2.7 mi
- Matanuska Peak Trail, 11 mi
- McRoberts Creek Trail, 6.4 mi
- Moose Range Trails, 2.4 mi
- Palmer-Moose Creek Trail, 6.1 mi
- Pink Wild Rose Trail, 0.8 mi
- Pioneer Ridge (Austin Helmers), 12 mi
- Reflections Lake Loop, 1.1 mi
- Rippy Trail, 5.7 mi
- Yarrow-Xarrow and Southern Traverse Loop, 5.1 mi
Fishing near Palmer
Bars and breweries near Palmer
Sights near Palmer
- Alaska State Fairgrounds
- Alpine Historical Park (Sutton Coal Washery)
- Archangel Valley
- Downtown Palmer
- Hatcher Pass Lodge
- Hatcher Pass Summit
- Jim Creek
- Knik Glacier
- Knik Glacier Viewpoint
- Musk Ox Farm
- Palmer Hay Flats Overlook
- Palmer Hay Flats State Game Refuge
- Palmer Historic Downtown
- Palmer Towne Food Court
- Pioneer Peak
- Reflections Lake
- Reindeer Farm
- Summit Lake State Recreation Site
Biking near Palmer
- Crevasse Moraine Trail System, ~13 mi network
- Government Peak Rec Area, ~13 mi network
- Hatcher Pass Road, 12 mi out-and-back
- Matanuska Greenbelt, 20+ mi network
- Reflections Lake Loop, 1 mi loop