マタヌスカ-スシトナ自治区の湖・トップ8

There's a pit toilet here (bring your own toilet paper just in case). Last time I was here, the floor of the toilet was quite rotten. Maybe it's been replaced by now, but just in case... tread carefully!

This lake is absolutely gorgeous, and very popular in the summer, with non-motorized watercraft for rent, a loop trail all the way around the lake, and a massive campground just steps away. The west end is the nicest for walking (and everything else); the east end of the lake gets quite marshy. And, please be aware that summer brings hordes of mosquitoes, and bear sightings are extremely common here in most seasons.

This loop around Talkeetna Lakes is a hidden gem. At the north side of the lake the trail takes you right up to the water and you get a great view down the length of the lake. Keep an eye out in late summer for cranberries and blueberries!

X-Lake Loop is an easy trail that circles Talkeetna Lake, offering vibrant scenery and a diverse ecosystem. The flat trail is surrounded by forest, making it an ideal spot to admire a variety of plants, mushrooms, and wildlife, including raptors, loons, foxes, bears, moose, otters, and beavers. Nature enthusiasts will especially enjoy hiking after rain, when mushrooms are more likely to appear and the colors are popping.

This is a very popular hiking trail, but you can also bike it. (Travel is allowed in both directions). The remote location and heavy forest makes unexpected wildlife encounters quite possible, so make sure you're prepared to handle bear, moose, and other wildlife encounters. In the winter, you might swap your usual mountain bike out for a fat tire bike or a set of skis.

Red Shirt Lake is a popular hiking destination, but you can mountain bike here too. The rolling, non-technical trail is completely closed-in by trees until you get to the lake. You can rent a canoe at the lake to go paddling or fishing, but you must arrange the rental in advance. See https://www.tippecanoealaska.com/ for more information.

This pretty alpine lake sits in a mountain bowl, surrounded by boulders — but the approach itself is pretty mild, with just a bit of rocky trail to deal with. This is a very popular destination for families.

A small sign marks the actual pass here, and there is a small parking area with just enough room for a few cars. Just on the other side of the gravel road you'll find a trailhead for the family-friendly hike up to April Bowl, which in a normal year contains three small lakes. If you're feeling rugged, you can also hike up a rocky ridgeline to the obvious summit of Hatch Peak, which looms over the bowl.