마타누스카-수시트나 자치구 주변 최고의 가족 하이킹 & 워킹 코스

Ascending Hatch Peak from the east is a pretty easy hike up a narrow ridge trail. If you choose to make a full loop and continue back down into the bowl along the western ridgeline, be prepared for hiking on big pieces of loose rock and large, jagged scree.

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.

I think this might be the largest campground in Denali State Park. It's no secret that you can pick lots of berries here in the fall, and it's just a quick walk from the nearby lake. However, it's also no secret that the marshy ground in this area makes the campground and neighboring lake VERY buggy (think hordes of mosquitoes) in the summer. Bear sightings are also extremely common here in almost every season, because they like berries — and Byers Lake — too.

Matanuska Lakes State Recreation Area is just one part of the huge swath of green space known as the Matanuska Greenbelt. There are several trailheads accessible to the south of Long Lake, a loop trail around Long Lake itself, and tie-ins with other parts of the Matanuska Greenbelt trail system, including the Crevasse Moraine trail system to the north.

The Independence Mine parking area, just on the other side of the road from here, is behind a gate that is closed in the evening. It usually requires a modest fee (it seems to change every few years, but tends to be around $5-$10 per vehicle). If the gate is open you can save some distance by parking here, but otherwise you'll need to walk from the parking lot further down the road.

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.

The Matanuska Lakes State Recreation Area is located behind the city. There are many beautiful lakes, accessible both in summer and winter with the right equipment.