The Most Scenic Option to See Denali Nationwide Park Is By This River Valley With Turquoise Ice Floe

Our helicopter gently landed on the Knik Glacier, a surprising turquoise ice floe within the Knik River Valley that popped in opposition to the backdrop of the wintery Chugach Mountains. We slipped our crampons over our boots and set out throughout its frozen floor. It’s an otherworldly expertise of ice caves and sloping ice passageways alongside a rippled and generally fissured floor.

“I got here to Alaska in 2019 with the intention of doing a season of tour flying out right here,” our pilot and proprietor of Outbound Heli Adventures advised me. “I knew three weeks into it that I used to be not leaving.” It’s not exhausting to know why anybody would determine to reside on this beautiful panorama of Alaska’s hidden gem.

Planning an journey by way of Alaska may start with the largest hits: Juneau, Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali Nationwide Park, or Fairbanks. They’re iconic and crowd-pleasers, however the Knik River Valley can be quintessential Alaska. It’s slightly below an hour from Anchorage and might simply be a day journey, a cease on the best way to Denali Nationwide Park off AK-1, or the vacation spot itself.

A part of the 23,000 sq. mile Matanuska-Susitna area (referred to as the Mat-Su), the Knik River Valley has each genuine out of doors Alaska journey you might need. In the event you’re visiting for the primary time, there are many selections that may set you up for a unbelievable journey for a day earlier than you hit the highway.

If time permits, keep an evening at Alaska Backcountry Cottages, that are simply exterior the closest metropolis of Palmer. These are cozy one and two-story leases with unbelievable mountain views.

The cottages are additionally on the positioning of Outbound Heli Adventures, which has a variety of icy excursions linked to the Knik Glacier: “flightseeing,” discover ice caves, glacial mountain climbing, mountaineering, paddleboarding, canine sledding, and tenting.

For ground-based journey, Alaska Horse Adventures supplies 1.5-hour to three-hour scenic horseback path rides. Additionally they provide coated wagon rides and sleigh rides in the course of the winter. If you need one thing extra adventurous, their Final Alaska Journey combines horseback, float journeys, and ATV excursions over sand dunes. Alaska Zipline Journey Park presents a technique to get within the skies, with ziplines that go as quick as 45 miles per hour.

You can too choose to see Alaska by foot, with the guides at Revel Treks & Excursions who take you on nature walks, farm and historical past excursions, and present you to the mountain summit. Within the winter their adventures embrace snowboarding and mountain climbing. Adventures by True North Alaska presents snowshoe excursions that may embrace northern lights experiences, kayaking on the Knik River, ice fishing, or winter expeditions at a distant lodge.

While you’re completed along with your day of adventures and also you wish to refuel, feast at Turkey Pink or Palmer Alehouse within the close by metropolis of Palmer. Turkey Pink is an informal eatery with sustainable Mediterranean menu and baked items, whereas Palmer Alehouse is a well-liked neighborhood family-friendly pub providing a wide array of native craft beers.

When my glacial tour with Outbound was over, I dropped in at Palmer Alehouse for a burger and fries, chatted with pleasant locals, and began planning my subsequent Alaska journey.