Photo Credit: Michael DeYoung

Southcentral Region

Traditional lands of the Athabascan people, Southcentral Alaska is home to over half of the state's population. Anchorage, the largest city in Alaska, is the starting point for most adventures in the region and seamlessly blends urban amenities with Alaska wilderness. Here, you’ll find world-class museums, plenty of lodging options, fantastic restaurants, and shopping, along with a over 100 miles of multi-use trails, easy access to Chugach State Park, and salmon fishing right downtown.

Southcentral is a playground of Alaska activities, from legendary salmon fishing on the Kenai River and Copper River Valley to hiking in the Chugach National Forest to whale watching in Kenai Fjords National Park. With mountains, lakes, tundra, and coastline, Southcentral offers the advantages of remote wilderness but is easily accessible by a network of highways. The majority of the 400-mile-long Alaska Railroad cuts through the region, starting in Seward and connecting to top destinations in Southcentral including Whittier, Girdwood, Anchorage, and Talkeetna.

The region is home to the largest national park in the United States - Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, accessible through the gateway communities of Glennallen, Chitina, Copper Center, and McCarthy. This 13 million acre park is a haven for backcountry adventures and provides a fascinating glimpse into the state’s copper mining history.

Boaters and kayakers will revel in exploring the coves, bays, and glaciers of Prince William Sound from the coastal communities of Whittier, Valdez, and Cordova. The Mat-Su Valley is the center of the region’s agricultural activity and provides access to hiking, fishing, boating, camping, and the basecamp for Denali climbing and flightseeing trips from Talkeetna. Anglers in search of that trophy salmon or halibut will find plenty of opportunities for fishing in the Kenai Peninsula, along with camping, hiking, kayaking, and wildlife viewing in top destinations like Seward, Homer, and Kenai.