Once a center of coal mining activity, Chickaloon is now a popular staging area for a variety of outdoor adventures ranging from sport fishing and glacier trekking to whitewater rafting and ice climbing. , ABOUT CHICKALOON (AHTNA ATHABASCAN: NAY'DINI'AA NA'), Chickaloon is located at Mile 76 of the Glenn Highway and is surrounded by the Talkeetna and Chugach Mountains and flanked by the mighty Matanuska River, making it a great starting point for outdoor adventures. Originally the area was a center of trade by Athabascan people who brought copper, sheep, and goats from the north to swap for salmon, beluga whale, and fur seals from tribes from the…, THINGS TO DO, The most popular activity in Chickaloon is whitewater rafting on the Matanuska River. Guides lead parties of rafters down the river’s famous Lion Head, a stretch of Class III-IV whitewater that often includes a stop to explore the foot of Matanuska Glacier . Chickaloon is the staging area for a number of adventures, from easy, scenic river floats to heart-pounding whitewater trips. Several…
Type: Landing Page
At the edge of the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve and overshadowed by Mount Sanford is Chistochina, a traditional Athabascan village of about 80 residents. , ABOUT CHISTOCHINA (AHTNA ATHABASCAN: TSIIS TL’EDZE’ CAEGGE), Chistochina is along the Tok Cut-off Road, 42 miles northeast of Glennallen , and surrounded by rivers and creeks: Sinona Creek, Boulder Creek, Chistochina River, and the largest of them all, the Copper River. The north entrance to the largest national park in the United States, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, is only 35 miles from the community. The area was originally an…, THINGS TO DO, Chistochina has remained predominately an Athabascan village, where subsistence hunting, fishing, trapping, and gathering are the basis of the economy. There is excellent king salmon fishing in both the Gulkana and Klutina Rivers, peaking in July. Both rivers also support sockeye salmon runs, with guides and outfitters available in nearby Gulkana. Chistochina was the site of a minor gold rush…
Type: Landing Page
Strategically located at the confluence of the Klutina and Copper Rivers, Copper Center was originally a large, winter village for Ahtna Athabascan families who have lived in the region for more than 5,000 years. The first lodge in the Copper River Basin was built in 1896 and provided a soft bed and a hot meal to travelers, most of them miners following the Valdez-Fairbanks Trail during the…, ABOUT COPPER CENTER (AHTNA ATHABASCAN: TL’ATICAE’E), Since the creation of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve in 1980, Copper Center has served as one of the gateways for visitors entering the massive national park. It is a full-service community with a small selection of accommodations, restaurants, campgrounds, supplies, gas, and tire repair. The Wrangell-St Elias National Park Headquarters & Visitor Center is along the…
Type: Landing Page
Eklutna is an Alaska Native village of about 70 residents that is within the boundaries of the Municipality of Anchorage in Southcentral Alaska. The area is best known for its iconic cemetery and the nearby Eklutna Lake, a playground for outdoor recreationalists. , ABOUT EKLUTNA (DENA'INA ATHABASCAN: IDLUGHET) , Eklutna is one of the oldest inhabited areas in the Municipality of Anchorage . Archaeological evidence suggests it is more than 800 years old, although the first non-Native settlers didn’t arrive until the 1840s. Those first settlers were Russian Orthodox missionaries, and their influence remains visible today at the Eklutna Historical Park Cemetery. In a blending of Dena’ina Athabascan and…, THINGS TO DO, The nearby Eklutna Lake State Recreation Area is a recreational paradise, including more than 25 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, kayaking and canoeing opportunities, fishing, and a campground. Eklutna Lake is seven miles long and is the largest body of water in , Chugach State Park, . It is also incredibly scenic, framed by glaciers and the high peaks of the Chugach Mountains along its shoreline. Fat-tire bikes and kayaks can be rented at the campground during the summer, by the hour or by the day. The campground has 50 campsites (all first come, first serve), a group camping area, and three public use cabins that can be reserved in advance. Closer to the Glenn Highway is …
Type: Landing Page
If catching one of the state’s most prized varieties of salmon is on your list, look no further than Gakona., ABOUT GAKONA (AHTNA ATHABASCAN: GGAX KUNA’), Gakona and neighboring Gakona Junction sit at the confluence of the Copper and Gakona Rivers, 15 miles northeast of Glennallen and just east of the Richardson Highway on the Tok Cut-off Road. With a combined population that barely tops 200, the communities make up for their size with awesome recreational opportunities., THINGS TO DO, Regarded as a paradise for anglers and rafters looking for big fish and whitewater adventure, Gakona is a great place to base your quest for the famed Copper River red (sockeye) salmon and king salmon. Popular fishing areas include the Copper, Gulkana, and Klutina Rivers. Local outfitters lead full-day and half-day fishing and sightseeing trips and can provide gear rentals and shuttle service if…
Type: Landing Page
Isolated and quaint, Halibut Cove is a small village of about 90 permanent residents nestled on the east side of Kachemak Bay., ABOUT HALIBUT COVE, There are no roads to Halibut Cove – in fact there are no roads in Halibut Cove. The community is only 12 miles across Kachemak Bay from Homer and the famous Homer Spit, which makes it an interesting side trip for anyone visiting Homer. Halibut Cove’s peak years date back to 1911 when it supported 42 herring salteries and a population of more than 1,000. After the salteries closed, most…, THINGS TO DO, To get to Halibut Cove, visitors can take one of the ferry services that cruise daily from the Homer Spit. Along the way ferries swing past Gull Island, home to some 16,000 nesting seabirds including puffins, kittiwakes, murres, and cormorants, and boat operators offer tours of the island for those interested in birding. Scheduled ferry departures leave plenty of time to explore the art…, STAYING & EATING IN HALIBUT COVE, Halibut Cove is home to two wilderness lodges that offer luxurious accommodations with stunning ocean and mountain views. There’s also a variety of guest houses, cottages, and cabins. Halibut Cove also offers a truly unique dining experience at the Saltry, a fine dining restaurant focusing on local fare and seafood perched right over the water on Ismailof Island. Reservations are required and…
Type: Landing Page
Nikiski boasts an enviable location adjacent to , Captain Cook State Recreation Area, on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula , about 10 miles north of the bustling town of Kenai ., ABOUT NIKISKI, Nikiski is an oil and gas town, with onshore production facilities and offshore drilling platforms in Cook Inlet. The community’s more than 4,000 residents mostly work in and around this industry, and the discovery of oil on the peninsula in 1957 is what led Nikiski to grow from a small homesteading community to what it is today., THINGS TO DO, Nine miles north of Nikiski on the Kenai Spur Highway is Captain Cook State Recreation Area , a 3,460-acre state park that is one of the main draws for visitors to the area. This quiet state recreation area encompasses forests, lakes, rivers, and wide beaches along Cook Inlet and features incredible views of the Alaska Range volcanoes. The state recreation area is home to a campground, hiking…
Type: Landing Page
The isolated village of Skwentna isn’t on Alaska’s road system, but it’s a major thoroughfare for dogs – the village is a checkpoint on the famous Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race ., ABOUT SKWENTNA, Skwentna has a population of about 30 people and lies on the south bank of the Skwentna River at its junction with Eight Mile Creek. This small village is located west of the Mat-Su Valley and is a 70-mile flight from Anchorage ., THINGS TO DO, Several fly-in wilderness lodges and cabins are located in the Skwentna area catering to visitors who want to get off the beaten track for fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, and boating. Most lodges will arrange private air taxi service on a float plane or bush plane that will take you directly to their property. Skwentna is an official checkpoint on the annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race from …, Nome, each March, as well as a gas stop for the Iron Dog Snowmobile Race in February. The Iditarod Trail Invitational , a 350-mile race that combines skiing, mountain biking, and snowshoeing, also makes a stop in Skwentna. The area drained by the Skwentna and Yentna rivers has many lakes and small streams that support all five species of salmon in Alaska. Taking advantage of the fine fishing are a…, HISTORY, Dena'ina Athabascans fished and hunted the Skwentna and Yentna rivers for centuries. Permanent settlers did not show up until after the Alaska Road Commission cut the Iditarod National Historic Trail in 1908, connecting Seward to , Nome, . Roadhouses were later constructed along the trail, including the Old Skwentna Roadhouse, to service the prospectors, trappers, and Alaska Natives who used sled dogs to transport goods over the trail.
Type: Landing Page
Located on the Kenai Peninsula , 10 miles northeast of Soldotna and 130 miles from Anchorage , Sterling is a full-service community geared toward visitors who are preparing to venture into the surrounding wilderness of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge ., ABOUT STERLING, In and around Sterling, campgrounds, state access sites, and trails are plentiful, but the crown jewel of local outdoor recreation options is the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge ., THINGS TO DO, Sterling serves as the base for anglers and canoers who arrive every summer to land trophy king salmon or paddle the wilderness waterways of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge . A number of charter fishing guides operate in the Sterling area and often use drift boats to float clients down the Kenai River. Four species of salmon - king, sockeye, pink, and silver - spawn up the Kenai River at…, Captain Cook State Recreation Area, . The easier and more popular Swan Lake Route connects 30 lakes with forks in the Moose River over 60 miles. The area around Sterling has been home to Kenaitze Indians for more than 2,000 years. An archaeological site containing prehistoric house pits was uncovered at the Izaac Walton State Recreation Site just west of Sterling. The recreation area is a great spot for boating, picnicking, and…
Type: Landing Page
With its forested landscape and protected coastal waters, Afognak Island is abundant in wildlife such as bears and elk and is a popular destination for fishing, wildlife viewing, or quiet retreats., ABOUT AFOGNAK ISLAND (SUGPIAQ: AQW'ANEQ), For the most part, Afognak Island is pure Alaska wilderness — home to Kodiak brown bear, Sitka black-tailed deer, and Roosevelt elk. Orcas, gray whales, humpbacks, fin whales, and minke whales populate the surrounding ocean waters. Offshore, sea lions, seals, and sea otters are common sights while river otter, beaver, fox, marten, and ermine make their home in the coastal habitats. Land ownership…, THINGS TO DO, Seasonal residents arrive during the summer for subsistence fishing and hunting or for logging. But for visitors, the main attraction is fishing, with the numerous streams and lakes swimming with red, pink, and silver salmon along with rainbow, steelhead, and Dolly Varden. Offshore saltwater fishing is also very good for halibut, lingcod, sea bass, flounder, greenling, and red snapper. Visitors…, HISTORY, Originally a traditional Sugpiaq village made up of a series of settlements along the beach, the community of Afognak was nearly destroyed by the Good Friday earthquake of 1964. A new community known as Port Lions was constructed on the northeast coast of Kodiak Island , and the residents of Afognak relocated permanently.
Type: Landing Page