Nordic Skiing Adventures: Trails, Tips, and Events with Mat-Su Ski Club
Contributed by Marla Jakab
Are you curious about Nordic skiing, eager to get started, or wondering where to ski? The Mat-Su Ski Club, a local non-profit organization, is your go-to resource for all things Nordic skiing. We groom trails in four fantastic locations across the Mat Su Valley, offering programs and events suitable for all skill levels, from beginners to advanced enthusiasts.
Wondering where to start? GPRA, at the top of Mountain Trails Drive in Palmer, provides family-friendly trails, intermediate loops, and competition-level ski options. Archangel Road near mile 14.4 on Hatcher Pass Road is excellent for beginners, while Independence Mine, located at the end of Hatcher Pass Road, presents a challenge with its steep incline initially. Moose Range boasts two trailheads, one at Wendt Road and the other at Murphy Road in Palmer, offering rolling hills and winding narrow trails for a delightful skiing or biking experience. *Please note that all these locations offer multi-use trails, with GPRA being the only one providing a combination of ski-only and multi-use trails.
How to get there? Visit our website at www.matsuski.org or scan the QR code in this article for detailed trail maps and ski reports. On our website, visit the “ski info” tab for trail maps and ski reports.
We take pride in offering timely grooming reports shared through our website, thanks to our dedicated volunteer trail groomers who utilize the live grooming tracking app, Nordic Pulse. Our activities range from grooming ski trails to providing Nordic ski lessons for kids and adults.
We host SKI101 clinics, community ski races, and special events like the Holiday Tour of Lighted Trees in December and the Ski for Women in February. Alaska is unique, as it's the only state without a ski pass requirement for Nordic ski trails. Support your local Nordic ski club with a membership or donation to sustain grooming and trail maintenance efforts. We hope to ski you out there on the trails!
Save these dates:
Race To The Outhouse (RTTO): November 25th, 10 AM, Venue TBD.
SKI 101 On Snow: December 7th, 6:30pm, GPRA. For absolute beginners an intro to learning how to put on gear and glide on snow for the first time. Free event includes info about adult lessons.
Adult Nordic Ski Lesson Registration opens Dec 1st for Nordic ski classes in January and February 2024.
Holiday Tree Tour: December 22nd, 4-7 pm. Tour the illuminated holiday trees on Pioneer Loop at GPRA on skis, foot, bicycle, or kick sled. Free event for all.
Icicle Double: December 30th and 31st at GPRA. The Icicle Double is an annual two-day event held since 2013 on the weekend after Christmas. It is the Mat-Su Ski Club’s premier ski race of the season. This is a family fun AND competitive race ski event.
Ski for Women: February 11, 2024. Join this costume-optional, fun ski event to raise money for a local charity. Donations are encouraged, and the event is free for all.