Topic
Trails Passport Information
With the inaugural launch of the Trails Passport, the Mat-Su Borough Parks and Rec Division offer the following challenge: visit all nine trails in the passport, get your passport “stamped”, and be entered into a raffle offering a variety of donated prizes.
The challenge is open to all ages and there is no limit to the number of times you can visit the trails. Visitors can use the Passport all year long, however, because many of the prizes have a seasonal aspect, the Challenge runs through July 19th. Complete all the trails, log your progress, and be entered to win. The prize drawing will occur on Wednesday, July 22nd and winners announced that day. Winners need not be present to win.
There are two ways to enter:
1. Digital: The digital version of the Passport is linked to the Borough GIS system of trail maps and provides a separate page for each of the trail systems in the Challenge. When you visit each of the trail systems, click on the appropriate trail in the passport and then click the “check in” link. This will bring you to a page that will log your visit to that trail. Note that you’ll need to provide a picture of your visit. Snap a shot of the entry sign, a picture of you on the trail, your dog, whatever, we just need to know you were actually there!
2. Printed: Obtain a copy of the Passport from various locations including Borough facilities like libraries, pools, the DSJ building, the Visitors Bureau, and many others. Visit each of the trail systems in the booklet (one per page) and obtain a unique sticker assigned to each of the different trail systems. The stickers are available at the pay sites. If the stickers are empty, simply take a photo on the trail showing you visited. Once all your pages are “stamped” take your completed Passport to any Borough facility and the staff will validate your Passport and help you register for the raffle.
The prizes range from tickets/passes to various venues and events in the Mat-Su Borough, annual parking passes, pool or ice rink passes, and other items. We’d like to thank our very generous sponsor-donors for providing the prizes:
Body In Balance AK
Salmon Berry Travel and Tours
Musk Ox Development Corp
Revel Alaska
Alaska Raceway Park
907 Wrestling Academy
The first drawing is scheduled for July 22, 2026.
Services
Trails
Settlers Bay Coastal Trails
Trails at Settlers Bay Coastal Park are a part of 295 acres of land that were donated to the Mat-Su Borough by the Greatland Trust.
Butte Trail
The Butte is the most popular hiking trail in the Mat-Su Borough. The first mile is a gravel trail that winds through thick forest. Stairs take you nearly above treeline via switchbacks. A silty path and more stairs lead you to the igneous rock summit.
Matanuska Peak Trail
The trail passes through forest to alpine to talus field to pinnacle. The view from Matanuska Peak is spectacular!
Matanuska River Park Trails
Matanuska River Park has approximately 1.6 miles of trails, which form a loop from the parking areas to the river. The trails connect the campground, day use area, and athletic fields to the riverside.
Government Peak Rec Area
The Government Peak Recreation Area (GPRA) offers summer and winter recreation for skiiers, hikers, bikers, and more.
Talkeetna Lakes Trails
Summer and winter recreation opportunities in Talkeetna Lakes Park include skate and classic skiing, hiking, biking, jogging, and fishing access.
Crevasse Moraine Trail System
Crevasse-Moraine’s approximately 6.7 miles of trails wind through glacial ridges and depressions, offering year-round recreation across forested loops, open terrain, and snowy slopes.
Pioneer Ridge Austin Helmers Trail
This trail travels from a forested area to above tree-line where it traverses the northeast slope of Pioneer Peak.
Lazy Mountain Recreation Area
Two trail options: the Lazy Mountain Trail is 3,000 feet in less than two miles. The longer, less steep, Lazy Moose Trail, zigzags up the hill for three miles. Lazy Moose reconnects with Lazy Mountain Trail above the first picnic table.
Eska Creek Falls
At elevation 1,800 feet, the Eska Falls trail opens into the alpine, offering sweeping views of the Chugach Mountains. In fall, groundcover and foliage carpet the slopes in burnt orange and red leading up to the golden-gray rocks of Eska Peak.
Alcantra Trail System
Joggers, walkers, bikers, and disc golf players are traveling this 1.6 mile paved path. It forms two loops. One circles the baseball field. The larger one runs parallel to Serendipity Loop.