Matanuska Valley

Palmer is a small farming community of 7000, nestled in a mountain bowl known as the Matensuska Valley. 374 miles from the Canadian border, Palmer will be the first developed town heading south on Glenn Hwy. With its scenic views and wide open spaces, it was a definite choice for Vanstock 2020.

History

Originally a railway station established in 1916, Palmer became a fully-fledged town out of a New Deal experiment from President Roosevelt in 1935. Forming the Matanuska Colony, 203 families from Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota set out to utilize Alaska’s long summer days and fertile soil. Although the weather turned out to be harsher than advertised, and crop failure was high, some Colonist families still live in Palmer today.

Resources

A local Fred Meyer grocery, farmers market/vendor fair on Fridays, water fill-up station, gas and diesel, plus loads of hiking (Lazy Mountain and the Butte). Matanuska Glacier is 40 minutes out, 24 miles long and 4 miles wide. This glacier is a must see!

The musk ox and reindeer farms are a fun day activity to interact with some of Alaska’s cutest hoofed creatures.

Palmer on the Map

See your route!