Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site
- Status
- Status not posted
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Not stated — check with park
- Camping
- 6 campsitesAlso cabins, lodge or inn rooms
- Official site
- dnr.alaska.gov(907) 745-5151
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Covering about 234 acres, Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site lies in Matanuska-Susitna County, about 45 miles east of Palmer.
The park supports winter sports, canoeing and kayaking, and hiking. Overnight options include 6 campsites, with tent sites. Roofed lodging includes cabins and lodge rooms.
Fees and passes
Per vehicle daily parking fee at developed units (typically $5), per-site/vehicle camping (typically $20) and boat-launch fees; many remote units and marine parks are free. Listed by unit in the statewide fee table.
Statewide fee rule from Alaska's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.
Alaska park passes
- Annual Day Use Parking Pass — $60. Day-use parking at most state parks for the calendar year (not Pillars/Eagle Rock boat launches, Arctic Valley, Eagle River Nature Center) Details
- Annual Boat Launch Pass — $150. Boat launch fees for the calendar year Details
- Disabled Veterans Camping Pass. Camping for qualifying disabled veterans Details
From the Alaska state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Camping
- Not required
- Booking system
- Reserve Alaska State Parks (reservealaskastateparks.com)
Campsites are FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED.
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Camping
| Campground or site type | Sites | Hookups / features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campsites Camping Limit - 14 days | 6 | — |
Camping details from the park
6 Campsites (see fee page)
Camping Limit - 14 days
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Cabins and lodging
Cabins - contact Long Rifle Lodge 745-5151
Things to do
CampingHikingCanoeing and kayakingWinter sports
Trails
The Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site, managed by Long Rifle Lodge, is located one mile south of the Lodge at Mile 101 on the Glenn Highway National Scenic Byway. The recreation site has 12 campsites on a gravel loop road, water pump, toilets, fire pits, and picnic tables. The Edge Nature Trail begins at the rest area and provides a 20-minute walk through the forest to glacier viewing platforms. Summer activities include hiking, glacier trekking and river rafting. Winter activities include skiing, snowshoeing and snow machining.
Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site is adjacent to the Glenn Highway Scenic Byway at milepost 101. Easy accessibility off the highway provides excellent views of the Matanuska Glacier which creates the headwaters of the Matanuska River. The 300 acre recreation site provides glacier viewing beginning at the parking lot and extends along the interpretive nature trail. Although no access is provided to the glacier from the recreation site, it provides some of the safest and best public viewing opportunities within the area. The site is open until closed by winter snow and ice conditions.
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Picnic areas
Camping
- Tent camping
Lodging
- Cabins
- Lodge or inn rooms
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
ADA Facility - Yes
Toilets - ♿
Water - ♿
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- Mile 101 Glenn Highway
AK - Nearest town
- Palmer — about 45 mi east (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 61.7971, -147.8120
- Phone
- (907) 745-5151
Google Maps directionsApple Maps
Directions from the park
Take the Glenn Hwy. Pass through the town of Chickaloon. Park entrance on the right, at milepost 101 of the Glenn Hwy.
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Alaska State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- Alaska DNR ArcGIS 'ASP Park Boundary' layer (OpenData/Recreational_ParkBoundary MapServer/2, refreshed daily), with unit pages from the region 'List of Units' tabs
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology