The Most Scenic Way to See Denali National Park Is Through This River Valley With Turquoise Ice Floe

Our helicopter gently landed on the Knik Glacier, a stunning turquoise ice floe in the Knik River Valley that popped against the backdrop of the wintery Chugach Mountains. We slipped our crampons over our boots and set out across its frozen surface. It’s an otherworldly experience of ice caves and sloping ice passageways along a rippled and sometimes fissured surface.

“I came to Alaska in 2019 with the intention of doing a season of tour flying out here,” our pilot and owner of Outbound Heli Adventures told me. “I knew three weeks into it that I was not leaving.” It’s not hard to understand why anyone would decide to live in this stunning landscape of Alaska’s hidden gem.

Planning an adventure through Alaska might begin with the biggest hits: Juneau, Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali National Park, or Fairbanks. They are iconic and crowd-pleasers, but the Knik River Valley is also quintessential Alaska. It’s just under an hour from Anchorage and can easily be a day trip, a stop on the way to Denali National Park off AK-1, or the destination itself.

Part of the 23,000 square mile Matanuska-Susitna region (called the Mat-Su), the Knik River Valley has every authentic outdoor Alaska adventure you could want. If you’re visiting for the first time, there are plenty of choices that can set you up for a fantastic adventure for an afternoon before you hit the road.

If time allows, stay a night at Alaska Backcountry Cottages, which are just outside the nearest city of Palmer. These are cozy one and two-story rentals with incredible mountain views.

The cottages are also on the site of Outbound Heli Adventures, which has a wide range of icy excursions connected to the Knik Glacier: “flightseeing,” explore ice caves, glacial hiking, ice climbing, paddleboarding, dog sledding, and camping.

For ground-based adventure, Alaska Horse Adventures provides 1.5-hour to three-hour scenic horseback trail rides. They also offer covered wagon rides and sleigh rides during the winter. If you want something more adventurous, their Ultimate Alaska Adventure combines horseback, float trips, and ATV excursions over sand dunes. Alaska Zipline Adventure Park offers a way to get in the skies, with ziplines that go as fast as 45 miles per hour.

You can also opt to see Alaska by foot, with the guides at Revel Treks & Tours who take you on nature walks, farm and history tours, and show you to the mountain summit. In the winter their adventures include skiing and hiking. Adventures by True North Alaska offers snowshoe tours that can include northern lights experiences, kayaking on the Knik River, ice fishing, or winter expeditions at a remote lodge.

When you’re done with your day of adventures and you want to refuel, feast at Turkey Red or Palmer Alehouse in the nearby city of Palmer. Turkey Red is a casual eatery with sustainable Mediterranean menu and baked goods, while Palmer Alehouse is a popular neighborhood family-friendly pub offering a wide selection of local craft beers.

When my glacial tour with Outbound was over, I dropped in at Palmer Alehouse for a burger and fries, chatted with friendly locals, and started planning my next Alaska adventure.