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Palmer, Alaska: Where the Fun Never Melts – A List of the Best Things to Do and Places to Visit!

Palmer is 42 miles northeast of Anchorage, in the Matanuska Valley, and the mountains start where the town stops. Pioneer Peak is over 6,000 feet and a hard day out. Bodenburg Butte is 800 feet. The Matanuska Glacier is one of the few glaciers in the world you can walk on, and you should only do that with a guide.

Palmer, Alaska sits 42 miles northeast of Anchorage, and it is small enough to walk and big enough to fill a week. Nature, hard country, history and food are all here. Very little of it requires a guide, and the parts that do are worth the money.

The scenery is the reason people come to Palmer. Mountains, glaciers and rivers surround the town, and hiking, biking, fishing and kayaking all start within a short drive in the nearby parks and wilderness areas. Moose, bears, eagles and salmon are all in this country, and you will see at least one of them. The Reindeer Farm is where you get close to something on purpose, and where you learn what reindeer have meant in Alaska.

Key Takeaways

• Palmer, Alaska, is a small town located just 42 miles northeast of Anchorage that offers a wide range of fun and exciting activities for visitors of all ages.
• Palmer is known for its stunning natural beauty, with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, glaciers, and rivers, and offers a variety of outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, fishing, and kayaking.
• Visitors can also learn about the history and culture of Palmer by visiting local attractions such as the Reindeer Farm, local breweries, and seasonal activities.

History of Palmer

Palmer, Alaska goes back to the early 1900s, and the town as it stands was founded in 1935. It was built as part of the New Deal Era, the set of programs President Franklin D. Roosevelt used to pull the United States out of the Great Depression. That is an unusual origin for a town, and it still shows.

New Deal Era

The government established the Matanuska Colony during the New Deal Era, moving over 200 families from the Midwest to Alaska to start again. Each colonist was given land, a house and supplies, along with the tools and resources to farm and grow crops. The Palmer Museum of History and Art covers the Matanuska Colony and what it did to the town.

Gold Mining Heritage

Before the farming there was gold. Alongside its New Deal Era roots, Palmer sits near the historic Hatcher Pass Gold Mine, one of the largest gold mines in Alaska during the early 1900s, which produced over 1.5 million ounces of gold across its working life. Independence Mine State Historical Park is where the gold rush era is set out and where the remains of the mine still stand.

Palmer’s history runs to good stories and stranger characters. The New Deal Era or the gold mining heritage: both are worth a day, and they are closer together than they sound.

Natural Attractions

Palmer, Alaska has plenty of country to look at, from glaciers through to mountains. The spots worth building the itinerary around:

Matanuska Glacier

The Matanuska Glacier is the one you cannot visit Palmer without seeing. It stretches over 27 miles long and is one of the few glaciers in the world you can actually walk on, which is a different experience from looking at one. A day trip covers it, and a guided tour is how you learn what you are standing on.

Hatcher Pass

Hatcher Pass is the drive. The mountain pass opens up the surrounding peaks and valleys, and there are plenty of hiking trails leading off it if you want to get out of the car. Watch for wildlife along the way, because a moose or a caribou is a genuine possibility here.

Pioneer Peak

Pioneer Peak is the hard one. It stands at over 6,000 feet and the hike to the summit is a serious undertaking rather than a walk. The views from the top pay for it. Carry more water and food than you think you need.

Bodenburg Butte

For a shorter climb with a comparable payoff, Bodenburg Butte is the answer. The 800-foot hill gives you the surrounding mountains and valleys in one turn. Locals use it as much as visitors do, so expect company on weekends.

Lazy Mountain

Lazy Mountain is the middle option. The 3,720-foot peak looks out over the Matanuska Valley and the Chugach Mountains, and the hike is manageable rather than punishing. The views come at intervals along the way rather than all at the top.

Experienced hiker or someone who simply wants to look at something remarkable, Palmer, Alaska has a version of it. Check the conditions before you set out, because Mother Nature changes her mind here faster than the forecast does.

Outdoor Adventures

Palmer, Alaska is serious adventure country and the operators here know what they are doing. The best outdoor activities in the area:

Helicopter Tours

A helicopter tour is the way to see the scale of the Alaskan wilderness. You go up over the snow-capped mountains, the glaciers and the forests, and the country reads completely differently from the air. Wildlife turns up from above more often than you would expect.

Dog Sledding

Dog sledding is the Alaskan experience, and this is a good place to do it. A team of huskies takes you through the snow-covered country, and the speed is the part that surprises people. Dress for it, because the wind does the rest.

ATV and Jeep Tours

For something on the ground, an ATV or Jeep tour covers the rugged Alaskan terrain properly. You drive through the wilderness, cross streams and climb hills, and you finish considerably muddier than you started.

Rafting on Matanuska River

Rafting on the Matanuska River is the wet option. The route runs rapids and calm stretches in turn, with the country opening up the whole way. It is the right answer on a hot summer day and it will wake you up.

Helicopter tours, dog sledding, ATV and Jeep tours or rafting: Palmer, Alaska runs all four. Book ahead in high season.

Wildlife and Agriculture

Palmer is a working agricultural town as much as a wilderness one, and the animals are half the reason to come. The places to visit:

Musk Ox Farm

The Musk Ox Farm is the one to prioritise. These are not ordinary farm animals: they are heavy, sturdy, and carry fur thick enough to hold through an Alaskan winter. The qiviut fiber they produce is one of the finest and warmest natural fibers there is.

The tour at the Musk Ox Farm covers the history and biology of the animals, and you get to handle the qiviut fiber yourself, which is softer than cashmere and warmer than wool. Buy something made from it before you leave, because it is not sold in many other places.

Reindeer Farm

Reindeer are the other reason to be in Alaska, and the Reindeer Farm in Palmer is where you meet them. The animals are friendly and genuinely interested in visitors. You can feed them, take the tour, or take a sleigh ride during the winter months.

The Reindeer Farm runs more than the reindeer. Pony rides, tractor and barrel rides, hay mazes and bouncy castles all keep children occupied for as long as you need them to be.

Local Farms

Palmer is known for its local produce, and the farms are open to visitors. Sunderland Ranch is where to start, running tours and a farm store selling fresh produce and meats.

There are plenty of other local farms worth the detour. Drive Hatcher Pass Road and stop wherever something catches your eye. Fresh berries, homemade jams and grass-fed beef are all out there, and buying direct is how you taste Alaska properly.

The combination of agriculture and wildlife is what makes Palmer unlike anywhere else in the state. The Musk Ox Farm, the Reindeer Farm and the local farms together are a full day and an easy one.

Local Breweries

Alaska takes its breweries seriously and Palmer holds up its end. The local breweries here pour good craft beer in rooms built for staying in.

Arkose Brewery

Arkose Brewery is the one to find. It sits in downtown Palmer and pours a wide selection, including seasonal and limited-edition brews you will not get elsewhere.

The room is rustic wood, Edison-style light bulbs and a mural of the brewery logo on the wall. It would not look out of place in Portland or Seattle, which is either a recommendation or a warning depending on your temperament.

Arkose Brewery also runs events through the year, including live music, trivia nights and food truck festivals. Check the website before you go, because the calendar is worth planning around.

The beers you can expect at Arkose Brewery include:

• Matanuska Thunder Funk IPA
• Palmer Pilsner
• Mocha Porter
• Raspberry Wheat
• Hazy IPA

Anyone who cares about beer, and anyone who simply wants a good evening, should stop at Arkose Brewery in Palmer. Order a pint, sit down and let the Alaskan evening do the rest.

Palmer was built on purpose. The town was founded in 1935, when the New Deal moved over 200 families from the Midwest into the Matanuska Valley. They were given land, a house and tools. The Colony House Museum occupies one of those 1935 houses. Before the farming it was gold, and Independence Mine State Historical Park is what is left of the Hatcher Pass Gold Mine.

Seasonal Activities

Northern Lights Winter

Winter in Palmer is worth the cold, and the Northern Lights are why. Dress properly, take something hot, and get away from the town lights to watch the display. A guided tour will explain what you are looking at. Check the forecast first, because the Northern Lights keep their own schedule.

Spring in Palmer

Spring arrives in Palmer as a relief. The snow goes, the flowers come up and the light lasts longer every day. Take a hike, a scenic drive or a rod out to the water. The animals born in spring are the part people remember.

Alaska State Fair

The Alaska State Fair is the biggest event of the Palmer year. The annual fair runs in late August and early September and is worth planning a trip around. Carnival rides, games, live music and a great deal of food, and the parade is the part everyone turns out for.

Winter, spring or fall, Palmer has something running. The Northern Lights and the Alaska State Fair sit at opposite ends of the calendar and both earn the trip.

Cultural Attractions

Palmer, Alaska carries more culture than a town this size usually manages. The attractions worth the time:

Colony House Museum

The Colony House Museum is where the history of Palmer is kept. It is housed in a restored 1935 colony house, and the exhibits cover the early settlers: their routines, their customs and what they had to work with. The vintage clothing, household items and tools on display are the part that makes it real.

Downtown Palmer

Downtown Palmer is worth a slow walk. The shops, restaurants and galleries are all in historic buildings, and what they sell runs from handmade crafts to locally sourced food. The Palmer Visitor Center is in the same few blocks and is the fastest way to find out what is on.

Palmer Museum

The Palmer Museum is the one for art. The rotating exhibits show work by local and regional artists, across painting, sculpture, photography and mixed media. Artist talks and workshops run through the year, and the museum is small enough that you can actually talk to people.

History, art or simply somewhere to spend a wet afternoon: Palmer covers all three. These are the cultural stops worth making.

Family Friendly Activities

Palmer, Alaska is easy country for a family, and there are a couple of options that work across the age range.

Raceway Park

Raceway Park is the one for anyone with energy to burn. Go-karts, mini-golf and batting cages, plus a ropes course that is harder than it looks from the ground. Do not look down.

Friday Fling

Friday Fling is the low-key option, a weekly event in downtown Palmer with food vendors, live music and plenty for children to do. A Palmer moose has been known to turn up. Keep your distance from it, because they are not as placid as they look.

Whichever you pick, Palmer works for a family. Load the car and go.

Unique Experiences

Sightseeing from Knik Glacier

The Knik Glacier is the other way to see Palmer, Alaska. Put on crampons and take a guided tour across the ice, with the surrounding mountains and valleys open the whole way. A helicopter tour is the version that shows you the shape of it from above.

Visiting Independence Mine State Historical Park

Independence Mine State Historical Park is the educational one and it holds up. A self-guided tour of the old gold mine covers the history of the area, and the Gold Mint Trail is the way to see the park while you do it.

Reed Lakes is a short hike from the park, which is worth knowing. Walk out to them when the mining history has had its turn and let the country take over.

Add these to a Palmer itinerary and the trip stops being a list of stops. Both of them reward a slow morning.

Practical Information

Palmer Visitor Information Center

Palmer, Alaska has a Visitor Information Center, and it is the sensible first stop. The center is at 723 S Valley Way and has run Monday through Friday, from 9 in the morning until 5 in the afternoon, closed on weekends. Confirm the current hours before you rely on them.

The Visitor Information Center covers Palmer and the surrounding areas properly. Maps, brochures and staff who actually know the answer, plus free Wi-Fi if you need to send something before you head out of signal.

The Visitor Information Center will also help you find somewhere to stay in Palmer. They keep a list of hotels and other accommodations in the area, and they can help you book a camping spot if you would rather be outside.

One limit worth knowing: the Visitor Information Center is not a travel agency. Flights and rental cars are not something they book. They will point you at whoever does.

The Palmer Visitor Information Center earns the stop. Maps, brochures, knowledgeable staff and help finding a bed, all under the same roof. Just do not arrive expecting them to sort out your flights.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s cooler than being cool? Visiting Palmer, Alaska! But seriously, what are some fun things to do there?

Palmer, Alaska carries more than its size suggests. The Reindeer Farm, a horseback riding tour or a scenic helicopter ride cover the active end. For something slower, the local breweries and the local markets will take an afternoon off your hands without much effort.

Looking for a good time in Palmer, Alaska? What are some must-visit places?

Palmer, Alaska rewards a list. Hatcher Pass is the drive, the Musk Ox Farm is the one people remember, and the Palmer Historic District is the walk. For something harder, a glacier hike or a day fishing the nearby lakes and rivers will do it.

What’s the deal with Palmer, Alaska? Is it worth checking out?

Yes, and it is not a close call. Palmer, Alaska combines serious outdoor country with a town small enough to know its own name. The scenery, the people and the range of things to do are the three reasons, and none of them needs talking up.

Want to explore the great outdoors in Palmer, Alaska? What are some fun outdoor activities to do?

Palmer, Alaska is outdoor country in the proper sense. Hiking in the nearby mountains, kayaking the lakes and rivers, or a dog sledding run are the main three. For something harder, ice climbing and a wildlife viewing tour are both available and both need a guide.

What’s the food scene like in Palmer, Alaska? Any recommendations for good restaurants?

Palmer, Alaska eats far better than a town this size has any obligation to. Turkey Red, Vagabond Blues and Palmer City Alehouse are the three names locals give you. The Noisy Goose is the local ice cream shop and it is worth the detour.

Feeling broke but still want to have fun in Palmer, Alaska? What are some free things to do there?

Plenty of Palmer, Alaska costs nothing. The scenic drive through Hatcher Pass, the Palmer Visitor Center, and the local parks and trails are all free. The annual Alaska State Fair has let children under 5 in without charge, though that is worth checking against the current year before you count on it.

Frequently asked questions about Palmer, Alaska

Which Palmer, Alaska trails and drives cost nothing?

The scenic drive through Hatcher Pass, the local parks and trails, and the Palmer Visitor Center. Bodenburg Butte is a short climb with a long view, and it costs nothing to walk up. Children under 5 have got into the Alaska State Fair without charge.

Can you walk on the Matanuska Glacier?

Yes, and it is one of the few glaciers in the world where that is possible. It runs over 27 miles long. Book a guided tour rather than wandering out alone, because the guides carry the gear and know which ice is sound.

Which farm near Palmer has the musk oxen?

The Musk Ox Farm. The tour covers the history and biology of the animals, and you get to handle the qiviut, which is softer than cashmere and warmer than wool. The Reindeer Farm is the other one, and it works better with children.

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