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State Park

Photo: United States. Bureau of Land Management. Alaska State OfficePublic domainWikimedia Commons

Matanuska Lakes State Recreation Area

Alaska · AK

Official sources & verification

Managed by Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation

Verify before you go

Source of truth

We display cached information from agency feeds. Hours, fees, permits, closures, fire restrictions, and conditions change without notice. Outdoors is not the permitting authority. Confirm current conditions for this park using the links above before you go — you are responsible for compliance. Last verified by us: Oct 25, 2026. Spot an error in our data?

About

Matanuska Lakes State Recreation Area is situated in Alaska's Matanuska-Susitna Borough, framed by the Chugach Mountains and the Matanuska River. The area derives its name from the Matanuska Glacier, which feeds into the river and influences the landscape. The key feature of the recreation area is its series of lakes formed by glacial melt, which create a unique habitat for a variety of wildlife and offer scenic views. At Matanuska Lakes State Recreation Area, visitors can engage in fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing. There is designated parking for convenient access, and the weather can change rapidly, so it is wise to prepare for varying conditions. Water access is available for non-motorized boats, making it suitable for kayaking and canoeing. Due to its remote setting, visitors should plan ahead and bring necessary supplies. Before your visit, confirm hours, fees, and any closures with the official state site.

Source: google.com

From Wikipedia

Palmer is a city in and the borough seat of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska, United States, located 42 miles (68 km) northeast of Anchorage on the Glenn Highway in the Matanuska Valley. It is the ninth-largest city in Alaska, and forms part of the Anchorage metropolitan statistical area. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city is 5,888, down from 5,937 in 2010.

Source: Wikipedia — text licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Verify alerts and operational details with the managing agency below.

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Hunting in this park

This park overlaps hunting unit

During hunting seasons, wear blaze orange and check regulations — see the Alaska hunting page

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