THINGS TO DO

Alaska at its best

All the amenities, All the Adventure YEAR-ROUND, None of the tiresome travel.

Palmer is a town that has something to offer for every type of adventurer, history enthusiast, and food lover—no matter the season. The locals here won’t pick a favorite season, and honestly, who could?

In the summer, you can hike the stunning Hatcher Pass, tackle mountain biking on exhilarating single-track trails, or enjoy a brewery crawl with three local breweries just a mile apart. Savor fresh, locally-grown produce at its peak, straight from the hundreds of farms that surround us. You can even take a farm tour or hop on an ATV for a scenic adventure. And yes, you can even dogsled on a glacier—in the summer. Palmer, Alaska, really is that cool.

Winter here is just as exciting. Try backcountry skiing or glide through groomed cross-country trails. Brave the chill with thousands of others at a parade in temperatures as low as -10°F, or embrace the holiday spirit by dressing as Santa and joining over 50 others for the annual Santa Con. Sleep under the mesmerizing Northern Lights, fat-tire bike to a local glacier before the thaw, or skate on frozen creeks and snowshoe through the quiet backcountry.

In the spring, the town comes alive with the return of migratory birds, making it an unforgettable destination for birdwatching. Plus, our local greenhouses offer a glimpse into Palmer’s thriving gardening community—a true paradise for green thumbs. And let’s not forget fall, which some argue is the best time to visit. With root vegetables fresh from the farm and the mountains dressed in brilliant shades of gold, it’s a sight you’ll want to see for yourself.

ACTIVITIES

HIKING & BACKPACKING

SIGHTSEEING

BIKING

TRAIL & MOUNTAIN RUNNING

BOATING, KAYAKING & PADDLE BOARDING

SKIING &
SNOWBOARDING

FISHING

SNOWSHOEING

ATV RIDES

CROSS COUNTRY
& NORDIC SKIING

HUNTING

 

MOTOCROSS
 

HORSEBACK RIDING

& MORE!

INTERESTS

SUMMER

FALL COLORS

WINTER

ARTS, HERITAGE & MUSIC

FAMILY FRIENDLY

BIRDING

INDOOR ACTIVITIES

CRAFTS

SPA & FITNESS

FEATURED ACTIVITY LISTINGS

Alaska Backcountry Adventure Tours
Phone
(855)722-4004
Address
3901 S Lindsey Cir
Palmer, AK 99645
Description

Explore Alaska Like a Local and ride off into Alaska’s wilderness with Alaska Backcountry Adventure Tours. Alaska Backcountry Adventure Tours offers Alaska vacations, packages and tours.

Alaska Farm Tours
Phone
(907)519-7067
Address
Mess Hall, UAF Experiment Farm, 1509 Georgeson Rd
Palmer, AK 99645
Description

Experience the rich culture and history behind Alaska's farms and food. Join us for an in-depth half day farm tour, perfect for folks looking for the ultimate Anchorage day trips, with stops at historical sites, living homesteads, and urban food landscapes to understand the lives of Alaska's farmers, ranchers, and homesteaders who call Alaska home.

Alaska Horse Adventures
Phone
(907) 229-4445
Address
18810 E Walling Rd, Palmer, AK 99645
Description

Featuring several riding tours in the Greater Palmer area from 1.5-3 hours, Alaska Horse Adventures is open Year Round.  Additionally, they have a 6 hour Kayak tour in the Butte.

Alaska State Fair
Phone
(907)745-4827
Address
2075 Glenn Hwy
Palmer, Alaska 99645
Description

They invite you to not only enjoy our annual event "Alaska State Fair", but also take advantage of the year-round events and services the Alaska State Fair has to offer. They have a range of facilities available to rent throughout the year, and host diverse events

Backcountry Bike and Ski
Phone
(907)746-5018
Address
132 W Arctic Ave
Palmer, AK 99645
Description

Backcountry Bike & Ski offers daily and weekly rentals for cross country skis. They rent Rossignol waxless ski packages that include skis, boots, and poles. Also, they offer bikes and fat tire bikes for rent.

Bleeding Heart Brewery
Phone
(907)746-2421
Address
16013 E Outer Springer Loop
Palmer, AK 99645
Description

They create unique, high quality, reserve style ales and lagers in order to bring new craft drinkers and seasoned "craft life" veterans together, push the limits of craft brewing in Alaska.

Bushes Bunches Stand
Phone
(907)745-1115
Address
2355 N Old Glenn Hwy
Palmer, AK 99645
Description

Bushes Bunches Produce Stand is a family owned business that opened in 1954. They supply Palmer, Alaska and the surrounding areas of Wasilla and Anchorage with fresh local produce at our farmers market stand located just outside of Palmer. They are more than just a produce stand. With over 14 acres in production they are an active Alaska farm specializing in local vegetables.

Fresh Starts Farm, LLC
Phone
907-745-8500
Address
1505 Inner Springer Loop, Palmer, AK 99645
Description

Fresh Starts Farms LLC is a small-scale agricultural business based in Palmer, AK.

Specializing in organic produce, the farm is dedicated to sustainable farming practices and providing fresh, locally grown food to the community.

Glenn Massay Theater
Phone
(907)746-9300
Address
8295 East College Drive
Palmer, AK 99645
Description

Check their event calendar. The 520-seat Glenn Massay Theater is able to host a variety of events including plays, musicals, lectures, conferences, concerts, competitions, festivals, benefits, recitals, movie screenings, receptions, and more.

Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center
Phone
(907)745-3360
Address
1509 S Georgeson Dr
Palmer, AK 99645
Description

They offer FREE walking tour of our snowy Farm with director Jodie Anderson as she provides information and history. The Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center is a working research farm serving Southcentral Alaska. It has 260 acres of cultivated land and 800 acres of forestland.

MatSu Miners Baseball
Phone
(907)745-6401
Address
Hermon Brothers Field @ State Fairgrounds
Palmer, AK 99645
Description

The Miners are only one of six teams that make up the Alaska Baseball League, one of the top summer collegiate leagues in the country.  Games start early June and continue until the beginning of August.

Midnight Sun Yoga Center
Phone
(907)723-5262
Address
125 W Evergreen Ave Ste B1
Palmer AK 99645
Description

They are based in downtown Palmer, AK and offer a spectrum of fun yoga classes for people of all backgrounds and skill levels in an inviting atmosphere. Their classes are drop in friendly.

Musk Ox Farm
Website
Phone
(907)745-4151
Address
12850 E Archie Rd
Palmer, AK 99645
Description

Just a couple minutes North of downtown Palmer, the Musk Ox Farm is a non-profit organization dedicated to the domestication of the musk ox and to the promotion of qiviut production as a gentle and sustainable agricultural practice in the far north. Tour the farm and learn about these arctic ungulates!

NOVA River & Glacier Adventures
Phone
(800) 746-5753 or (907) 746-5753
Address
38100 W. GLENN HIGHWAY
SUTTON, AK 99674
Description

Based out of Sutton, just north of Palmer, NOVA Alaska Guides has incredible experiences for everyone. Established in 1975, NOVA is Alaska’s oldest river rafting tour company under original ownership. Since 1975, we have accomplished many firsts in guided adventure travel in Alaska, including the first to offer commercial whitewater rafting on Alaska rivers and the first guided hikes on the Matanuska Glacier more than 25 years ago.

Our early wilderness trips included several first descents and trips through the newly formed National Parks and Refuges with organizations like National Geographic, Connaissance du la Mode and the National Audubon Society. Our expertise in this theater has grown over the years to include combination trips that offer mountain and glacier trips with river trips.

Palmer Golf Course
Phone
(907)745-4653
Address
1000 Lepak Ave
Palmer, AK 99645
Description

Palmer Golf Course is one of the most scenic places to play golf in the world. You are treated to spectacular views of Pioneer Peak, the Matanuska River and Knik Glacier. Their 7300 yard, par 72, Championship course consistently ranks in the top five of Golf Digest's, "Best of State" edition.They also have one of the finest practice facilities in the state

Palmer Museum and Visitor Center
Phone
(907)746-7668
Address
723 S. Valley Way
Palmer, AK 99645
Description

The Palmer Museum and Visitor Center showcases exhibits & artifacts covering the history of Palmer, as well as a selection of art curated from local artists.  Additionally, they offer both an audio tour and a guided walking tour of Palmer's historic district from June through August.  Outside is a beautifully kept garden, featuring myriad trees, vegetables, and flowers.  Come by to enjoy the local history or plan your Palmer adventure!

Pyrah’s Pioneer Peak Farm
Phone
(907) 745-4511
Address
4350 Bodenburg Loop, Palmer, AK 99645
Description

Pyrah's is an authentic Matanuska Valley farm with an astounding presence in the community.  They host several events throughout the year such as the Fall Harvest Festival and Country Christmas, as well as being a "U-Pick" farm where you can gather your vegetables fresh from the field.

Ray Gamradt Studio : Alaskan Charcoal
Phone
(406)546-1956
Address
761 S Gulkana St
Palmer, AK 99645
Description

His artwork is in full production or at least as full as the sunshine and the salmon allow. Step into his gallery and see what he offers.

Reindeer Farm
Phone
(907) 745-4000
Address
5561 Bodenburg Loop, Palmer, AK 99645
Description

The Reindeer Farm sits at the feet of Bodenburg Butte just 10 minutes out of downtown Palmer.  The farm site was originally part of the Matauska Colony Project, operating as a dairy farm, but would move to reindeer and various other animals in the 1980s.  Being the only stop in the valley to offer tours of a maintained herd of 100-300 reindeer, 2 elk, a bison, and a moose (including petting and feeding), as well as horseback tours, it is an incredible experience for the whole family.

Revel Treks and Tours
Phone
9079031664
Address
Palmer, Alaska
Description

Revel Treks & Tours guides small group trips in Palmer, Alaska. From mild to wild, Revel specializes in hiking trips, history tours, and farm tours and more! Experience Alaska like a true local!

Sun Circle Farm
Phone
907-707-3123
Address
5605 FarmLoop Road, Palmer, AK 99645
Description

At Sun Circle Farm I offer a large variety of fresh, high quality, USDA-Certified Organic produce and flowers. It is my belief that when I view the farm holistically and focus on putting in place complimentary systems encouraging healthy living soils and biologically diverse plant rotations, I move towards true sustainability.
I started the farm in 2011 with half a rough-tilled acre and no moose fence. Over the years we have steadily expanded. In 2021 we added yet another half-acre to accommodate our growing flower enterprise, bringing our total area under cultivation to about 2 1/2-3 acres behind a (usually effective!) moose-and-cattle fence.  We currently have 9 passive covered structures and one "real" greenhouse with heat and year-round cover.  The years have seen us add an irrigation system, our second walk-in cooler, various new roof lines and a "flower studio" addition to the harvest shed, and an ever-evolving array of new tools and techniques.
Recently I have been focused on applying techniques such as minimal tillage, occultation, mulching and flame weeding in an attempt to see how little tillage we can pull off in our cold soils.  I am excited to view agriculture not only as an opportunity to produce healthy non-toxic nutrient-dense food for my community, but also to begin to address issues around climate change and carbon sequestration.  Next on my wish-list are hedgerows and an expanding variety of perennial crops to further support not only our soil but the beneficial insects and birds that do so much to maintain a healthy balance in our little ecosystem.
Sun Circle Farm has been USDA Certified Organic since 2017, currently under Oregon Tilth.  While I have been growing in accordance with the basic rules of organic agriculture since I began farming, pursuing Organic Certification allowed me to assure my growing customer base that I was truly committed to following ALL the rules.  We undergo an annual site inspection and maintain thorough records of everything that we add to our soils or processes.  I appreciate the opportunity to stand by my beliefs in the most transparent and accountable way currently possible. When I say that "I grow organically" it is not some watered-down convenient version that allows for chemical fertilizers or herbicides when things get challenging.  When I say that I NEVER use chemical herbicides, pesticides, or fertilizers, I want my customers to be fully assured that I mean NEVER.
I love farming and take great pride in continuing to learn and to improve in order to bring you the best-tasting and healthiest fresh produce and flowers possible.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting small scale sustainable agriculture, my family, and my farm.

Sunderland Ranch
Phone
(907) 982-7268
Address
10856 N Wolverine Rd, Palmer, AK 99645
Description

Sunderland Ranch, located just outside of Palmer, offers a variety of options for your Palmer trip.  With a B&B, horseback riding, and even Day Camps for children to learn ranch-related skills, you're sure to have a blast.

The Art Café
Phone
(907)745-6100
Address
131 E Blueberry Ave
Palmer, AK 99645
Description

Fun projects, something for the entire family, delicious espresso, hand scoop ice cream, and gourmet confections await at The Art Cafe AK that is do it yourself home for artists and aspiring artists.