Blue Phoenix
It's really tough to find public areas with decent access if you don't know where they are.
Take a look at this Alaska Department of Natural Resources Public Information Center website Maps, Plats & Data Look under the Public Maps section, and Status Plats, Surveys and Land Records. Once you go into each of those pages, you can select the criteria you want. What you want to find is land that is open to public use and off roading, since something like 98% of Alaska IS open to Off Highway vehicles it seems like it would be easy, but it's not really. There are actually a lot of land use issues here in Alaska. One of the big issues is trespassing on Land held by Native Corporations, and People. For instance, when you come into Alaska, and Tok you can either go South or Northwest. If you go South you'll Run into Glennallen. That town is pretty much Smack-Dab in the middle of the Ahtna Coroporation's Land. That being said there are plenty of places to go, but you must be careful, and be considerate of the landowners. You should be able to Google Ahtna Corp. and might even be able to look at a map of their Land selection according to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA). Or, you could order one. If you go towards Glenallen to get to Anchorage, there are some Fantastic rivers to fish for King Salmon-depending on when you come. The Gulkana, Gakona, Tazlina, and Klutina, are a few of the best. Klutina Lake has a 22 mile trail from the Richarson Highway South of Glenallen, and I you can hit some nice Lake Trout! It's pretty fantastic! The trail is Surrounded by Ahtna land, but anything on the south side, near the river, less than 50' is considered public access. Also, Lake Louise, just West and North of Glenallen is Awesome, if you take your canoe, go there! I hear there are lots of Lake Trout, but have never fished there. It's beautiful. The Glenn Highway is a National Scenic Highway and is AWESOME especially in mid September. There are lots of little lakes along the way stalked by Fish and Game with trout! Good eats. There is a place to Wheel and Fish Near Eureka, PM me and I can give you more specifics. I would also try to contact Mark @Cruisers Only in Wasilla, AK as he has led the Alaska Cruiser Trek since they began. He would be another great resource, especially for off-road adventures.
As far as going West from Anchorage, unless you fly, you can't because there is a Fjord (Cook Inlet/Knick Arm) which by the way has the second largest tidal flow next to the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia. But, if you're meaning out near Trapper Creek and Petersville, then, there are some wheeling opportunities, and fishing! There might be some opportunities for stream crossings as well. Another word of Caution: It is illegal to cross an anadromous stream with your vehicle, meaning a stream inhabited by any fish that is born in fresh water, goes out to sea, and returns (You should know this via your degree). So, be sure to check Alaska DNR and/or AK Fish and Game websites for this info.(maps). If you find you MUST use your vehicle to cross a stream to get to your destination, there are permits available, but I'm not sure how long it takes and what the criteria are.
Look at this website from Alaska Extreme Four Wheelers: http://www.akextreme4x4.com/Club_Web_Page/Trail_Ratings.html That is a list of trails and what that club deems appropriate in terms of vehicle setup. I havn't personally done all of them, and right now, I can't even drive my rig. Some of those trails are out near Talkeetna, Knick/Jim Creek is in Butte (just South Of Palmer), Gunsight Mtn. is west of Eureka maybe about 20-30 min.. I really would try to get a hold of Mark W @ Cruisers Only. You could try to PM him. He really knows where to go, and would probably be better able to point you in the right direction in terms of trails and conditions.
You might also want to check out McCarthy, the Kennicot Mine, and Wrangel St. Elias National Park and Preserve. The road sucks, but apparently there are some killer trout streams-I believe there is an article on Fish Alaska this month on the fishing there. The McCarthy Road is south of Glennallen by an hour I'd guess, then the road may take 1-3 hrs depending on conditions. But, IMO would be worth it to go out of your way some to check out the largest National Park in the U.S. Mt. Wragell is a Volcano, and there are some great 14-17,000' peaks there.
A cool way to go North from Anchorage toward Denali is to go north to Palmer/Wasilla and go to Hatcher's Pass. There's an old mine (Independence Mine/State Historic Park) http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/units/indmine.htm and you can actually drive across the pass. The road is the Willow Fishhook road and will take you to Willow, on the Parks Highway. You could then hit the mouth of Willow Creek along the Susitna River for Rainbows, and salmon, like Kings, Pinks, Silvers. Or, hit up Willow Creek near the highway, there are a couple of roads that you can take. Also, further North, you can catch and release grayling, and trout, at Montana Creek and Sheep Creek. In Wasilla, and Palmer, there are tons of little lakes where Pike are considered an invasive species because the were illegally introduced (in the 50's I believe) and are eating all the trout and salmon fry stocked by AKF&D so there's no limit on catch.
Nancy lake is a good pike lake, just outside of Wasilla, in Houston, AK (not TX where you're from!)
You should take your canoe out to Eklutna lake, it's just outside Anchorage on the way to Palmer/Wasilla, about 30 min. and the scenery is incomparable. It's one of my favorite quick places to get away to from Anchorage! You don't have to canoe to enjoy it, but it is awesome!
Let me know if I can be of any more help.
It's really tough to find public areas with decent access if you don't know where they are.
Take a look at this Alaska Department of Natural Resources Public Information Center website Maps, Plats & Data Look under the Public Maps section, and Status Plats, Surveys and Land Records. Once you go into each of those pages, you can select the criteria you want. What you want to find is land that is open to public use and off roading, since something like 98% of Alaska IS open to Off Highway vehicles it seems like it would be easy, but it's not really. There are actually a lot of land use issues here in Alaska. One of the big issues is trespassing on Land held by Native Corporations, and People. For instance, when you come into Alaska, and Tok you can either go South or Northwest. If you go South you'll Run into Glennallen. That town is pretty much Smack-Dab in the middle of the Ahtna Coroporation's Land. That being said there are plenty of places to go, but you must be careful, and be considerate of the landowners. You should be able to Google Ahtna Corp. and might even be able to look at a map of their Land selection according to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA). Or, you could order one. If you go towards Glenallen to get to Anchorage, there are some Fantastic rivers to fish for King Salmon-depending on when you come. The Gulkana, Gakona, Tazlina, and Klutina, are a few of the best. Klutina Lake has a 22 mile trail from the Richarson Highway South of Glenallen, and I you can hit some nice Lake Trout! It's pretty fantastic! The trail is Surrounded by Ahtna land, but anything on the south side, near the river, less than 50' is considered public access. Also, Lake Louise, just West and North of Glenallen is Awesome, if you take your canoe, go there! I hear there are lots of Lake Trout, but have never fished there. It's beautiful. The Glenn Highway is a National Scenic Highway and is AWESOME especially in mid September. There are lots of little lakes along the way stalked by Fish and Game with trout! Good eats. There is a place to Wheel and Fish Near Eureka, PM me and I can give you more specifics. I would also try to contact Mark @Cruisers Only in Wasilla, AK as he has led the Alaska Cruiser Trek since they began. He would be another great resource, especially for off-road adventures.
As far as going West from Anchorage, unless you fly, you can't because there is a Fjord (Cook Inlet/Knick Arm) which by the way has the second largest tidal flow next to the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia. But, if you're meaning out near Trapper Creek and Petersville, then, there are some wheeling opportunities, and fishing! There might be some opportunities for stream crossings as well. Another word of Caution: It is illegal to cross an anadromous stream with your vehicle, meaning a stream inhabited by any fish that is born in fresh water, goes out to sea, and returns (You should know this via your degree). So, be sure to check Alaska DNR and/or AK Fish and Game websites for this info.(maps). If you find you MUST use your vehicle to cross a stream to get to your destination, there are permits available, but I'm not sure how long it takes and what the criteria are.
Look at this website from Alaska Extreme Four Wheelers: http://www.akextreme4x4.com/Club_Web_Page/Trail_Ratings.html That is a list of trails and what that club deems appropriate in terms of vehicle setup. I havn't personally done all of them, and right now, I can't even drive my rig. Some of those trails are out near Talkeetna, Knick/Jim Creek is in Butte (just South Of Palmer), Gunsight Mtn. is west of Eureka maybe about 20-30 min.. I really would try to get a hold of Mark W @ Cruisers Only. You could try to PM him. He really knows where to go, and would probably be better able to point you in the right direction in terms of trails and conditions.
You might also want to check out McCarthy, the Kennicot Mine, and Wrangel St. Elias National Park and Preserve. The road sucks, but apparently there are some killer trout streams-I believe there is an article on Fish Alaska this month on the fishing there. The McCarthy Road is south of Glennallen by an hour I'd guess, then the road may take 1-3 hrs depending on conditions. But, IMO would be worth it to go out of your way some to check out the largest National Park in the U.S. Mt. Wragell is a Volcano, and there are some great 14-17,000' peaks there.
A cool way to go North from Anchorage toward Denali is to go north to Palmer/Wasilla and go to Hatcher's Pass. There's an old mine (Independence Mine/State Historic Park) http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/units/indmine.htm and you can actually drive across the pass. The road is the Willow Fishhook road and will take you to Willow, on the Parks Highway. You could then hit the mouth of Willow Creek along the Susitna River for Rainbows, and salmon, like Kings, Pinks, Silvers. Or, hit up Willow Creek near the highway, there are a couple of roads that you can take. Also, further North, you can catch and release grayling, and trout, at Montana Creek and Sheep Creek. In Wasilla, and Palmer, there are tons of little lakes where Pike are considered an invasive species because the were illegally introduced (in the 50's I believe) and are eating all the trout and salmon fry stocked by AKF&D so there's no limit on catch.
Nancy lake is a good pike lake, just outside of Wasilla, in Houston, AK (not TX where you're from!)
You should take your canoe out to Eklutna lake, it's just outside Anchorage on the way to Palmer/Wasilla, about 30 min. and the scenery is incomparable. It's one of my favorite quick places to get away to from Anchorage! You don't have to canoe to enjoy it, but it is awesome!
Let me know if I can be of any more help.
Last edited:
