Page 186 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Alaska

184  ALASK A AREA B Y AREA

The wide face of the Matanuska Glacier visible from the Glenn Highway
1 Matanuska Edwin F Glenn of the US are dominated by vistas of the
Glacier Geological Survey who reported mountains Sanford, Drum, and
its existence. Much of the lake- Wrangell. Rising from the flats,
30820 (Mile 101) W Glenn Highway.
Transport map E3. Tel 745-2534, shore lies within the Lake Louise they appear unimaginably
(888) 253-4480. Open May–mid-Oct. State Recreation Area, which lofty, and become even more
& 8 - = ∑ matanuskaglacier offers camping, swimming, berry dreamlike in the haze from
adventures.us picking, boating, and fishing humidity or wildfires.
for trout and grayling in the
Drivers on the Glenn Highway summer, and snowmachining
cannot fail to notice the and ice fishing in the winter. 4 Copper Center
Matanuska Glacier, a broad, 100 miles (161 km) N of Valdez.
blue river of ice, descending Transport map E3. * 330.
12,000 ft (3,600 m) to its 2-mile 3 Glennallen @ Glennallen–McCarthy.
(3-km) wide face. It is thought Mile 187 on the Glenn Highway. ∑ oldtowncoppercenter.com
that about 18,000 years ago, Transport map E3. * 480.
the glacier filled the entire @ Anchorage–Whitehorse. Dotted with historic buildings,
Matanuska Valley and probably n ‘The Hub’, 189 Glenn Hwy, 822- this small town makes a worth-
even flowed into Knik Arm near 5555. ∑ coppervalleychamber.com while side trip off the Richardson
Palmer. Presently, it is advanc ing Highway. In operation since 1896,
a foot (30 cm) a day. Deriving its name from two the Old Town Copper Center
Access to the glacier is via the early explorers in the Copper Inn and Restaurant offers rooms
privately owned Glacier Park, River Valley, Major Edwin F and meals. In an old bunkhouse
where hiking to the glacier face Glenn and Lieutenant Henry next to it, the George I Ashby
is permitted. Mica Guides leads T Allen, Glennallen is mainly a Memorial Museum is filled with
ice treks and climbing classes food and fuel service center at artifacts such as birch baskets,
on the ice. Drivers can stop at the junction of the Glenn and an enormous mouse trap,
the free Matanuska Glacier State Richardson Highways, with a and a kerosene tin cradle. It also
Recreation Site, which provides supermarket, restau rants, and has infor mation on the Copper
a lofty van tage point and a hotel. Despite an unusually River and Northwestern Railway
interpretive panels. The Edge high mosquito population, (see p187). The annex next
Nature Trail loops from here to Glennallen has a beautiful door displays old tools and an
another point with fine views. location, and its approaches antique snowmachine. A block

2 Lake Louise State
Recreation Area
Mile 160 on the Glenn Highway.
Transport map E3. n 441-7575.
Open May–Sep.
Not often visited by outsiders,
the 26-sq-mile (67-sq-km) Lake
Louise lies 19 miles (30 km)
north of the Glenn Highway.
It was named in 1889 by Major Abandoned cabins around the small town of Copper Center
For hotels and restaurants in this area see p245 and p255

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