Matanuska Greenbelt … a patchwork quilt of ownership and management

The Matanuska Greenbelt is not a formal designation or park, but an area of contiguous forest and open space owned and managed by a variety of government entities. The Matanuska Greenbelt is part of a 33-mile trail system in the core area of the state’s fastest growing area and is a popular destination providing recreation opportunities for many different types of user groups. It includes approximately 11 miles of the Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center’s (MEFEC’s) farm roads. As noted in the 2019 MEFEC Long Range Plan, the 33-miles of continuous trails comprises the “largest uninterrupted public greenspace in the core area of the Mat-Su Valley” with trails that offer “some of the only non-mountain, non-motorized pathways in the area, and are popular with dog walkers, mountain bikers, geocachers, cross-country skiers, runners, and equestrians.”

In the early 2000’s a working group made up mostly of representatives of the land managers and concerned citizens, formed to help educate users of this unique area of all the myriad rules each landowner wants users to abide by. They also gave it the name ‘Matanuska Greenbelt’. Visit www.matanuska-greenbelt.org for more information.

Land that makes up the Matanuska Greenbelt

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough (MSB) owns and manages three parcels within the Matanuska Greenbelt—Crevasse-Moraine, most of which lies within the MSB landfill property; the France Road public recreation parcel; and a 200-acre Borough recreational parcel located in the middle of the greenbelt, south of the Landfill.

University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) manages the Matanuska-Susitna College land and the Machentanz lands along the east side of the Matanuska Greenbelt. The land nearest the college is home to developed trails that connect to the main north-south corridor in the Matanuska Greenbelt. Access to the Matanuska Greenbelt is from the main campus parking area. UAF has signs saying “no trail access” at the campus parking area and redirect people to the Kin-Win Trailhead

University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) manages the 900-acre Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center, which was established in 1917 and now operates as part of the Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station of UAF. Several trails on the farm near Johnson Lake were closed to the public, but public access remains open from the Kin-Win Trailhead along the College Connector Trail.

Alaska State Parks manages the Matanuska Lakes State Recreation Area (formerly Kepler-Bradley State Recreation Area). It was established in the mid-1980s. The eight lakes in the park are popular for their superb fishing, but it’s also a popular area to hike, swim, canoe, mountain bike, picnic and camp.

Access:

The Matanuska Greenbelt can be accessed from several points: from the Crevasse-Moraine trailhead on Loma Prieta Drive, just off the Palmer-Wasilla Highway; from the Kin-Win Trailhead off old Trunk Road next to the Experiment Farm main campus parking area; from the Matanuska State Lake Recreation area parking lot; and from Long Lake.