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Ski tour zone · Hatcher Pass & Talkeetnas
Hatcher Pass ski touring
Road-accessible alpine ski terrain above Palmer: Microdot, Marmot, Hatch Peak, and more.
- Season
- Long. State Parks says snow can come as early as September and stay into June or July.
- Distance
- Varies by tour. We don't publish laps or routes, so use HPAC's placenames map.
- Elevation
- Varies, so check the source.
- Huts
- None on these day tours. Bomber Traverse huts are nearby.
- Fees
- $5 day use at most Hatcher Pass trailheads, payable by card at electronic stations (State Parks)
- Avalanche center
- Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center (HPAC)
Overview
Hatcher Pass is the Mat-Su's go-to backcountry ski zone. Names like Microdot, Marmot, and Hatch Peak come up again and again in HPAC forecasts and weather-station listings, and HPAC publishes a placenames map with a downloadable KML so you can match its forecast to the terrain.
State Parks is blunt about it: avalanches can happen in most of Hatcher Pass. Every person needs a beacon, probe, and shovel and the training to use them.
Rules, permits, and etiquette
- The Hatcher Pass Management Area has designated motorized and non-motorized winter zones. The rules changed in January 2013, so check the current boundary map before you go.
- Independence Bowl, Gold Mint, and Reed Lakes are non-motorized areas (State Parks brochure).
- Respect the Skeetawk ski area lease boundary. HPAC publishes a backcountry access map for it.
Access, trailheads, and fees
- Road: In fall State Parks closes Summit Road over the pass and the gate about a mile below Independence Mine. Walkers can still go past the gates. Check the State Parks conditions report.
- Trailheads: State Parks lists $5 day-use fees at Archangel, Fishhook, Gold Mint, Independence Bowl, and Reed Lakes.
Hazards
- Avalanche terrain. Avalanches can happen in most of the area. Read the HPAC forecast every day you go.
- Wind and cold. The pass is high and exposed, so expect wind slabs and fast-changing weather.
- Shared terrain. Snowmachines use the designated motorized areas. Know which zone you're in.
Avalanche: before any snow-season trip, check our avalanche conditions page and the full HPAC forecast.
Skills you need
- Avalanche training (AIARE 1 at minimum), companion rescue practice
- Skinning and kick turns on firm wind-affected snow
- Reading and applying the HPAC forecast
Gear
Every person needs a beacon, shovel, and probe, and the training to use them (State Parks).
Our lists: Avalanche gear and ski-touring kit