Weekend Getaway

The Glenn Highway presents a variety of choices when it comes to getting away from it all, and you can be as active or as relaxed as you like, because plenty of adventures are available. Take a weekend and spend some time discovering all that this Byway has to offer. Enjoy the amazing mountain panoramas along the way, and spend a relaxing evening filled with rest and recreation at one of the roadside lodges.

Leaving Anchorage, drive through the Anchorage bowl, past Eagle River/Chugiak, and taking the Palmer route at the Wasilla exit. Enjoy the scenic views of the Palmer Flats and Knik River Bridge. Drive the highway past the town of Palmer and on through Sutton. There are plenty of pullouts and rest areas, or stop in at one of these towns for food or fuel.

Rivers Edge Recreation Park

This RV Park is just past Sutton at Mile 62. This has camping facilities, water and dump stations. There are many scenic views in this area, with the Matanuska River running parallel to the highway and interesting geology in the rock formations.

Purinton Creek Trailhead

There is a parking area and access to the trailhead at Mile 89. The trail starts out rather steep, but levels off quickly and is a very nice hike. The trail drops into Boulder Creek Valley after about 10 miles.

Long Rifle Lodge

Located at Mile 102 of the Glenn, the Long Rifle Lodge offers rustic accommodations and a restaurant that overlooks the magnificent Matanuska Glacier. If you stop here you can tour the glacier or hike the area. The lodge also manages the Matanuska Glacier Recreation Site, where there are campsites and a paved rest area that accommodates RVs.

Sheep Creek

Just past Mile 110 is Sheep Creek, with scenic views of the surrounding mountains. Gypsum Creek is further up at Mile 112.

Sheep Mountain

Sitting at Mile 113, Sheep Mountain Lodge has 10 guest cabins, a dining room and lounge and numerous activities, including flightseeing tours with rates either per-person or hourly. They have more than 12 miles of cleared trails, ranging from easy to challenging. The Matanuska Glacier is 12 miles away and the Lion's Head River Run whitewater service is available. The lodge is open daily all summer until September 18.

Eureka

Drive past the Sheep Mountain Lodge and continue on to Eureka Lodge at Mile 128.3 and Eureka Summit. Eureka Summit, located at Mile 129.5, has an elevation of 3,322 feet and is the highest point on the Glenn Highway. From here you can see Gunsight Mountain. Eureka Lodge offers a combination of hotel rooms and cabins. It is a popular snow machining spot in winter and has some great hiking trails in summer. You can stop here for the night, or turn around, heading back down the highway and to Sheep Mountain Lodge for your overnight stay.

After enjoying your evening at the lodge, spend the next day enjoying some of the many activities offered there, and drive back to Anchorage in the late afternoon.