Third Annual Winter Discovery Day Set for Saturday, March 7
Contributed by Kierre Childers, Revel Treks & Tours
The Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation, in partnership with local businesses, nonprofits, and recreational groups, will host the third annual Winter Discovery Day on March 7 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Government Peak Recreation Area.
This free community event invites residents to explore local winter recreation opportunities through hands-on gear demonstrations, including fat bikes, snowshoes, and sledding equipment. Attendees can also warm up with hot chocolate and fire pits located throughout the parking area.
Winter Discovery Day is hosted by the Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation in collaboration with the Mat-Su Borough and more than a dozen local businesses and nonprofits. Participating organizations include Revel Treks and Tours, Backcountry Bike and Ski, AKtive Soles, Onward and Upward, the Mat-Su Ski Club, Alaska State Parks, Alaska Geographic, Skeetawk, TrailMates, Adventures by True North, WildFree Kids Occupational Therapy, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center, the Alaska Avalanche School, the Palmer Visitor Center, and the Alaska Office of Boating Safety.
Winter Discovery Day is open to all ages and offers an opportunity to connect with local organizations while enjoying winter in the Mat-Su.
About the Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation:
Since 2014, Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation (MSTPF) has provided grant funding to various nonprofits and agencies, resulting in over 85 miles of new trails and 12 parks, the purchase of essential trail grooming and maintenance equipment, trail markers, and interpretive signage, and necessary trailhead amenities like bathrooms. In 2025, MSTPF granted out over $675,000 to 14 different local organizations. In addition to its grantmaking program, MSTPF works with land managers, including AK State Parks, to apply, manage, and provide matching funding for federal and foundation grants. These projects allow community donations to be leveraged to facilitate million-dollar investments in the Mat-Su, such as the Curry Ridge Connector Project and the preservation of Independence Mine State Historical Park. To date, total grantmaking investment in the Mat-Su Borough has been just over $3,000,000. With continued support, MSTPF plans to make an additional $2.5 million investment over the next five years in developing sustainable trails and regional parks in the Mat-Su Borough.