Ski Archangel Road, Palmer

What: The archangel road in Hatcher pass is an amazing area to enjoy cross country skiing in the winter. You can go all the way down the road, and even explore off the road depending on conditions.

When to go: Ideally accessed in the winter months between January and April. Check for conditions to make sure the road has been groomed and is still open for skiing.

How to get there: https://goo.gl/maps/SvGHGEZUxKmjhupbA
Drive up the hatcher pass road and park to the left side of the road at the intersection with archangel road. You can then get out in your skis and ride in as far as you’d like. Alternatively, you can park at the gold mint trailhead and ski uphill slightly to meet up with the road.

Tips:

• The best time to explore the road is right after it has been groomed and on a nice sunny day – check conditions and weather online before you go.
• You can use skate or classic skis, but classic skis typically provide more flexibility especially if it’s not groomed or if you need to go off trail. Note that there can often be snowmachine riders in the area, so be careful when skiing.
• After skiing, drive up to the hatcher pass lodge for a beer or snack after. You can also ski up the road to the independence mine if you want to keep the adventure going.