South Central Alaska

My first view of Alaska was when I drove the ALCAN (Alaska - Canada) Highway in January 1966.  In those days the road was about 1,200 miles of gravel from just north of Dawson Creek, BC to the Alaska border.  In 1992, the 50th anniversary of the highway the road was mostly paved.  I drove all or parts of the highway in 2000, 2001, 2002 & 2004 in my travels and in each of those years more reconstruction has taken place, and I can truly say it is now a pleasure to drive.

As you can see by the map above, South Central Alaska covers a very large area with very few roads.  It is 400 miles from the Canadian border to Fairbanks and 528 miles to Anchorage.  There are mountain ranges and rivers in abundance and the scenery is spectacular.  The Trans-Alaska Pipeline begins at Prudhoe Bay and parallels the Richardson Highway (AK-4) from Fairbanks to Valdez.

 

 

The Marine Terminal in Valdez is where the crude oil from Prudhoe Bay and other north slope fields is stored until it can be shipped by tanker to the "Lower 48".

 

From Glenallen, the Glenn Highway winds its way through the Chugach Mountains toward Palmer and Anchorage.  Just north of Palmer you will find the Matanuska Glacier and the Musk Ox Farm.

 

 

Potter Marsh State Game Refuge, located along the Seward Highway (AK-1) is home to many birds and sometimes has an occasional moose visit.  I took a fishing trip out of Seward and had an awesome Alaskan fishing experience, all six of us on the boat limited out in under 2 hours.  The salmon pictured weigh from 8 to 22 pounds.  It was a great trip.

 

 

The George Parks Highway (AK-3) junctions with the Glenn Highway (AK-1) 35 miles north of Anchorage and leads 327 miles north to Fairbanks.  Along this route is some of the most beautiful areas in the state including Denali National Park.

 

 

Fairbanks, a city on the Chena River is home to Alaskaland where you can see exhibitions of the early history of the area.  The Stern wheeler, "Nenana" once plied the Yukon and Tanana Rivers is undergoing restoration.  North of Fairbanks on the Steese Highway you will find Gold Dredge #8, a five deck 250' dredge, built in 1928.

 

Date Updated:  12/18/2006