Spend an Adventurous Day in Palmer, Alaska in September

A Great Shoulder Season Day in Palmer

A day spent outdoors looking for fall colors, enjoying good food, and picking blueberries is a day well spent! Get inspired to spend a day in Palmer, Alaska with this itinerary geared towards a day in September when the blueberries have ripened and the fall colors are at their peak.

ATV to See Fall Colors

A Half-Day Adventure in the Knik Valley will leave your camera roll full of beautiful landscapes and selfies, and you in awe of the views. You’ll also kick up some mud and get splashed in the creek crossings so bring your layers along for the ride!

The view of the Knik Glacier framed by fall colors is just beautiful. The oranges and golds contrast so well against the glacier blue. Enjoy the glacier and mountain views along your stop by the Knik River before getting back in your machine for some more adventure along the trail.

You’ll weave through forests with bright fall colors and explore among Alaskan style sand dunes. Have your cameras ready for the fall colors and possible wildlife sightings!

Get Lunch + Seasonal Ice Cream

After your ride you’ll have worked up an appetite. Drive just down the road to grab a tasty burger, or head into town for a sit down restaurant or to visit a brewery. Some of our favorite spots include Butte Burger, The Palmer Alehouse, and Turkey Red. Check out our guide to the best restaurants in Palmer so you can choose a good spot to eat!

After (or before, we won’t judge) lunch stop by Big Dipper for some fall favorite ice cream. They have two locations, one on your way into town that has great outdoor seating by the river, and an indoor shop for when the weather calls for being more cozy.

Blueberry Pick in Hatcher Pass

Finish your day with a hike into Hatcher Pass to see more fall colors and look for blueberries. You can drive up to Summit Lake and look for blueberries along the gravel road, learn history at Independence Mine, or choose a longer hike up into the mountains.

You are more likely to find blueberries on south facing slopes that get more sunshine! You can also get a hint from the cars parked along the road, and other people out looking for berries. You often don’t have to travel far from the road to find berries, but you can add a hike to your blueberry picking adventure if you want.

Hatcher Pass will offer more beautiful fall colors as you get up into the mountains to explore!

Finish your adventure with dinner in Palmer, or at your next destination. You are going to have such a great adventure full of adventure, good food, and incredible views!

Bonus Activity: Visit the Alaska State Fair

When you visit Palmer before September 7th, head to the Alaska State Fair after your day of exploring! End your adventure with fair food, local cuisine, plants of local vendors to check out, and classic fair rides.

The fair has all kinds of fun events and concerts depending on the day you visit. You might get lucky and see some of the biggest vegetables grown under the Midnight Sun.